scholarly journals Building capacity for dementia care in Latin America and the Caribbean

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 310-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Gonzalez ◽  
Ciro Gaona ◽  
Marialcira Quintero ◽  
Carlos A. Chavez ◽  
Joyce Selga ◽  
...  

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have limited facilities and professionals trained to diagnose, treat, and support people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment. The situation for people with dementia is poor, and worsening as the proportion of elderly in the general population is rapidly expanding. We reviewed existing initiatives and provided examples of actions taken to build capacity and improve the effectiveness of individuals, organizations, and national systems that provide treatment and support for people with dementia and their caregivers. Regional barriers to capacity building and the importance of public engagement are highlighted. Existing programs need to disseminate their objectives, accomplishments, limitations, and overall lessons learned in order to gain greater recognition of the need for capacity-building programs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 897-898
Author(s):  
Fabiana Ribeiro ◽  
Ana Carolina Teixeira-Santos ◽  
Anja Leist

Abstract Background. The population of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is ageing rapidly, presenting the highest prevalence rates of dementia in the world. In this context, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate condition between normal ageing and dementia. However, very few studies verified the prevalence of MCI in LAC countries; earlier global systematic reviews only considered prevalence reports published in English language. Method. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the prevalence of MCI in LAC countries and to explore the factors associated with MCI (i.e., age, gender, and education). A database search was conducted in February 2020 using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, SciELO, and EMBASE, for population-or community-based studies with MCI data for countries in LAC, published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese language. From k=2,168 identified and k=1,684 screened studies, only articles were selected that included subjects with a precise diagnosis of MCI. The studies were qualitatively assessed using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for studies reporting prevalence data tool. Results. A total of nine studies met the criteria, published between 2007 and 2019, including a total of 17,812 participants in nine countries Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Costa Rica. Estimates for MCI prevalence ranged from 1.2% to 34%, with most estimates between 1.2% and 6.45%. Estimates differed by age group, gender, and educational level. Discussion. This is the first systematic review of the prevalence of MCI in LAC countries, considering only high-quality studies adopting rigorous diagnostic criteria.


Author(s):  
Virginia Betancourt

The National Library of Venezuela, now 141 years old, has 900 staff and a 1988 budget of $14.5 million. Its stock of c.2 million items includes over 1 million books and manuscripts, 15,000 periodicals, and audiovisual materials. Many changes have taken place since 1974 during a process of modernization, as part of a project to create a national information system, including the development of a National Audiovisual Archive (the first in Latin America) and the creation of a conservation service. During this time the National Library has also carried out a series of actions to support and promote the national book industry. As a result of the experience accumulated, the National Library is able to serve as a reference point for other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in planning and developing their own services and national systems.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 64-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustín Ciapponi ◽  
Demián Glujovsky ◽  
Sacha Alexis Virgilio ◽  
Ariel Esteban Bardach

2021 ◽  
pp. 037957212110623
Author(s):  
Uriyoán Colón-Ramos ◽  
Rafael Monge-Rojas ◽  
Jael Goldsmith Weil ◽  
Florencia Olivares G ◽  
Rebecca Zavala ◽  
...  

Background: School feeding programs (SFPs) can play a crucial role in the emergency food and nutrition response, but there is a dearth of information on how SFPs operate during emergencies. Design and Methods: A rapid comparative assessment of 11 SFPs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from (1) systematic document search and (2) surveys with key informants (n = 23) about barriers/facilitators to modifications were systematically analyzed using a multiple case study approach. Results: During the pandemic, all SFPs continued (although continuation plans varied from a few days in Chile to >1 month in Puerto Rico) via food kits, food vouchers, and/or grab n’ go meals. The SFP implementation was highly dependent on the programs’ autonomy and financial support, which impacted their logistics to acquire and distribute foods during the pandemic. The types of foods offered in some SFPs suggest that established nutritional guidelines were not always followed. Key informants expressed concerns about the deterioration of the nutritional quality of foods offered during the pandemic and lack of community engagement that impeded distribution to the neediest. Conclusions: Results underscore the urgency for clear implementation guidance on how to modify SFP during emergencies. Public health implications include (1) allocation of autonomous resources to an intersectoral working group to safeguard nutritional benefits during emergencies, (2) strengthening efforts of SFP community engagement before and during emergencies, and (3) establishing guidelines of the types of foods that can be distributed to meet the nutritional needs of beneficiaries during emergencies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Villa Zárate ◽  
Daniel Vieitez Martínez ◽  
Carlos Mondragón ◽  
Miguel Á. Martínez ◽  
Jaime Pérez

The Discussion Papers PPP Americas 2021 are a series of documents written to prepare for PPP Americas tenth edition. The event is the most important forum on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), organized every two years by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Driven by PPP Americas 2021, we gathered eight thematic groups were, with specialists, professionals, consultants, and scholars engaged directly in the preparation, identification, structuration, and management of PPP infrastructure projects in countries of the region. IDB specialists coordinated the groups to review the main hot topics on PPP projects for social and economic infrastructure, aiming to exchange experiences, debate successful cases and lessons learned. The present Discussion Paper, “Selection Criteria for PPP Projects,” collects the main conclusions and recommendations discussed by the group and intends to consolidate a knowledge exchange environment in infrastructure and PPP inside the region, offering best practices on infrastructure projects selection and value generation in the use of public resources in Latin America and the Caribbean.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Altamirano ◽  
Nicole Amaral

This note brings together lessons from the IDBs and other institutions efforts to adapt a skills taxonomy for Latin America and the Caribbean countries. These efforts have focused primarily on the ability to gather and make use of labor market information on skills demand from non-traditional data sources like online job vacancies. Most of these efforts have used the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) taxonomy to underpin the identification and classification of skills. This note is intended to be a starting point and set of considerations for policymakers who may be considering, or already embarking on, similar efforts to use ESCO or other taxonomical structures to help better analyze, understand and use skills-level information for decision making. It also seeks to motivate the need for additional classification systems that help governments take stock of its citizens skills in increasingly complex and rapidly changing labor markets.


Author(s):  
Martha Velandia-González ◽  
Silas Pierson Trumbo ◽  
José Luis Díaz-Ortega ◽  
Pamela Bravo-Alcántara ◽  
M Carolina Danovaro-Holliday ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 482-482
Author(s):  
Fabiana Ribeiro ◽  
Ana Carolina Teixeira-Santos ◽  
Anja Leist

Abstract Background Over the last decades, life expectancy in Latin America and the Caribbean showed a rapid increase, which led to a significant increase in the number of people with dementia. Moreover, 9% of the population in this part of the world are aged 65 or older, and by 2050 this percentage is projected to at least double. For this reason, it is essential to estimate the prevalence of dementia in LAC countries with the aim to determine suitable actions to enhance the quality of life of those affected. Methods Database searches for articles were conducted September 2020 throughout Pubmed, Web of knowledge, Scopus, Lilacs, and SciELO. The inclusion criteria comprised population- or community-based studies, published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, reporting data on the prevalence of dementia collected in LAC countries. The complete data search retrieved 1719 non-duplicates. Results A total of 58 studies met the high-quality inclusion criteria, published 1991-2020, including participants in the following countries: Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. The most common form of dementia studied was Alzheimer’s disease with prevalence ranging from 5.9% to 23.4%. Estimates differed by age, gender, and education, with oldest, women, and lower-educated adults living in rural areas presenting higher dementia prevalence. Conclusion This is the first study giving a comprehensive overview of dementia prevalence in LAC countries, which is relevant to estimate care needs and economic costs related to dementia treatment and care.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document