Health Strategies in Latin America for the Elderly in relation to COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 128 (S2) ◽  
pp. S301-S311
Author(s):  
Nidia Bonilla ◽  
Lorena Cudris ◽  
Beatriz Mendoza ◽  
Andrés Gamboa ◽  
Jesús Forgiony-Santos5
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Programs ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Design And Implementation ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Vulnerable Population Groups

Introduction: The quarantine measures adopted because of the COVID-19 pandemic have involved the design and implementation of health programs to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and to understand the mental health implications for the elderly, one of the most vulnerable population groups. Objective: To characterize the strategies and programs implemented by Latin American countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focused on the older population. Methods: Forty-five documents were reviewed including scientific articles, decrees, and guidelines issued by the Ministries of Health of 13 Latin American countries under the search criteria, COVID 19, health, and older adults. Results: Strategies were implemented according to the stages and levels of incidence of the pandemic, the most vulnerable groups were protected in the case of the elderly aged 60 or 65. It allowed classifying the countries according to the objective of their health actions focused on prevention, promotion, rehabilitation, and recovery of the patient. Discussion: The health services have been reoriented by prioritizing the increase of health promotion and disease prevention through information, education, and communication strategies. Conclusions: The health emergency decreed by the countries did not prioritize strategies or policies against the emotional and mental aspects, and the subsequent affectations of social isolation that test the strategies and psychological resources of the new normality.

scholarly journals Clinical decisions and stigmatizing attitudes towards mental health problems in primary care physicians from Latin American countries

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. e0206440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel O. Rojas Vistorte ◽  
Wagner Ribeiro ◽  
Carolina Ziebold ◽  
Elson Asevedo ◽  
Sara Evans-Lacko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Clinical Decisions ◽  
Stigmatizing Attitudes ◽  
Latin American Countries

scholarly journals Recomendaciones de micronutrientes para grupos vulnerables en contexto de desnutrición, durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Latinoamérica

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-273
Author(s):  
Anabelle Bonvecchio Arenas ◽  
Jennifer Bernal ◽  
Marianella Herrera Cuenca ◽  
Mario Flores Aldana ◽  
Marlén Gutiérrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
El Salvador ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Hygiene Measures ◽  
El Sistema ◽  
Sociedad Civil ◽  
Respiratory Hygiene

La crisis por COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) puede convertirse en una catástrofe alimentaria para Latinoamérica, aumentando las personas que padecen hambre de 135 a 265 millones, especialmente en Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, Haití y El Salvador, que ya enfrentaban crisis económicas y sanitarias. Este manuscrito presenta la posición de un grupo de expertos latinoamericanos sobre las recomendaciones de consumo y/o suplementación con vitamina A, C, D, zinc, hierro, folatos y micronutrientes múltiples, en contextos de desnutrición, para grupos vulnerables: mujeres embarazadas y lactantes, niñas y niños menores de 5 años y adultos mayores. Las recomendaciones buscan disminuir el impacto potencial que tendrá COVID-19 en el estado nutricional, durante la pandemia. La posición surge de la discusión de dichos expertos con base a la revisión de evidencia científica actual para estos grupos vulnerables. Está dirigida a tomadores de decisiones, encargados de políticas públicas, personal de salud y organismos de la sociedad civil. Después de la lactancia materna y una dieta suficiente en cantidad y calidad, la suplementación con los micronutrientes presentados, puede contribuir a prevenir y tratar enfermedades virales, reforzar el sistema inmune y reducir complicaciones. La lactancia materna con medidas de higiene respiratoria, el suministro de múltiples micronutrientes en polvo para niños desde los 6 meses hasta los 5 años y el aporte de hierro y folatos o micronutrientes múltiples para la embarazada, son estrategias comprobadas y eficaces que deben seguirse implementando en tiempos de COVID-19. Para los adultos mayores la suplementación con vitamina C, D y zinc puede estar indicada. The COVID-19 crisis (SARS-CoV-2) might transform into a food catastrophe in Latin America and would increase the number of people suffering from hunger from 135 to 265 million, particularly in Venezuela, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti and El Salvador, already facing economic and health crises. This manuscript presents the position of a group of Latin American experts in nutrition for establishing the recommendations for consumption and / or supplementation with vitamin A, C, D, zinc, iron, folates and multiple micronutrients, in undernutrition contexts, for vulnerable population of pregnant and lactating women, children under 5 years and the elderly. The recommendations seek to decrease the potential impact that COVID-19 will have on nutritional status during the pandemic. The position arises from the discussion of the experts based on the review of current scientific evidence for these vulnerable groups. It aims to reach stakeholders, public policy makers, health personnel and civil society organizations. Only after breastfeeding and a sufficient diet in terms of quantity and quality, a supplementation with the micronutrients mentioned above can help prevent and treat viral diseases, strengthen the immune system and even reduce complications. Breastfeeding with respiratory hygiene measures, the provision of multiple micronutrients powders for children from 6 moths to 5 years of age and the supply of iron and folates or multiple micronutrients tablets for pregnant women are proven and effective strategies that must continue to be implemented during COVID-19 pandemic. For older adults, supplementation with vitamin C, D and zinc might be indicated.

Refugee Rights Across Regions: A Comparative Overview of Legislative Good Practices in Latin America and the EU

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Feline Freier ◽  
Jean-Pierre Gauci
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Average Score ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Procedural Safeguards ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Scope Of Protection

Abstract The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified a number of legislative good practices in Latin American asylum and refugee laws. At the same time, academics and policy-makers have long called for cross-regional comparative analyses of policies and laws to allow different regions to learn from each other’s best practices. In this article, we compare refugee legislations of Latin American countries with European Union protection standards based on UNHCR’s legislative good practices across three areas: (i) Core Principles and Scope of Protection; (ii) Procedural Safeguards and Guarantees for Vulnerable Groups; and (iii) Integration. We find that six of 19 refugee laws in Latin America provide more expansive protection than the Common European Asylum System framework, whereas other Latin American countries fall behind. The gap between Latin American legislations and European Union protection standards is closer regarding procedural safeguards, the protection of vulnerable groups, and integration provisions. Finally, Latin American countries, on average, score significantly below the European Union regarding the core principles of asylum and the scope of protection. In the second part of the article, we engage in a qualitative discussion of these legislative good practices to allow for cross-fertilization, and deliver policy recommendations.

Child Mental Health in Latin America: Present and Future Epidemiologic Research

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiane Duarte ◽  
Christina Hoven ◽  
Carlos Berganza ◽  
Isabel Bordin ◽  
Hector Bird ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Adolescent Mental Health ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Latin American Countries

Objective: This report reviews population studies of child and adolescent mental health carried out in Latin America over the past 15 years. Also considered is the issue of how to meet the needs of children and adolescents who may present mental health problems in Latin America, given that most of them live in poverty in economies that are underdeveloped, providing limited resources. Method: Ten studies from six different countries were identified that employed some form of randomized sampling method and used standardized instruments for assessment. The authors present a summary of the main characteristics of these studies, highlighting methodological features that may account for differences in the rates obtained. Results: Overall, a similar pattern of prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems in children and adolescents in Latin American countries emerged. Moreover, rates of disorders in these children are similar to the 15 to 20% found in other countries. These findings are similar to those observed when adult mental health problems are considered. Prevention and treatment strategies are discussed and the peculiarities of the delivery of mental health services for children and adolescents are explored. Conclusions: Future research needs to focus on understanding of resilience and formal and informal mental health delivery systems of care available in different Latin American countries. Such research has high potential for ameliorating the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems in this region of the world.

Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Latin America

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (S1) ◽  
pp. 415-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos A. Mangone ◽  
Adrían Alvarez Bueno ◽  
Ricardo Allegri ◽  
Raúl Arizaga ◽  
Ricardo Nitrini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Medical Problem ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Latin Americans ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Behavioral And Psychological Symptoms

Latin America has a connotation of youth (Mangone & Arizaga, 1999). Yet we cannot ignore the significant increase in life expectancy in many Latin American countries (Table 1); as the economy and level of education improve, so does the health of the population. With the increase in life expectancy, Latin Americans are beginning to perceive dementia in the elderly as a considerable social and medical problem.

scholarly journals Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health in Peru: Psychological Distress

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 691
Author(s):  
Carlos Ruiz-Frutos ◽  
Juan Carlos Palomino-Baldeón ◽  
Mónica Ortega-Moreno ◽  
María del Carmen Villavicencio-Guardia ◽  
Adriano Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Prompt Action ◽  
Latin American Countries

This pandemic has been classified as a “psychological pandemic” that produces anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sleep disorders. As the mental health effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, continue to unfold, there are still large knowledge gaps about the variables that predispose individuals to, or protect individuals against the disease. However, there are few publications on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of citizens in Latin American countries. In this study, the effects that COVID-19 had on citizens of Peru have been described. For this, 1699 questionnaires, collected between 2 April and 2 September 2020, were analyzed. Descriptive, bivariate analysis was performed with odds ratio (OR) calculations and a data mining methodology. Sociodemographic variables (from the General Health Questionnaire), health conditions and perception, symptoms, and variables related to contact and preventive measures regarding COVID-19 were analyzed. As compared to other countries, less affectation of mental health and increased use of preventive measures were observed. It has been suggested that the country’s precarious health system and poverty rates prior to the pandemic may justify higher mortality figures in Peru than in other Latin American countries, despite prompt action for its containment and compliance with the protective measures. Psychological distress had a greater incidence in women, young people, people without a partner, and people without university studies. The most significant conditioning variables were self-perceived health status, headache or muscle pain over the past 14 days, level of studies, and age. The extensive use of preventive measures against COVID-19 is in line with the strict legislative measures taken, and this is, in turn, in line with other countries when looking at the lower effect on mental health, but contrary when focusing on the high lethality identified. The need to include the economy or availability and quality of healthcare in future studies arises, as well as the suitability to analyze the cause for differences between countries.

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