Objective.

To map the range of access barriers indicators for which data can be derived from household surveys in the Americas.

Methods.

A systematic mapping review study was conducted to identify access dimensions and indicators of access barriers for general health services already described in the literature; and identify whether data for those indicators could be derived from household surveys in the Americas and what was the methodology used in these surveys.

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic progresses, countries are depending on one another to acquire knowledge regarding effective measures to contain the virus. Public health measures to suppress transmissions have proven successful in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Implementing and adhering to these interventions is challenging, with governments struggling to find a balance between necessary mitigation and suppression strategies, and interruptions of social-economic activities.

Objective.

To identify advantages and challenges of using household survey data to measure access barriers to health services in the Americas and to report findings from most recent surveys.

Objective.

To describe and analyze the current nursing regulations across countries in the Region of the Americas.

Methods.

A country comparative analysis was carried out by gathering information from the ministries of health, nursing schools, councils, associations, and boards in 2018. The main categories evaluated were type of regulatory bodies, requirements for initial professional registration, and registration renewal.

Objective.

To propose a health care model that integrates point-of-care technologies and artificial intelligence for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods.

A theoretical model was used in which one million people accessed the mobile application CoronApp-Colombia, which collects personal data, signs, symptoms and epidemiological links compatible with COVID-19. With the information from the app artificial intelligence techniques (data science) were applied in a virtual situation room.

Objective.

To determine the factors associated with the unsuccessful treatment of patients diagnosed with drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) in Paraguay.

[Extract] Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are highly dependent on food imports from larger nations, with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Pacific islands combined importing almost $5 billion in food in 2018, and more than half of SIDS countries importing more than 80% of their food, much of it nutritionally poor and highly processed (1). This has been an important driver of high levels of obesity (>30% of adults), food insecurity, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (between 10-30% of adults) in these countries (2).

Community engagement is crucial for public health initiatives, yet it remains an under-studied process within national disease elimination programs. This report shares key lessons learned for community engagement practices during a malaria outbreak response in the Los Tres Brazos neighborhood of urban Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 2015-2016. In this two-year period, 233 cases of malaria were reported—more than seven times the number of cases (31) reported in the previous two years.

Objective.

To measure through bibliometric analysis the productivity, visibility and impact of the Regional System for Vaccines (SIREVA, a project by the Pan American Health Organization), including its two components laboratory surveillance and vaccine development.

Universal health coverage is a public health priority in the Americas. Social innovation in health offers novel solutions to unmet needs, by enabling health care delivery to be more inclusive, affordable, and effective. In 2017, an international collaborative consortium launched an open call for solutions that sought to identify social innovations in health in Central America and the Caribbean. The focus was set on how these solutions can