Regulatory reliance pathways during health emergencies: enabling timely authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America

Objectives

To map the timing and nature of regulatory reliance pathways used to authorize COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America.

Methods

An observational study was conducted assessing the characteristics of all COVID-19 vaccine authorizations in Latin America. For every authorization it was determined whether reliance was used in the authorization process. Subgroups of reference national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and non-reference NRAs were compared.

Mathematical and statistical models for the control of mosquito-borne diseases: the experience of Costa Rica

Objective

To summarize the results of research conducted in Costa Rica in which mathematical and statistical methods were implemented to study the transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne diseases.

Methods

Three articles with mathematical and statistical analysis on vector-borne diseases in Costa Rica were selected and reviewed. These papers show the value and relevance of using different quantitative methods to understand disease dynamics and support decision-making.

Permanent professional development in health through the Virtual Campus for Public Health in Colombia (2012-2019)

Objective

Reconstruct the experience of the Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) from 2012 to 2019 in Colombia.

Methods

The experience of public health training through the VCPH in Colombia in the period 2012-2019 was systematized. The information is presented in cross-section time series to show the evolution of the VCPH in Colombia over time.

Factors associated with hospitalizations for primary care-sensitive conditions in Brazil: an ecological study

Objective

To investigate whether structural aspects of primary care units (PCUs) and the work processes of primary care teams are associated with the rate of hospitalizations for primary care-sensitive conditions (HPCSC) in children younger than 5 years of age in Brazil.

Addressing malnutrition in all its forms in Caribbean countries using a food systems approach

The Caribbean sub-region is facing increasing levels of overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), while at the same time coping with a persistent problem of acute and chronic undernutrition and deficiency diseases which are affecting some countries and some sectors of the population, particularly population groups under vulnerable conditions. The prevalence of obesity in adults in the Caribbean increased from 15.2% in 2000 to 24.7% in 2016, well above the global prevalence of 13.1%.

Comparative cost of diets for low-income families in the Caribbean

Objective

To assess the ability of low-income families to obtain a standard basket of healthy foods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The costs of 191 food items were averaged from supermarkets, municipal markets, wholesalers, and community food outlets in high- and low-income areas in three Caribbean countries. The analysis compared foods not only by selecting high- and low-ranked commodities but by the proportions of those foods, by food group, that will be required to meet a low-cost, nutritionally balanced diet of 2 400 kcal.

Interventions and policies aimed at improving nutrition in Small Island Developing States: a rapid review

Objective

To describe features of nutritional interventions implemented in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the past 20 years.

Methods

A rapid scoping review was conducted by searching PubMed and Web of Science databases for interventions conducted in SIDS that sought to improve the nutrition of their populations between 2000 and 2019 inclusive. The Noncommunicable diseases progress monitor 2020 was also examined to assess nutritional policies in SIDS.

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