Published since 1922, the Pan American Journal of Public Health is the flagship scientific and technical periodical of the Pan American Health Organization. Its mission is to contribute to the production and dissemination of scientific public health information of international significance, mainly in areas related to PAHO's essential mission of strengthening health systems and improving the health of the peoples of the Americas.

Publication in the journal has no cost for authors, and all manuscripts are open access and free for readers.

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Selected manuscripts on international health days

Awareness of and support for banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products among Mexicans who smoke

Read more about Awareness of and support for banning e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products among Mexicans who smoke

Objective

This study investigates awareness of and support for Mexico’s bans on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products among adults who smoke.

Implementation of second round of HPV-based screening for cervical cancer in programmatic contexts in Argentina

Read more about Implementation of second round of HPV-based screening for cervical cancer in programmatic contexts in Argentina

Objectives

To evaluate implementation of the second round of human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical screening, introduced in Argentina in 2012–2014 through the Jujuy Demonstration Project for women 30 years and older, and describe the characteristics of women who adhere to the recommended five-year rescreening interval.

Spatial and spatiotemporal inequalities in premature mortality due to cervical cancer in Argentina (2001–2020)

Read more about Spatial and spatiotemporal inequalities in premature mortality due to cervical cancer in Argentina (2001–2020)

Objective

To estimate years of life lost (YLL) due to cervical cancer (CC) at the subnational level in Argentina from 2001 to 2020 and identify spatial and spatiotemporal clusters of CC mortality.

World's Indigenous People Day

The mission of the Pan American Journal of Public Health is to serve as an important vehicle for disseminating scientific public health information relevant to the Region of the Americas. The journal aims to strengthen national and local health systems and to bridge the gap between health care and policy-makers, ultimately improving the health of the peoples of the Americas.

Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine: experience in Ecuador

Read more about Distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine: experience in Ecuador

In Ecuador, the health emergency caused by COVID-19 required the State’s concerted effort to provide safe, effective, and free vaccines. At the start of 2022, the country reached broad vaccination coverage, placing it among the countries in the Americas with the strongest achievements in this area.

The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance

Read more about The Global Matrix of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents in Latin America: trends, successes and challenges in practice and surveillance

Objective

To synthesize the grades of physical activity (PA) indicators for children and adolescents (5–17 years) in Latin American countries; explore the social determinants of health (SDoH) for PA indicators; and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to improve PA levels.

Who are the women having non-institutional deliveries in Brazil and who attends them? An analysis of 13.7 million births, 2018–2022

Read more about Who are the women having non-institutional deliveries in Brazil and who attends them? An analysis of 13.7 million births, 2018–2022

Objective

To identify groups of women in Brazil more likely to have deliveries outside health facilities and the types of professionals attending these deliveries, and to assess related social determinants.

Health system and hospital utilization in Chile, 1952–2020: trends, reforms, and inflection points

Read more about Health system and hospital utilization in Chile, 1952–2020: trends, reforms, and inflection points

Objective

To collect and analyze longitudinal data on hospital discharges in Chile between 1952 and 2020, both at the national level and within the public subsystem. Patterns of change were identified in relation to the following key institutional milestones: the Curative Medicine Act of 1968, the creation of the National Health Services System in 1979, and the implementation of the Universal and Guaranteed Access Reform in 2005.

Trans fatty acids in nutrition labeling and ingredient listing of prepackaged products in Costa Rica, 2022

Read more about Trans fatty acids in nutrition labeling and ingredient listing of prepackaged products in Costa Rica, 2022

Objective

To analyze the content of industrially produced trans fatty acids stated in the nutrition labeling and ingredients list of prepackaged products marketed in Costa Rica.

Methods

Descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzing the presence and content of industrially produced trans fatty acids stated in the nutritional labeling and ingredients list of 7,402 prepackaged foods in two supermarket chains in Costa Rica. The analysis was based on the current policy of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on this subject.

Evidence-informed policy for monitoring SDG 3 in the Legal Amazon region: A rapid review

Read more about Evidence-informed policy for monitoring SDG 3 in the Legal Amazon region: A rapid review

Objective

To systematically identify and critically assess indicators used globally and in Brazil to monitor health outcomes related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, with an emphasis on identifying those most suitable for the Legal Amazon region.