The Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization continuously develop evidence-informed guidelines that address major diseases affecting population health (guidelines available in the BIGG database). The guidelines are developed using a systematic and transparent approach called GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). These guidelines are one of the most useful tools for improving public health and clinical practice. They provide recommendations based on the best available evidence, promote the rational use of available resources, and decrease variability in clinical practice and public health to improve the quality of care in health systems and services and, ultimately, the health of the population.
As a tool for implementation of the guidelines at the national, institutional and individual levels, PAHO has developed syntheses of these recommendations, which also provide a framework for analysis of barriers, facilitators, strategies and implementation indicators considering the regional context. These syntheses are aimed at governmental bodies, decision-makers, health professionals, administrative personnel and patients in the Region of the Americas.
The evidence syntheses and recommendations presented below, published by the Pan American Journal of Public Health, aim to present the evidence-informed recommendations developed by PAHO and WHO in a way that facilitates their dissemination, adaptation and implementation in the countries of the Region in order to improve the health of the population.