Gender equality and health equity: strategic lessons from country experiences of gender mainstreaming in health

Objectives.

To analyze progress in organizational structures, mechanisms, strategies, and enabling factors and barriers towards gender mainstreaming (GM) in health in Guatemala, Guyana, and Peru, given GM’s role in addressing gender inequalities in health as a key structural driver of health equity.

Theoretical and practical challenges of proportionate universalism: a review

Objective.

In 2010, the principle of proportionate universalism (PU) has been proposed as a solution to reduce health inequalities. It had a great resonance but does not seem to have been widely applied and no guidelines exist on how to implement it. The two specific objectives of this scoping review were: (1) to describe the theoretical context in which PU was established, (2) to describe how researchers apply PU and related methodological issues.

Civil society promoting government accountability for health equity in the Caribbean: The Healthy Caribbean Coalition

Achieving health equity and addressing the social determinants of health are critical to attaining the health and health-related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. Frameworks for health, including the Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2018 – 2030, emphasize reduction of health inequities and “leaving no one behind” in national sustainable development.

Mapping the implementation characteristics of new Medicine programs in Brazilian federal universities

Objective.

To map the implementation characteristics of Medicine programs established in Brazilian federal
universities from 2013 onwards.

Methods.

A qualitative and quantitative exploratory study was performed. Newly created Medicine programs were identified in federal universities, with analysis of pedagogical frameworks and interviews with students, faculty, and health care professionals from associated health care services. Data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Health equity in the Americas after COVID-19

Achieving equity in health continues to be a major challenge in the Region of the Americas.  Although health  inequalities have seen some limited improvements across the Region and certain countries that have made notable progress in reducing inequalities, trends are not improving overall. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, countries of the Americas consistently rank among the lowest in terms of average well-being and social and economic inequalities.

Substandard, falsified and unregistered medicines in Latin America, 2017-2018

Objective.

To assess all the incidents of substandard, falsified and unregistered medicines in 2017 and 2018 in Latin America, determining the types of products affected, stages of the supply chain in which incidents were detected, quality deviations identified in tested samples, and regulatory measures taken by authorities.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies in an asymptomatic population in Sergipe, Brazil

Objective.

To estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in an asymptomatic population in the state of Sergipe, Brazil.

Methods.

This cross-sectional study with stratified sampling (sex and age) included serological immunofluorescent
tests for IgM and IgG on samples from 3 046 asymptomatic individuals. Sample collection was performed in wet-markets of the 10 most populous cities of Sergipe, Brazil. Exclusion criteria included symptomatic individuals and health workers. The presence of comorbidities was registered.

Adequate, reliable and timely information in times of the COVID-19 pandemic

In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, adequate, reliable and timely information becomes even more relevant. The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization office in Brazil and key partners have developed initiatives to improve access, sharing and dissemination of the information and knowledge produced, translated and systematized about COVID-19 as a technical contribution to the fight against the pandemic. This article presents some of these resources.

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