Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

INTRODUCTION: The current epidemiological situation leads to an increase in people with dependency and needs of family care, mostly done by women without pay and with high overload. This represents a challenge for the health system, specifically for primary health care. The objective of the study was to understand the experiences of home care from the perspective of caregivers and people with dependency, participating in the Home Care Program for People with Severe Dependency in primary care in a district of the Metropolitan Region of Chile. METHODS: A qualitative study was developed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 caregivers and 6 people in a situation of dependency, with a qualitative content analysis. The findings on care experiences were organized in family, social and health system spheres. RESULTS: Family support is essential for care and provides greater satisfaction to dependent people than to their caregivers. The availability of community support networks and social services is scarce and with little information. The health system is key to supporting home care; however, it is described as inappropriate and incapable of following up on the needs. DISCUSSION: Limited support networks, misinformation and distance from social and health programs unbalance the responsibility of care for families. 

INTRODUCTION: Mathematical models of infectious diseases transmission allow to study different mechanisms which affect their temporal behavior. This work analyzed the impact of the decrease in transmissibility, as a result of measures of personal care adopted to reduce circulation of COVID-19, on the dynamics of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). METHODS: A deterministic SIRS (susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible) model with seasonal modulation was used to represent two diseases with short-term immunity and annual cycle: influenza and RSV. Changes in disease transmissibility were modeled by reducing it for two years and analyzing different scenarios. RESULTS: In the proposed model, transmissibility reduction brings changes which sustain in the following years: very pronounced epidemic events with lengthening of the inter-outbreak interval. This effect prevails over the seasonal behavior. The scenario of 40% initial reduction in transmissibility is compatible with the behavior of influenza and RSV currently reported in Argentina. DISCUSSION: The general model proposed here, under conditions of temporary reduced transmissibility, shows an epidemiology compatible with recently reported data of influenza and RSV in Argentina. This result illustrates modeling as a useful tool to understand non-intuitive effects.     

INTRODUCTION: Suicide is one of the main causes of death classified as violent and preventable. The objective was to estimate the incidence and mode of suicide in the 2009-2020 historical series, considering year 2020 as COVID-19 pandemic context. METHODS: A cross-sectional, retrospective, observational, historical timeline study was conducted. Data were obtained from the Department of Health Statistics and Information of the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires. They were classified according to three modes of suicide: intervention of an invasive agent, an external agent or no agent. In order to evaluate the possible variation of population density on suicide incidence rates, deaths were distributed based on the population size of residence. Finally, two indices were obtained: the p-score and the estimate of observed mortality (OM). RESULTS: During 2009-2020 there were 13221 deaths due to self-inflicted injuries, with an average of 1110 suicides per year. When comparing the year 2020 (916 suicides) with the previous five-year period (2015-2019, with a mean of 1139 suicides ±26 in its standard error), the p-score showed a reduction of 23.1% (275 deaths less than expected) and OM, a decrease of 19.6% (223 deaths below the expected upper interval). DISCUSSION: During 2020 there was a reduction in the absolute and relative incidence of suicides, while maintaining the difference according to mode and gender observed through the historical timeline.   

INTRODUCTION: Employment is a key component of recovery in people with severe mental disorders and a key aspect of social validation. The aim of this study was to know the work experience, interest in working, specific job search behaviors, occupational status, and attitudes toward work among this population. METHODS: A total of 103 people under treatment at a mental health institution in the city of Buenos Aires completed a questionnaire in 2018 with open and closed questions. The analysis combined quantitative and qualitative approaches, with calculation and comparison of frequencies according to groups and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Most of the participants had work experience, although only 29% were working and 93% of those who had no job said they were interested in working. However, only 33% of those who did not have a job carried out activities to get one. A total of 85% considered that they could have problems if they worked and 15% said that it could eventually hurt them. No significant differences by diagnosis or gender were observed. DISCUSSION: A high interest in working among people with severe mental disorders contrasts with a considerable percentage that is nonetheless not looking for a job and anticipates difficulties at work. Stigma could be one of the biggest obstacles to carrying out job search activities and achieving labor inclusion. Employment support programs should consider some of the problems found in this study.  

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal mental health is related to the physiological, psychological and sociocultural processes involved in conception, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium and early bonding, and includes the mother-baby dyad. The objective of this work was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal mental health, specifically in relation to postpartum depression (PPD) and the various concerns expressed by women in this context. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a face-to-face survey with open and closed questions. It used a non-probabilistic sample in three hospitals (two from the province of Entre Ríos and one from the province of Buenos Aires). RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of the women showed indicators of PPD according to the Edinburgh Scale, that is, they stated that they felt unhappy and had difficulty sleeping, with fear, sadness, worry and negative thoughts, in the last week. There are significant relationships between PPD, the hospital, the number of people with whom postpartum women live, and health status. DISCUSSION: This research generated useful information to improve practices, interventions and policies guaranteeing rights in perinatal mental health. 

NTRODUCTION: The treatment of autism was a challenge since its description, especially in non-speaking (NS) or minimally speaking (MS) people, who receive little attention from scientific literature and represent a high health care cost. The year 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of an approach to NS/MS autism redesigned in Argentina and carried out through synchronous typewriting (Phaedrus Approach). The objective of this work was to review and describe for the first time the clinical changes (CC) after intervention. METHODS: A systematic descriptive review of the CC reports was carried out, based on a series of cases addressed with the intervention under study. RESULTS: The reports of the 10 most frequent CC in the sample were described, which appeared on average after 13.8 months of treatment. Each case presented 7.5 CC, with similar results between diagnoses prior to treatment and with some differences in favor of female gender, those under 10 years of age at the start of treatment, and NS people. While 100% acceded to independent typewriting, 71% achieved or improved speech afterwards. DISCUSSION: The 7 most frequent CC represent key aspects of autism treatment. Although more studies are required, the results are very promising and represent a substantial contribution to the scientific evidence. This approach could be cost-effective for NS/MS autism spectrum disorder and could be of interest for other problems at the intersection of mental health and public health.  

INTRODUCTION: Mental health research is usually a minority of the studies conducted and does not generally play a key role in public health research agendas. However, mental health problems have gained increased attention especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the government agencies in Argentina have developed a strategy for a comprehensive approach to mental health. The objective of this study was to identify the ethical problems to be considered in low-risk research using a qualitative methodological approach with human subjects with mental suffering and to describe ethical requirements for this research. METHODS: A mapping of the norms, codes, treaties, laws, regulations, resolutions and provisions on ethical requirements for health research with human beings in Argentina was carried out. RESULTS: Subjects with mental suffering may have difficulties in giving their free and informed consent and may be in a situation of vulnerability that requires the implementation of specific protection measures and the anonymization of the data collected in this type of research to avoid discrimination and stigmatization. DISCUSSION: A series of measures are recommended that could contribute to the protection of the right to mental health of the participants, emphasizing the safeguard of the autonomy, the minimization of risks and the anonymization of data. 

INTRODUCTION: There are barriers for women’s care and staying in treatment for problematic drug use. They are related to spaces and design of programs that do not consider the specific needs for gender perspective work. The objective was to explore the interventions that work as facilitators to support and listen to women, based on the experience of a group of women in the context of a treatment for problematic substance use. METHODS: A mixed design was used, taking as empirical reference the implementation of a women’s group. The study worked with a sample of 33 women from a population of 79 patients in an outpatient facility for the treatment of problematic substance use in the city of Buenos Aires from July 2020 to July 2022. RESULTS: The collected data show an increase in the population of women since the creation of the group, while the analysis of the experiences allows to distinguish four categories of interventions: the ones that link drug use with women’s social role; the ones aimed at improving mutual support among partners; the ones that allow building a space of openness to tackle situations of violence; and the ones arising from the creation of a women’s group to work on accessibility. DISCUSSION: This work reflects the importance of addressing gender perspective in the treatment in a cross-sectional way.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected both rhythms and frequencies of substance use as well as its approach. The aim was to analyze the changes in substance use and in territorial community centers related to health care demand, along with limitations and opportunities to provide solutions in the context of a social and health crisis. METHODS: A qualitative research was conducted through 10 interviews to employees working in territorial community centers in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires. The secondary data were collected through web search engines in official sites. RESULTS: Variations in substance use and frequencies have been identified. There was a higher psychosocial vulnerability among the population. Inquiries related to access to rights were the most frequent ones. The remote modality and the use of digital tools allowed some interventions to continue, but at the same time they had limitations (such as work overload). The strategies implemented to facilitate accessibility varied. Teams reported a complex adaptation to new modalities and dynamics of care, assistance and support. DISCUSSION: The pandemic has shown the invaluable role played by territorial community centers. It is of utmost importance to provide human resources and necessary materials to extend and strengthen the network of territorial community centers.

INTRODUCTION: The work presented here is a selected excerpt from the research project developed within the framework of the author’s doctoral thesis. Its objective was to analyze the problems of accessibility to the health system for people with problematic consumption. METHODS: The methodological strategy followed the basic dimensions of research in health policies, systems and services: approach to different levels of analysis and articulation between academia and health services. In-depth interviews were conducted with health professionals and people with problematic consumption under treatment in the city of Buenos Aires. RESULTS: The most significant finding of the users’ report was the intensification of the suffering experienced as a result of the processes of social stigmatization. The speeches of the professionals showed consensus about the idea that the health care system usually rejects people with problematic consumption. DISCUSSION: The main problem is not specifically related to the substances consumed, but to the accessibility to health services and multiple rights that are usually violated to the detriment of people with these problems. It is necessary to tackle these relevant issues to ensure a policy framework that respects human rights.