Considerations for an urban health perspective in Chile from the "Quiero Mi Barrio" program.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the perceptions of residents regarding their health and well-being in areas of personal and collective life, in relation to the experience of urban transformation originated by the Program for the Recovery of Neighborhoods in Chile "Quiero mi Barrio" (PQMB). METHODS: Qualitative study conducted in eight neighborhoods, which were subject to interventions between 2012-2015, located in seven communes of Chile: Arica, Renca, Padre Las Casas, Villarrica, Castro, Ancud. Eighteen focus groups and 27 interviews were conducted between 2018 and 2019. A content analysis was carried out following the social determinants of health approach. RESULTS: Material conditions of neighborhood infrastructure and psychosocial determinants were the main emerging and predominant categories in the residents' narratives. The new or improved infrastructure enhances sports and playing practices, as well as contributes to the feeling of safety and to the improvement of walkable spaces, support networks, socialization and dynamization of social organization. However, neglected aspects were visualized. The program had limitations of structural character that operate locally, such as aging, individual lifestyles that limit participation, and contexts of insecurity, especially in neighborhoods victims of drug trafficking. CONCLUSIONS: The urban changes originated by the PQMB included improvements in neighborhood infrastructure and in the psychosocial environment, which are perceived by residents as beneficial aspects and promoters of collective wellbeing. However, global phenomena, and those related to the program, limit its scope and have repercussions on the perception of overall wellbeing of the residents in the neighborhoods. To go deeper into how this or other state neighborhood programs may or may not favor equitable access of different social groups, or which works may be better used by the groups, is an aspect that enhances the integral action with other sectors and local actors in the territories.

Considerations for an urban health perspective in Chile from the "Quiero Mi Barrio" program

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES To explore the perceptions of residents regarding their health and well-being in areas of personal and collective life, in relation to the experience of urban transformation originated by the Program for the Recovery of Neighborhoods in Chile "Quiero mi Barrio" (PQMB). METHODS Qualitative study conducted in eight neighborhoods, which were subject to interventions between 2012-2015, located in seven communes of Chile: Arica, Renca, Padre Las Casas, Villarrica, Castro, Ancud. Eighteen focus groups and 27 interviews were conducted between 2018 and 2019. A content analysis was carried out following the social determinants of health approach. RESULTS Material conditions of neighborhood infrastructure and psychosocial determinants were the main emerging and predominant categories in the residents' narratives. The new or improved infrastructure enhances sports and playing practices, as well as contributes to the feeling of safety and to the improvement of walkable spaces, support networks, socialization and dynamization of social organization. However, neglected aspects were visualized. The program had limitations of structural character that operate locally, such as aging, individual lifestyles that limit participation, and contexts of insecurity, especially in neighborhoods victims of drug trafficking. CONCLUSIONS The urban changes originated by the PQMB included improvements in neighborhood infrastructure and in the psychosocial environment, which are perceived by residents as beneficial aspects and promoters of collective wellbeing. However, global phenomena, and those related to the program, limit its scope and have repercussions on the perception of overall wellbeing of the residents in the neighborhoods. To go deeper into how this or other state neighborhood programs may or may not favor equitable access of different social groups, or which works may be better used by the groups, is an aspect that enhances the integral action with other sectors and local actors in the territories.

Yeast Biodiversity in Fermented Doughs and Raw Cereal Matrices and the Study of Technological Traits of Selected Strains Isolated in Spain.

Bakers use pure microorganisms and/or traditional sourdoughs as the leavening agent for making bread. The performance of each starter and the substances produced by the microorganisms greatly affect the dough rheology and features of breads. Modern sourdoughs inoculated with selected lactic acid bacteria and yeasts are microbiologically stable, safer than traditional sourdoughs, and easy to use. However, the commercial repertoire of baker's yeasts is still limited. Therefore, there is a demand for new strains of yeast species, capable of conferring distinctive traits to breads made from a variety of agri-food matrices, in the design of innovative starters. In this context, we report the first comprehensive study on yeasts isolated from a wide range of fermented doughs, cereal flours, and grains of Spain. Nine yeast species were identified from 433 isolates, which were distributed among separate clades. Moreover, phenotypic traits of potential technological relevance were identified in selected yeast strains. Mother doughs (MDs) showed the greatest yeast biodiversity, whereas commercial Saccharomyces starters or related and wild strains often dominated the bakery doughs. A metataxonomic analysis of wheat and tritordeum MDs revealed a greater richness of yeast species and percentage variations related to the consistency, flour type, and fermentation time of MDs.

Ambiente residencial e saúde respiratória infantil em famílias removidas de assentamentos precários da região de Santiago do Chile / Residential environment and respiratory health in children removed from families of the slum area of Santiago de Chile

Las intervenciones habitacionales destinadas a la superación de la pobreza modifican el ambiente residencial y potencialmente pueden incidir sobre la salud de los grupos intervenidos. En la Región Metropolitana de Chile, 113 comunidades fueron detectadas en 1997, con graves problemas de habitabilidad las cuales fueron intervenidas con provisión de nuevas viviendas. Existen escasos estudios abocados a estimar el impacto de estas intervenciones en la salud de las personas. Sin embargo, existe evidencia científica acerca de la relevancia de las condiciones físicas de la vivienda como determinante en la exposición a contaminantes químicos, físicos y biológicos y con un rol en la ocurrencia de enfermedades respiratorias en la infancia. Este estudio tuvo como objetivos evaluar el efecto de recibir la intervención de un programa habitacional en un subgrupo de familias de viviendas sociales y de campamento, en la calidad ambiental intradomiciliaria y en los eventos respiratorios de la población infantil residente. Se realizó un estudio transversal en 203 hogares de la Región Metropolitana de Chile, 60.4 por cento de las familias residentes en viviendas sociales asignadas entre 2001-2002 (Programa Chile-Barrio) y 39.6 por cento provenientes de campamentos, emplazados en la misma área de residencia que los grupos intervenidos. Se aplicó un cuestionario para caracterizar la condición socioeconómica de los grupos familiares, recolectando información sobre factores de riesgo personal y familiar de morbilidad respiratoria. Asimismo fueron evaluados diversos aspectos de la calidad ambiental en las viviendas: concentración de Material particulado fino (PM2.5) y fuentes asociadas a la contaminación del aire intradomiciliario.

La realización de este estudio reportó diferencias entre las poblaciones estudiadas en la concentración de material particulado y en diversas fuentes de contaminación ambiental. El PM2.5 interior fue fuertemente influenciado por la concentración de PM2.5 exterior y por el uso de combustibles sólidos empleados para calentar el agua de baño. La prevalencia de sibilancias y su severidad no fueron diferentes entre los grupos. Las sibilancias fueron explicadas por factores de riesgo de asma destacando el uso de combustible a gas como factor de riesgo en los niños. El estudio contribuyó a aportar evidencia sobre potenciales efectos asociados a una intervención habitacional, externalidades que no han sido descritas previamente. Sus resultados orientan sobre áreas específicas de la salud ambiental que necesitan ser abordas en estas comunidades desde la investigación y la acción en salud pública.