Association Between Household Deprivation and Living in Informal Settlements and Incidence of Diarrhea in Children Under 5 in Eleven Latin American Cities.

Diarrhea is a leading cause of death in children globally, mostly due to inadequate sanitary conditions and overcrowding. Poor housing quality and lack of tenure security that characterize informal settlements are key underlying contributors to these risk factors for childhood diarrhea deaths. The objective of this study is to better understand the physical attributes of informal settlement households in Latin American cities that are associated with childhood diarrhea. We used data from a household survey (Encuesta CAF) conducted by the Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF), using responses from sampled individuals in eleven cities. We created a household deprivation score based on household water and sewage infrastructure, overcrowding, flooring and wall material, and security of tenure. We fitted a multivariable logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to test the association between the deprivation score and its individual components and childhood diarrhea during the prior 2 weeks. We included a total of 4732 households with children, out of which 12.2% had diarrhea in the 2-week period prior to completing the survey. After adjusting for respondent age, gender, and city, we found a higher risk of diarrhea associated with higher household deprivation scores. Specifically, we found that the odds of diarrhea for children living in a mild and severe deprived household were 1.04 (95% CI 0.84-1.28) and 3.19 times (95% CI 1.80-5.63) higher, respectively, in comparison to households with no deprivation. These results highlight the connections between childhood health and deprived living conditions common in informal settlements.

Agreement between a web collaborative dataset and an administrative dataset to assess the retail food environment in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Latin American countries are often limited in the availability of food outlet data. There is a need to use online search engines that allow the identification of food outlets and assess their agreement with field observations. We aimed to assess the agreement in the density of food outlets provided by a web collaborative data (Google) against the density obtained from an administrative registry. We also determined whether the agreement differed by type of food outlet and by area-level socioeconomic deprivation. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed 1,693 census tracts from the municipalities of Hermosillo, Leon, Oaxaca de Juarez, and Tlalpan. The Google service was used to develop a tool for the automatic acquisition of food outlet data. To assess agreement, we compared food outlet densities obtained with Google against those registered in the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units (DENUE). Continuous densities were assessed using Bland-Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), while agreement across tertiles of density was estimated using weighted kappa. RESULTS: The CCC indicated a strong correlation between Google and DENUE in the overall sample (0.75); by food outlet, most of the correlations were from negligible (0.08) to moderate (0.58). The CCC showed a weaker correlation as deprivation increased. Weighted kappa indicated substantial agreement between Google and DENUE across all census tracts (0.64). By type of food outlet, the weighted kappa showed substantial agreement for restaurants (0.69) and specialty food stores (0.68); the agreement was moderate for convenience stores/small food retail stores (0.49) and fair for candy/ice cream stores (0.30). Weighted kappa indicated substantial agreement in low-deprivation areas (0.63); in very high-deprivation areas, the agreement was moderate (0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Google could be useful in assessing fixed food outlet densities as a categorical indicator, especially for some establishments, like specialty food stores and restaurants. The data could also be informative of the availability of fixed food outlets, particularly in less deprived areas.

Relationship between body mass index and residential segregation in large cities of Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global health problem, and its connection with social and environmental factors is well-established. Social factors, such as urban segregation, may impact obesity through various mechanisms, including food and physical activity environments, as well as social norms and networks. This multilevel study aims to examine the effect of socio-economic residential segregation of Latin American cities on the obesity of individuals within those cities. METHODS: We analyzed data from national surveys for a total of 59,340 individuals of 18-70 years of age, conducted in 156 cities across Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico between 2007 and 2013. We adjusted two-level linear mixed models for body mass index (BMI) stratified by sex and country, controlling for age, educational level and poverty. Separate models were built for dissimilarity and isolation segregation indices. RESULTS: The relationships between segregation indices and BMI were mostly not statistically significant, and in some cases, they were opposite to what was expected. The only significant relationships were observed in Colombian men, using the dissimilarity index (-7.5 [95% CI: -14.4, -0.5]) and in Colombian women, using the isolation index (-7.9 [95% CI: -14.1, -1.7]). CONCLUSIONS: While individual-level factors cannot fully explain differences among people in the same city, segregation indices may help. However, we found that in some cases, the relationship between BMI and segregation indices is opposite to what is expected based on prior literature. This should be considered in examining the phenomenon. Further research on obesogenic environments in segregated neighborhoods could provide valuable evidence.

Longitudinal association between density of retail food stores and body mass index in Mexican school children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is rapidly increasing in Mexican children and adolescents, while food environments are rapidly changing. We evaluated the association between changes in retail food stores and change in body mass index (BMI) in Mexican children and adolescents. METHODS: Data on 7507 participants aged 5-19 years old came from the Mexican Family Life Survey 2002-2012. Density of food stores at the municipal-level (number of food stores/area in km2) came from the Economic Censuses of 1999, 2004 and 2009. We categorized food stores as small food retail (small neighborhood stores, tiendas de abarrotes in Mexico), specialty foods, fruit/vegetables, convenience foods, and supermarkets. Associations between change in food stores and change in BMI were estimated using five longitudinal linear fixed-effects regression models (one per type of food store) adjusted for age, parental education, municipal-level socioeconomic deprivation and population density. Density of each food store type was operationalized as quartiles. Analyses were stratified by urbanization. RESULTS: There was an inverse dose-response association between increases in fruit/vegetable store density and BMI (ß = -0.455 kg/m2, ß = -0.733 kg/m2, and ß = -0.838 kg/m2 in the second, third, and fourth quartile). In non-urban areas, children living in municipalities with the highest density of small food retail stores experienced a reduction in BMI (ß = -0.840 kg/m2). In urban areas, there was an inverse association between specialty food stores with BMI (ß = -0.789 kg/m2 in third quartile, and ß = -1.204 kg/m2 in fourth quartile). We observed dynamic associations with age; results suggested stronger associations in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of fruit/vegetable stores may influence a reduction in children and adolescents BMI. These results indicate that policy approaches could be tailored by type of food store - with some consideration for level of urbanization and children's age.

Food and beverage purchases at formal and informal outlets in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To examine food and beverage purchasing patterns across formal and informal outlets among Mexican households' and explore differences by urbanicity and income. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample of households. We calculated the proportion of total food and beverage expenditure in each household by food outlet type overall and by urbanicity and income. We defined informal outlets as those which are not registered or regulated by tax and fiscal laws. Since some of the outlets within community food environments do not fall in clear categories, we defined a continuum from formal to informal outlets, adding mixed outlets as a category. SETTING: Mexico. PARTICIPANTS: Mexican households (n 74 203) from the 2018 National Income and Expenditure Survey. RESULTS: Of the total food and beverage purchases, outlets within the formal food sector (i.e. supermarkets and convenience stores) accounted for 15 % of the purchases, 13 % of purchases occurred in outlets within the informal food sector (i.e. street markets, street vendors and acquaintances) and 70 % in fiscally mixed outlets (i.e. small neighbourhood stores, specialty stores and public markets). Across levels of urbanicity and income, most food and beverage purchases occurred in mixed outlets. Also, purchases in informal and mixed outlets decreased as levels of urbanicity and income increased. In contrast to informal outlets, purchases in formal outlets were most likely from richer households and living in larger sized cities. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding where Mexican households shop for food is relevant to create tailored interventions according to food outlet type, accounting for regulatory and governance structures.

Evaluation of road safety policies and their enforcement in Mexico City, 2015-2019: an interrupted time-series study.

BACKGROUND: Mexico City approved new road safety policies in 2015, which included lower speed limits and higher fines for traffic offences. In 2019, economic fines were replaced by a point penalty system among other changes. This study evaluates these policies on road traffic collisions, injuries and deaths. METHODS: Collisions data came from insurance collision claims (January 2015 to December 2019) and road traffic deaths from vital registrations (January 2013 to December 2019). We conducted an interrupted time series analysis for each outcome using negative binomial regression models with an offset of insured vehicles (collisions) or total population (deaths). Then, we classified the 16 municipalities in the city into enforcement and no-enforcement groups based on presence or absence of automated traffic enforcement devices and conducted a controlled interrupted time series analysis. RESULTS: The 2015 road safety policies had no effect on total collisions and collisions resulting in injury but were associated with a 0.2% (95% CI -0.3 to 0.0) decline in the mortality trend. The 2019 policies had no effect on total collisions but were associated with a 1.5% increase in the trend of collisions resulting in injuries and with a 2.7% (95% CI 1.0 to 4.5) increase in the mortality trend. Postpolicy trends in enforcement versus no-enforcement municipalities were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Policies that included high economic penalties for speeding and dangerous behaviours were effective in decreasing traffic mortality while removing economic penalties and replacing them with a point penalty system were associated with an increase in collisions, resulting in injury and mortality.

Association of service facilities and amenities with adolescent birth rates in Mexican cities.

BACKGROUND: The association of the built environment and the structural availability of services/amenities with adolescent birth rates (ABR) has been overlooked in Latin America. We investigated the association of the availability, and changes in the availability, of services/amenities with ABR in 92 Mexican cities. METHODS: We estimated ABR using data on live birth registration linked to municipality of residence at the time of birth from 2008-2017. The number of services/amenities were obtained from the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units in 2010, 2015, and 2020 and grouped as follows: education, health care, pharmacies, recreation, and on- and off-premises alcohol outlets. Data were linearly interpolated to obtain yearly estimates. We estimated densities per square km by municipality. We fitted negative binomial hybrid models, including a random intercept for municipality and city, and adjusted for other social environment variables. RESULTS: After adjustment a 1-unit increase in the density of recreation facilities, pharmacies, and off-premises alcohol outlets within municipalities was associated with a 5%, 4% and 12% decrease in ABR, respectively. Municipalities with higher density of education, recreational and health care facilities had a lower ABR; in contrast, municipalities with a higher density of on-premises alcohol experienced a higher ABR. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the importance of economic drivers and the need to invest in infrastructure, such as pharmacies, medical facilities, schools, and recreation areas and limit the availability of alcohol outlets to increase the impact of current adolescent pregnancy prevention programs.

Perceived Availability of Healthy and Unhealthy Foods in the Community, Work, and Higher Education Settings across Five Countries: Findings from the International Food Policy Study 2018.

BACKGROUND: Food environments play a key role in dietary behavior and vary due to different contexts, regulations, and policies. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the perceived availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in 3 different settings in 5 countries. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2018 International Food Policy Study, a cross-sectional survey of adults (18-100 y, n = 22,824) from Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), and the USA. Perceived availability of unhealthy (junk food and sugary drinks) and healthy foods (fruit or vegetables, healthy snacks, and water) in the community, workplace, and university settings were measured (i.e. not available, available for purchase, or available for free). Differences in perceived availability across countries were tested using adjusted multinomial logistic regression models. RESULTS: Across countries, unhealthy foods were perceived as highly available in all settings; in university and work settings unhealthy foods were perceived as more available than healthy foods. Australia and Canada had the highest perceived availability of unhealthy foods (range 87.5-90.6% between categories), and the UK had the highest perceived availability of fruits and vegetables for purchase (89.3%) in the community. In university and work settings, Mexico had the highest perceived availability for purchase of unhealthy foods (range 69.9-84.9%). The USA and the UK had the highest perceived availability of fruits and vegetables for purchase (65.3-66.3%) or for free (21.2-22.8%) in the university. In the workplace, the UK had high perceived availability of fruits and vegetables for purchase (40.2%) or for free (18.5%), and the USA had the highest perceived availability of junk food for free (17.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Across countries, unhealthy foods were perceived as highly available in all settings. Variability between countries may reflect differences in policies and regulations. Results underscore the need for the continuation and improvement of policy efforts to generate healthier food environments.

Are Women's Empowerment and Income Inequality Associated with Excess Weight in Latin American Cities?

While income gradients and gender inequalities in excess weight have been noted elsewhere, data from Latin American cities is lacking. We analyzed gender-specific associations between city-level women's empowerment and income inequality with individual-level overweight/obesity, assessing how these associations vary by individual education or living conditions within cities in Latin America. Data came from national surveys and censuses, and was compiled by the SALURBAL project (Urban Health in Latin America). The sample included 79,422 individuals (58.0% women), living in 538 sub-cities, 187 cities, and 8 countries. We used gender-stratified Poisson multilevel models to estimate the Prevalence Rate Ratios (PRR) for overweight/obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) per a unit change in city-level women's empowerment (proxied by a score that measures gender inequalities in employment and education) and income inequality (proxied by income-based Gini coefficient). We also tested whether individual education or sub-city living conditions modified such associations. Higher city labor women's empowerment (in women) and higher city Gini coefficient (in men) were associated with a lower prevalence of overweight/obesity (PRR = 0.97 (95%CI 0.94, 0.99) and PRR = 0.94 (95%CI 0.90, 0.97), respectively). The associations varied by individual education and sub-city living conditions. For labor women's empowerment, we observed weakened associations towards the null effect in women with lower education and in residents of sub-cities with worse living conditions (men and women). For the Gini coefficient, the association was stronger among men with primary education, and a negative association was observed in women with primary education. Our findings highlight the need for promoting equity-based policies and interventions to tackle the high prevalence of excess weight in Latin American cities.

Exacerbación de las inequidades educativas en tiempos de Covid-19.

No disponible.

Building a Methodological Foundation for Impactful Urban Planetary Health Science.

Anthropogenic environmental change will heavily impact cities, yet associated health risks will depend significantly on decisions made by urban leaders across a wide range of non-health sectors, including transport, energy, housing, basic urban services, and others. A subset of planetary health researchers focus on understanding the urban health impacts of global environmental change, and how these vary globally and within cities. Such researchers increasingly adopt collaborative transdisciplinary approaches to engage policy-makers, private citizens, and other actors in identifying and evaluating potential policy solutions that will reduce environmental impacts in ways that simultaneously promote health, equity, and/or local economies-in other words, maximising 'co-benefits'. This report presents observations from a participatory workshop focused on challenges and opportunities for urban planetary health research. The workshop, held at the 16th International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) in Xiamen, China, in November 2019, brought together 49 participants and covered topics related to collaboration, data, and research impact. It featured research projects funded by the Wellcome Trust's Our Planet Our Health (OPOH) programme. This report aims to concisely summarise and disseminate participants' collective contributions to current methodological practice in urban planetary health research.

Educational inequalities in obesity: a multilevel analysis of survey data from cities in Latin America.

OBJECTIVE: Using newly harmonised individual-level data on health and socio-economic environments in Latin American cities (from the Salud Urbana en América Latina (SALURBAL) study), we assessed the association between obesity and education levels and explored potential effect modification of this association by city-level socio-economic development. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used survey data collected between 2002 and 2017. Absolute and relative educational inequalities in obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, derived from measured weight and height) were calculated first. Then, a two-level mixed-effects logistic regression was run to test for effect modification of the education-obesity association by city-level socio-economic development. All analyses were stratified by sex. SETTING: One hundred seventy-six Latin American cities within eight countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru). PARTICIPANTS: 53 186 adults aged >18 years old. RESULTS: Among women, 25 % were living with obesity and obesity was negatively associated with educational level (higher education-lower obesity) and this pattern was consistent across city-level socio-economic development. Among men, 18 % were living with obesity and there was a positive association between education and obesity (higher education-higher obesity) for men living in cities with lower levels of development, whereas for those living in cities with higher levels of development, the pattern was inverted and university education was protective of obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Among women, education was protective of obesity regardless, whereas among men, it was only protective in cities with higher levels of development. These divergent results suggest the need for sex- and city-specific interventions to reduce obesity prevalence and inequalities.

Aislamiento ante síntomas sugestivos de Covid-19 o contacto con un caso: cumplimiento, prevalencia y factores asociados. Ensanut 2020 Covid-19.

Objetivo. Investigar el cumplimiento de las recomendacio-nes de aislamiento ante síntomas de Covid-19 o contacto con un caso. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal basado en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2020 sobre Covid-19. Se describió la prevalencia de aislamiento y su asociación con factores del nivel individual, hogar y contexto utilizando modelos de regresión log-binomial. Resultados. El 48.1% de la población >10 años reportó quedarse en casa ante síntomas o contacto con un caso. La prevalencia de aislamiento fue menor entre población ocupada vs. no-ocupada (RP 0.81; IC95% 0.73-0.89), mayor entre personas con alto nivel socioeconómico vs. bajo (RP 1.22; IC95% 1.08-1.38) y menor entre personas viviendo en estados sin un mensaje específico sobre aislamiento vs. estados con mensaje específico (RP 0.76; IC95% 0.63-0.91). Conclusiones. El cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de aislamiento durante la pandemia de Covid-19 estuvo asociado con factores socioeconómicos individuales y con la calidad de los mensajes de salud pública de los estados.

Seroprevalencia de SARS-CoV-2 en niños y adolescentes mexicanos en edad escolar.

Objetivo. Estimar la seroprevalencia de SARS-CoV-2 en población de edad escolar en México. Material y métodos. Se categorizaron a niños y adolescentes que participaron en la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2020 sobre Covid-19 (Ensanut 2020 Covid-19) por edad escolar y nivel educativo. En participantes seropositivos, se identificó la proporción de infecciones asintomáticas. Se estimaron razones de prevalencia usando un modelo de regresión log-binomial. Resultados. La seroprevalencia en educación básica y media fue de 18.7% (IC95%: 14.9, 22.5) y 26.7% (IC95%: 22.1, 31.3), respectivamente. La infección asintomática fue más frecuente en educación básica (88.5% [IC95%: 80.5, 93.5]). Conclusiones. En población de educación básica la infección por SARS-CoV-2 es baja y usualmente asintomática.

Ciclos de trabajo-confinamiento para reducir la transmisión de Covid-19: evidencia y recomendaciones en el contexto de México.

Este artículo propone intervenciones estructurales dirigidas a la reorganización del trabajo para evitar un repunte de casos de Covid-19, permitiendo la continuidad de la actividad económica. Se resume la evidencia disponible acerca de los ciclos de trabajo-confinamiento y la posible aplicación de ciclos de cuatro días de trabajo por tres de confinamiento (4x3) en el contexto mexicano. También se discuten otras intervenciones como la continuación del teletrabajo en algunos sectores y el escalonamiento de las jornadas de trabajo como medidas complementarias a los ciclos de trabajo-confinamiento. Esta discusión se da en el contexto de alta informalidad y escasos recursos para absorber una pérdida importante de la productividad por las empresas medianas y pequeñas en México. Se considera la necesidad de implementar apoyos para que personas y empresas puedan mitigar pérdidas en salarios y ganancias tanto del sector formal como informal.

Seroprevalencia de SARS-CoV-2 en adultos y adultos mayores en México y su asociación con enfermedades crónicas. Ensanut 2020 Covid-19.

Objetivo. Analizar la asociación entre seropositividad a SARS-CoV-2 y enfermedades crónicas en adultos y adultos mayores mexicanos. Material y métodos. Se utilizó la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2020 sobre Covid-19 (Ensanut 2020 Covid-19) para evaluar la asociación de seropositividad a SARS-CoV-2 con hipertensión arterial sistémica, diabetes tipo 2, índice de masa corporal, LDL-c elevado, HDL-c bajo, colesterol total elevado e hipertrigliceridemia. Resultados. Se observó una mayor seropositividad en personas con mayor índice de masa corporal. La seroprevalencia fue 25% mayor entre los adultos que presentaban obesidad en comparación con aquellos de peso normal en modelos ajustados (RP: 1.25 IC95%: 1.08,1.46). No se observó asociación entre seropositividad y otras enfermedades crónicas en adultos o adultos mayores. Conclusiones. Las personas con obesidad podrían tener una mayor susceptibilidad a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Este hallazgo debe ser confirmado con estudios longitudinales. No se encontró evidencia de asociación para otras enfermedades.

Revisión rápida: probabilidad de contagio por infecciones respiratorias agudas en el transporte público colectivo.

Objetivo. Determinar el nivel de evidencia sobre la proba-bilidad de transmisión de enfermedades respiratorias agudas en el transporte público colectivo. Material y métodos. Se utilizó la metodología de revisiones rápidas de Cochrane. La estrategia de búsqueda abarcó una base de datos acadé-mica hasta el 10 de diciembre de 2020. Resultados. Se identificaron 16 manuscritos que cumplieron los criterios de selección. En estudios de cohorte agrupados se encontró que el momio de seroconversión por influenza A o B fue 54% mayor en personas con uso frecuente de transporte público colectivo en comparación con las personas con un uso poco frecuente (razón de momios: 1.54; IC95%:1.06-2.01). Conclusión. La probabilidad de contagio por enfermeda-des respiratorias agudas puede incrementar con el uso del transporte público colectivo. Algunas recomendaciones para reducir la probabilidad de contagio en el transporte público colectivo son el uso de cubrebocas y reducir el número de pasajeros y tiempo de traslado.

Future trends in social inequalities in obesity in England, Wales and Scotland.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown persistent or increasing socioeconomic inequalities in obesity in many European countries. The aim of this study was to project trends in social inequalities in obesity to 2035 in male and female adults (aged 16+) in the UK to ascertain if the gap is widening or narrowing. METHODOLOGY: BMI data for the UK were extracted from the Health Survey for England (2004-14), Scottish Health Survey (2008-14) and the Welsh Health Survey (2004-14), respectively. A non-linear multivariate regression model was fitted to cross-sectional risk factor data to create longitudinal projections to 2035 stratified by sex, and occupational status or education level. RESULTS: Individuals in routine and manual jobs are projected to have the highest prevalence of obesity by 2035 and to experience the highest increases in obesity prevalence to 2035. Social inequalities based on occupation are projected to widen (except in English females). Social inequalities based on education are projected to decrease (except in Welsh females). DISCUSSION: A population strategy of prevention focused on the structural determinants of obesity is needed to change the trajectory of obesity prevalence trends and to tackle health inequalities.

[Public health in the first wave: a research agendafor cooperation under Covid-19]. / La salud pública en la primera ola: una agenda para la cooperación ante Covid-19.

Covid-19 represents one of the largest challenges in the recent history of public health. It is fundamental that we strengthen scientific cooperation under a common goal: to protect the health of the population. In this article, we present ideas that need urgent and collaborative efforts. We discuss the estimation of the magnitude of the epidemic through a nationwide seroprevalence panel, as well as new strategies to monitor the epidemic in real time. We also analyze the negative externalities associated to the pandemic. Finally, we present a general framework to develop ideas to come out of the lockdown, highlighting the importance of implementing sustainable and equitable structural interventions. We call for solidarity and cooperation, focusing our efforts and creativity in the resolution of the problems that currently affect Mexico and the world.

El Covid-19 representa uno de los retos más grandes en la historia reciente de la salud pública. Es fundamental que se fortalezcan los lazos de cooperación científica bajo un obje-tivo común: proteger la salud de la población. En este artículo se presentan ideas que necesitan un desarrollo urgente y colaborativo. Se discute la estimación de la magnitud de la epidemia mediante un panel nacional de seroprevalencia y nuevas estrategias para mejorar el monitoreo en tiempo real de la epidemia. También se analizan las externalidades nega-tivas asociadas con la respuesta a la pandemia. Finalmente, se presenta un marco general para el desarrollo de ideas para salir del confinamiento, resaltando la importancia de implementar acciones estructurales, sostenibles y equitativas. Se hace un llamado a la solidaridad y la cooperación, donde nuestros esfuerzos y creatividad se dediquen a la resolución de los problemas que enfrentan México y el mundo.

[Rapid review of the use of community-wide surgical masks and acute respiratory infections]. / Revisión rápida del uso de cubrebocas quirúrgicos en ámbito comunitario e infecciones respiratorias agudas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of using surgical masks in community settings to reduce the probability of infection by SARS-CoV-2 or other acute viral respiratory infection, compared to not using surgical masks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed the Cochrane rapid review methodology. The search strategy encompasses one academic database and pre-prints until April 1, 2020. Titles and abstracts were reviewed by one investigator. The full text review was divided among three researchers. The results were synthesized in a narrative way. RESULTS: 713 manuscripts were identified, of which 21 met the inclusion criteria. Of six systematic reviews, four found no reduction in the probability of transmission. Experimental home studies found no differences in the probability of contagion associated with the use of mouth masks. Only one modeling study estimated a 20% reduction in the incidence of acute respiratory disease, assuming that 10 to 50% of the population use the surgical masks correctly. CONCLUSIONS: The scientific evidence is inconclusive to recommend or discourage the use of surgical masks at the population level. Considering the potential negative effects, official recommendations should await for the results of natural experiments currently occurring in countries that have recommended the use of face masks at the population level.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la efectividad del uso de cubrebocas quirúrgico en ámbitos comunitarios para reducir la probabilidad de contagio por SARS-CoV-2 u otra infección respiratoria aguda viral, en comparación con no usar cubrebocas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se utilizó la metodología de revisiones rápidas de Cochrane. La estrategia de búsqueda abarcó una base de datos académica y pre-prints hasta el 1 de abril de 2020. Los títulos y resúmenes fueron revisados por un investigador. La revisión de textos completos fue dividida entre tres investigadores. Los resultados fueron sintetizados de forma narrativa. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 713 manuscritos, de los cuales 21 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. De seis revisiones sistemáticas, cuatro no encontraron reducciones en la probabilidad de contagio y seis estudios experimentales en hogares no encontraron diferencias en la probabilidad de contagio asociado con el uso de cubrebocas. Únicamente un estudio de modelaje estimó una reducción de 20% en la incidencia de enfermedad respiratoria, asumiendo que 10 a 50% de la población hace uso correcto de cubrebocas quirúrgicos. CONCLUSIONES: La evidencia científica no es concluyente para recomendar o desalentar el uso de cubrebocas a nivel poblacional. Considerando los potenciales efectos negativos, las recomendaciones gubernamentales deberían esperar a los resultados de los experimentos naturales en países que han recomendado la utilización poblacional de cubrebocas.