Waiting times for surgical and diagnostic procedures in public hospitals in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective evaluation of waiting times for elective procedures was conducted in a sample of Mexican public hospitals from the following institutions: the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), the Institute for Social Security and Social Services for Civil Servants (ISSSTE) and the Ministry of Health (MoH). Our aim was to describe current waiting times and identify opportunities to redistribute service demand among public institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined current waiting times and productivity for seven elective surgical and four diagnostic imaging procedures, selected on the basis of their relative frequency and comparability with other national health systems. RESULTS: Mean waiting time for the seven surgical procedures in the three institutions was 14 weeks. IMSS and ISSSTE hospitals showed better performance (12 and 13 weeks) than the MoH hospitals (15 weeks). Mean waiting time for the four diagnostic procedures was 11 weeks. IMSS hospitals (10 weeks) showed better average waiting times than ISSSTE (12 weeks) and MoH hospitals (11 weeks). CONCLUSION: Substantial variations were revealed, not only among institutions but also within the same institution. These variations need to be addressed in order to improve patient satisfaction.

Socioeconomic gradients in child development: Evidence from a Chilean longitudinal study 2010-2017.

Empirical evidence shows that lack of resources during infancy and the process of accumulating disadvantages throughout childhood have important consequences for cognitive and socio-emotional development. This paper examines socioeconomic gradients across language and socio-emotional measures. Using longitudinal data from 7-year, three-wave panel data, we study the patterns of socioeconomic status and child development in Chile and estimate how much of the wealth gap can be explained by different mediators like maternal educational and skills, child attendance of preschool and school, possession of books, or domestic violence indicators. We show that there are strong associations between household wealth and child development, and that, as the child grows, the gap between the most extreme quintiles of the distribution, both in cognitive and socio-emotional skills, persists but decreases in magnitude. Taking advantage of the longitudinal nature of the data, we calculate a permanent skill for each child and each skill dimension in this 7-year period. The analysis for the permanent component shows that wealth gaps are important to determine language, but not socio-emotional skills, and that the gap is larger for girls than for boys in the early childhood period. While mediators account for some of the associations, there is still a large socioeconomic gap that persists in receptive language among children. The most important factors that mediate the wealth gaps are inherited from maternal characteristics. By understanding the dynamism of social and cognitive vulnerability experienced during childhood and employing longitudinal data and methods, this study contributes to and extends the existing literature on socioeconomic gaps and child development in the Latin American context.

Barriers and facilitators to influenza vaccination observed by officers of national immunization programs in South America countries with contrasting coverage rates.

Influenza is a severe, vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccination programs across Latin American countries show contrasting coverage rates, from 29% in Paraguay to 89% in Brazil. This study explores how national influenza vaccination programs in the chosen South American countries address vaccine confidence and convenience, as well as complacency toward the disease. Barriers and facilitators to influenza vaccination programs in their relation to vaccine hesitancy were observed by documentary analysis and interviews with 38 national immunization program officers in high- (Brazil and Chile) and low-performing (Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) countries. Influenza vaccination policies, financing, purchasing, coordination, and accessibility are considered good or acceptable. National communication strategies focus on vaccine availability during campaigns. In Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, anti-vaccine propaganda was mentioned as a problem. Programming and implementation face human resource shortages across most countries. Statistical information, health information systems, and nominal risk-group records are available, with limitations in Peru and Paraguay. Health promotion, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation are perceived as opportunities to address confidence and complacency. Influenza vaccination programs identify and act on most barriers and facilitators affecting influenza vaccine hesitancy via supply-side strategies which mostly address vaccine convenience. Confidence and complacency are insufficiently addressed, except for Uruguay. Programs have the opportunity to develop integral supply and demand-side approaches.

Hospital admissions with influenza and impact of age and comorbidities on severe clinical outcomes in Brazil and Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The risk of hospitalization or death after influenza infection is higher at the extremes of age and in individuals with comorbidities. We estimated the number of hospitalizations with influenza and characterized the cumulative risk of comorbidities and age on severe outcomes in Mexico and Brazil. METHODS: We used national hospital discharge data from Brazil (SIH/SUS) from 2010-2018 and Mexico (SAEH) from 2010-2017 to estimate the number of influenza admissions using ICD-10 discharge codes, stratified by age (0-4, 5-17, 18-49, 50-64, and ≥65 years). Duration of hospital stay, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and in-hospital case fatality rates (CFRs) defined the severe outcomes. Rates were compared between patients with or without pre-specified comorbidities and by age. RESULTS: A total of 327,572 admissions with influenza were recorded in Brazil and 20,613 in Mexico, with peaks period most years. In Brazil, the median hospital stay duration was 3.0 days (interquartile range, 2.0-5.0), ICU admission rate was 3.3% (95% CI, 3.2-3.3%), and in-hospital CFR was 4.6% (95% CI, 4.5-4.7). In Mexico, the median duration of stay was 5.0 days (interquartile range, 3.0-7.0), ICU admission rate was 1.8% (95% CI, 1.6-2.0%), and in-hospital CFR was 6.9% (95% CI, 6.5-7.2). In Brazil, ICU admission and in-hospital CFR were higher in adults aged ≥50 years and increased in the presence of comorbidities, especially cardiovascular disease. In Mexico, comorbidities increased the risk of ICU admission by 1.9 (95% CI, 1.0-3.5) and in-hospital CFR by 13.9 (95% CI, 8.4-22.9) in children 0-4 years. CONCLUSION: The SIH/SUS and SAEH databases can be used to estimate hospital admissions with influenza, and the disease severity. Age and comorbidities, especially cardiovascular disease, are cumulatively associated with more severe outcomes, with differences between countries. This association should be further analyzed in prospective surveillance studies designed to support influenza vaccination strategy decisions.

Parent reported outcomes to measure satisfaction, acceptability, and daily life impact after vaccination with whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccine in Chile.

AIM: To compare parental satisfaction and impact on daily life among parents of children receiving whole-cell pentavalent + oral polio vaccine (Arm1) with an acellular hexavalent vaccine (Hexaxim; Arm2). METHODS: Self-administered electronic questionnaire at vaccination and one week later in six community health clinics of metropolitan Santiago, Chile, exploring parent-reported outcomes on satisfaction, acceptability, and impact on daily life after immunization. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine differences in the responses in both groups (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The study enrolled 800 participants and 65% (222 in Arm1, 296 in Arm2) were included for according-to-protocol analysis. Demographic characteristics were comparable, except for a higher proportion of mothers answering the questionnaire at the 6-month visit. Regardless of the study arm, parental knowledge and perception of the immunization practices were good, and there were no differences in vaccination experiences in the prior 5 years. However, satisfaction with vaccination and intention to vaccinate were statistically significantly higher in Arm2 after the 6-month visit. Also, more parents in Arm2 reported no disruption in several aspects of the everyday activities of the parent, the child, and other children in the household. Parents in Arm2 were more likely to be satisfied with the vaccine received (OR 2.82; 95% CI, 1.22-7.07); return for other vaccine dose (OR 2.62; 95% CI, 1.45-4.84); follow a healthcare professional recommendation (OR 2.24; 95% CI, 1.57-3.21); and, to be confident that the vaccine will not disrupt the family's daily routine (OR 1.89; 95% CI, 1.32-2.71). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, satisfaction, intention for future vaccination, and lower impact on the family daily routine were significantly better in the group receiving the hexavalent vaccine. We also found that health care providers' recommendations to vaccinate and participants' access to health services were important factors favoring immunization.

Barriers and facilitators to influenza vaccination observed by officers of national immunization programs in South America countries with contrasting coverage rates / Barreras y facilitadores de la vacuna contra la gripe observados por funcionarios de los programas nacionales de inmunización en países de Suramérica con niveles de cobertura contrastantes / Barreiras e facilitadores da vacinação contra influenza observados por funcionários dos programas nacionais de imunização em países Sul-Americanos com diferentes níveis de cobertura

Influenza is a severe, vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccination programs across Latin American countries show contrasting coverage rates, from 29% in Paraguay to 89% in Brazil. This study explores how national influenza vaccination programs in the chosen South American countries address vaccine confidence and convenience, as well as complacency toward the disease. Barriers and facilitators to influenza vaccination programs in their relation to vaccine hesitancy were observed by documentary analysis and interviews with 38 national immunization program officers in high- (Brazil and Chile) and low-performing (Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay) countries. Influenza vaccination policies, financing, purchasing, coordination, and accessibility are considered good or acceptable. National communication strategies focus on vaccine availability during campaigns. In Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, anti-vaccine propaganda was mentioned as a problem. Programming and implementation face human resource shortages across most countries. Statistical information, health information systems, and nominal risk-group records are available, with limitations in Peru and Paraguay. Health promotion, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation are perceived as opportunities to address confidence and complacency. Influenza vaccination programs identify and act on most barriers and facilitators affecting influenza vaccine hesitancy via supply-side strategies which mostly address vaccine convenience. Confidence and complacency are insufficiently addressed, except for Uruguay. Programs have the opportunity to develop integral supply and demand-side approaches.

La gripe es una enfermedad grave, prevenible mediante vacunas con sus correspondientes programas en países latinoamericanos, informando sobre tasas contrastadas de cobertura, desde el 29% en Paraguay al 89% en Brasil. Este artículo investiga cómo los programas nacionales contra la gripe en países seleccionados de Suramérica abordan la confianza en la vacuna y su conveniencia, así como también la complacencia hacia la enfermedad. Las barreras y facilitadores del programa de vacunación de la gripe, en su relación con la vacilación hacia la vacuna, se observaron mediante análisis documental y entrevistas a 38 a cargo de los programas nacionales de inmunización en países con alto (Brasil y Chile) y bajo desempeño (Paraguay, Perú y Uruguay). Políticas de vacunación contra la gripe, financiamiento, compras coordinación y accesibilidad fueron consideradas como buenas o aceptables. Las estrategias nacionales de comunicación se centran en la disponibilidad de la vacuna durante las campañas. En Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay la propaganda antivacunas fue mencionada como un problema. La planificación e implementación enfrentan escasez de recursos humanos en la mayoría de países a través de la mayoría de países. Los sistemas de información en salud, estadísticas y registros nominales por grupos de riesgo se encuentran disponibles con limitaciones en Perú y Paraguay. La promoción de la salud, supervisión, monitoreo y evaluación son percibidos como oportunidades para abordar la confianza y complacencia. Los programas de vacunación contra la gripe actúan principalmente sobre las barreras y facilitadores que afectan la vacilación a vacunarse mediante estrategias del lado de la demanda, las cuales en su mayor parte van dirigidas a contrarestar la conveniencia. La confianza y complacencia son insuficientemente abordadas en todos los países, excepto en Uruguay. Los programas tienen la oportunidad de desarrollar estrategias que aborden tanto el lado de la oferta como de la demanda.

A influenza é uma doença grave, imunoprevenível, para a qual os programas de vacinação nos países latino-americanos apresentam taxas de cobertura contrastantes, desde 29% no Paraguai até 89% no Brasil. O artigo explora de que maneira os programas nacionais de influenza em países selecionados da América do Sul lidam com a confiança e a conveniência da vacina, assim como, a acomodação em relação à doença. As barreiras e facilitadores dos programas de vacinação contra influenza foram observados em relação à hesitação vacinal, através de análise documental e entrevistas com 38 autoridades de programas nacionais de imunização em países com desempenho alto (Brasil e Chile) e baixo (Paraguai, Peru e Uruguai). As políticas de vacinação contra influenza, financiamento da compra de vacinas, coordenação e acessibilidade são consideradas boas ou aceitáveis. As estratégias nacionais de comunicação estão concentradas na disponibilidade durante campanhas. No Chile, Paraguai e Uruguay, a propaganda antivacina foi mencionada enquanto problema. A programação e a implementação enfrentam escassez de recursos humanos na maioria dos países. Dados estatísticos, sistemas de informação em saúde e registros nominais de grupos de risco estão disponíveis, com limitações no Peru e no Paraguai. A promoção da saúde, supervisão, monitoramento e avaliação foram percebidas como oportunidades para tratar da confiança e da acomodação. Os programas de vacinação contra influenza identificam e agem sobre a maioria das barreiras e facilitadores que afetam a hesitação vacinal através de estratégias do lado da oferta, tratando principalmente da conveniência da vacina. A confiança e a acomodação não são tratadas de maneira suficiente, com exceção notável do Uruguai. Os programas têm a oportunidade de desenvolver abordagens que integram os lados da oferta e da procura.

Early life height and weight production functions with endogenous energy and protein inputs.

We examine effects of protein and energy intakes on height and weight growth for children between 6 and 24 months old in Guatemala and the Philippines. Using instrumental variables to control for endogeneity and estimating multiple specifications, we find that protein intake plays an important and positive role in height and weight growth in the 6-24 month period. Energy from other macronutrients, however, does not have a robust relation with these two anthropometric measures. Our estimates indicate that in contexts with substantial child undernutrition, increases in protein-rich food intake in the first 24 months can have important growth effects, which previous studies indicate are related significantly to a range of outcomes over the life cycle.

Waiting times for surgical and diagnostic procedures in public hospitals in Mexico / Tiempos de espera para procedimientos quirúrgicos y diagnósticos en hospitales públicos de México

Objective. A retrospective evaluation of waiting times for elective procedures was conducted in a sample of Mexican public hospitals from the following institutions: the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), the Institute for Social Security and Social Services for Civil Servants (ISSSTE) and the Ministry of Health (MoH). Our aim was to describe current waiting times and identify opportunities to redistribute service demand among public institutions. Materials and methods. We examined current waiting times and productivity for seven elective surgical and four diagnostic imaging procedures, selected on the basis of their relative frequency and comparability with other national health systems. Results. Mean waiting time for the seven surgical procedures in the three institutions was 14 weeks. IMSS and ISSSTE hospitals showed better performance (12 and 13 weeks) than the MoH hospitals (15 weeks). Mean waiting time for the four diagnostic procedures was 11 weeks. IMSS hospitals (10 weeks) showed better average waiting times than ISSSTE (12 weeks) and MoH hospitals (11 weeks). Conclusion. Substantial variations were revealed, not only among institutions but also within the same institution. These variations need to be addressed in order to improve patient satisfaction.

Objetivo. Se llevó a cabo una evaluación retrospectiva de los tiempos de espera para procedimientos electivos en una muestra de hospitales públicos en México de las siguientes instituciones: Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) y Secretaría de Salud (SS). El propósito era describir la situación actual en materia de tiempos de espera e identificar oportunidades de redistribución de la demanda de servicios entre instituciones públicas. Material y métodos. Se analizaron los tiempos de espera y la productividad para siete procedimientos quirúrgicos y cuatro procedimientos diagnósticos seleccionados sobre la base de su frecuencia relativa y comparabilidad con otros sistemas de salud nacionales. Resultados. El tiempo de espera promedio para los siete procedimientos quirúrgicos en las tres instituciones fue de 14 semanas. Los hospitales del IMSS y el ISSSTE mostraron un mejor desempeño (12 y 13 semanas) frente a los hospitales de la SS (15 semanas). El tiempo de espera promedio para los cuatro procedimientos diagnósticos fue de 11 semanas. Los hospitales del IMSS mostraron un tiempo de espera promedio mejor (10 semanas) que los hospitales del ISSSTE (12 semanas) y la SS (11 semanas). Conclusión. Se identificaron variaciones importantes no sólo entre instituciones sino también al interior de cada una de ellas. Estas variaciones deben atenderse para así mejorar la satisfacción de los usuarios de los servicios.

[IgA antibody detection and PCR as first options in the diagnosis of perinatal HIV-1 infection]. / Detección de anticuerpos IgA y PCR como primeras opciones en el diagnóstico de infección perinatal por el VIH-1.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and IgA-specific immunoblot assays as ancillary methods to diagnose human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) perinatal infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative study was conducted between February and October 2001 at the Human Retrovirus Research Unit of Mexico's National University. Ninety infected and 153 non-infected children were included in the study. Viral cultures were the gold standard tests. Standardized PCR for a conserved region of the gag gene and HIV-specific IgA antibody using ELISA and immunoblot were used. Statistical analysis of results was performed with SPSS 10.0. RESULTS: IgA ELISA sensitivity and specificity were 61.1% and 90.8%, respectively. Immunoblot had a sensitivity of 82.2% and a specificity of 95.4%. PCR had an overall sensitivity of 98.3% and a specificity of 100% with only one false negative result. If both assays were run, the sensitivity increased to 100% and the specificity to 96%. CONCLUSIONS: A very high sensitivity and specificity is reached when using together PCR and IgA immunoblot; these assays are useful for perinatal diagnosis of HIV-1.

Detección de anticuerpos IgA y PCR como primeras opciones en el diagnóstico de infección perinatal por el VIH-1 / IgA antibody detection and PCR as first options in the diagnosis of perinatal HIV-1 infection

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la sensibilidad y especificidad de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y de las pruebas de ELISA e inmunoblot para anticuerpos IgA específicos, como únicos métodos en el diagnóstico de infección perinatal del VIH-1. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de evaluación comparativa, efectuado entre febrero y octubre de 2001 en la Unidad de Investigación en Retrovirus Humanos de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Se incluyeron 90 muestras de niños infectados y 153 de no infectados. El cultivo viral fue la prueba de referencia. Se estandarizaron ensayos de ELISA e inmunoblot y la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para una región conservada del gen gag. Se analizaron los resultados utilizando el paquete informático SPSS 10.0. RESULTADOS: La sensibilidad y especificidad de la prueba de ELISA fueron 61.1 y 90.8 por ciento, respectivamente. En el inmunoblot encontramos 82.2 y 95.4 por ciento, respectivamente, en tanto que la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa demostró tener sensibilidad de 98.3 por ciento y especificidad de 100 por ciento con sólo un falso negativo. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados indican que la realización simultánea de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa y el inmunoblot para IgA logran sensibilidad y especificidad de 100 por ciento y 96 por ciento, respectivamente, por lo cual se consideran útiles para el diagnóstico perinatal de VIH-1.