Building Capacity and Advancing Regulatory Measures to Improve Food Environments in the Region of the Americas.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the main cause of death globally (70%) and in the Region of the Americas (80%), and poor diets are a leading driver of NCDs. In response, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) introduced a set of evidence-based regulatory measures to help countries improve diets through the reduced consumption of processed and ultra-processed foods. This paper aims to describe the needs of and propose actions for key actors to advance these measures. A workshop was designed to assess member states' regulatory capacity. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze regional needs, successes and challenges. Thereafter, the Government Capacity-Building Framework for the prevention and control of NCDs was used to examine findings. The findings were organized in two sets: (i) PAHO/WHO actions to support member states and (ii) key actors' actions to advance regulatory policies. The results show notable regulatory progress across the Region of the Americas. However, progress differs between countries, with opportunities to strengthen measures in most countries, mainly in conflict of interest management. The results identified important actions to strengthen the regulatory capacity of PAHO/WHO member states. To maximize momentum for these actions, timelines must be identified, and political commitment can be boosted by applying human rights-based and food system-wide approaches.

Food additives and PAHO's nutrient profile model as contributors' elements to the identification of ultra-processed food products.

The NOVA classification system categorizes foods according to the extent and purpose of industrial processing. Ultra-processed food products (UPF) are frequently composed of excessive amounts of sugars, salt, oils, and fats, and cosmetic additives designed to make them palatable and/or appealing. We aimed to describe the presence of critical nutrients in excess and cosmetic additives in packaged foods and beverages and to evaluate the proportion of UPF that can be correctly identified through the presence of critical nutrients in excess or the presence of cosmetic additives in food products. A total of 9851 items available in Brazilian supermarkets containing lists of ingredients and nutrition facts panels were analyzed. Cosmetic additives and critical nutrients in excess, according to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)'s nutrient profile model, were assessed. All food items were categorized into the four NOVA classification groups. Relative frequencies of items with at least one critical nutrient in excess and one type of cosmetic additive were estimated. For UPF, 82.1% had some cosmetic additive, and 98.8% had some cosmetic additive or a nutrient in excess. This combined criterion allowed the identification of 100.0% of sweet cookies, salted biscuits, margarine, cakes and sweet pies, chocolate, dairy beverages, and ice cream. Combining the presence of cosmetic additives and the PAHO's nutrient profile model contributes to the identification of UPF.

The BIGG-REC database makes available all WHO/PAHO evidence informed recommendations.

OBJECTIVES: To build and maintain a living database of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) recommendations developed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Guidelines are identified from WHO and PAHO databases. We periodically extract recommendations, according to the health and well-being targets of sustainable development goal 3 (SDG-3). RESULTS: As of March 2022, the International database of GRADE guidelines (https://bigg-rec.bvsalud.org/en) database hosted 2,682 recommendations contained in 285 WHO/PAHO guidelines. Recommendations were classified as follows: communicable diseases (1,581), children's health (1,182), universal health (1,171), sexual and reproductive health (910), noncommunicable diseases (677), maternal health (654), COVID-19 (224), use of psychoactive substances (99), tobacco (14) and road and traffic accidents (16). International database of GRADE guidelines allows searching by SDG-3, condition or disease, type of intervention, institution, year of publication, and age. CONCLUSION: Recommendation maps provide an important resource for health professionals, organizations and member states that use evidence-informed guidance to make better decisions, providing a source for the adoption or adaptation of recommendations to meet their needs. This one-stop shop database of evidence-informed recommendations built with intuitive functionalities undoubtedly represents a long-needed tool for decision-makers, guideline developers, and the public at large.

Productos ultraprocesados en Argentina: evaluacion del modelo de perfil de nutrientes de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud / Ultra-processed products in Argentina: evaluation of the nutrients profile model of the Panamericanan Health Organization

Introducción: En Argentina, los problemas vinculados con el exceso de peso constituyen uno de los principales desafíos para la salud pública. Los antecedentes indican que el consumo de productos ultraprocesados contribuyen a esta tendencia por su alto contenido en azúcar, grasas totales, saturadas, trans y sodio. Este estudio analiza el perfil de nutrientes de la OPS en algunos productos ultraprocesados disponibles en el mercado argentino. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de campo, transversal, comparativo. Se evaluó el perfil de nutrientes (azúcares libres, grasas totales, grasas saturadas, grasas trans, sodio) y la densidad calórica. Las categorías fueron: galletitas dulces, alfajores, chocolates, golosinas, helados, cereales, bebidas, para untar, snacks salados y lácteos. Se realizó un análisis estadístico descriptivo e inferencial. Resultados: La muestra se conformó por 682 productos y todos superaron el punto de corte de, al menos, un nutriente, el 94,4% presentó cantidad excesiva de azúcares libres, el 47,9% cantidad excesiva de grasas totales, el 59,2% cantidad excesiva de grasas saturadas, el 10,6% cantidad excesiva de grasas trans y el 9,1% cantidad excesiva de sodio. El promedio de la densidad calórica total fue 3,19. Los productos con cantidad excesiva de grasas totales, saturadas y trans presentaron una densidad calórica superior (p<0.05); sin embargo, la densidad calórica de los productos con cantidad excesiva de azúcares libres fue inferior (p=0.000), misma tendencia se encontró en el caso del sodio, pero esta diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones: Todos los productos superaron el punto de corte de al menos un nutriente crítico y tener menor densidad calórica no garantizó su calidad nutricional. El perfil de nutrientes refleja de manera fidedigna la naturaleza de los productos ultraprocesados

Introduction: In Argentina, problems related to excess weight constitute one of the main challenges for public health. The background indicates that the consumption of ultra-processed products contributes to this trend due to their high sugar, total saturated, trans fat and sodium content. This study analyzes the PAHO nutrient profile in some ultra-processed products available in the Argentine market. Materials and methods: Field, cross-sectional, comparative study. Nutrient profile (free sugars, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium) and caloric density were evaluated. The categories were: sweet cookies, alfajores, chocolates, candies, ice creams, cereals, drinks, spreads, salty and dairy snacks. A descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed. Results: The sample was made up of 682 products and all of them exceeded the cut-off point of at least one nutrient, 94.4% presented an excessive amount of free sugars, 47.9% an excessive amount of total fats, 59. 2% excessive amount of saturated fat, 10.6% excessive amount of trans fat and 9.1% excessive amount of sodium. The average of the total caloric density was 3.19. Products with an excessive amount of total, saturated and trans fats had a higher caloric density (p<0.05); however, the caloric density of the products with an excessive amount of free sugars was lower (p=0.000), the same trend was found in the case of sodium, but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: All the products exceeded the cut-off point for at least one critical nutrient and having a lower caloric density did not guarantee their nutritional quality. The nutrient profile accurately reflects the nature of ultra-processed products

A commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres / Comentario sobre la Red Panamericana de Centros Colaboradores de Enfermería y Partería / Comentário sobre a Rede Pan-Americana de Centros Colaboradores de Enfermagem e Obstetrícia

ABSTRACT This article provides a commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres (PANMCC). The objectives are to present an overview of the formation and evolution of the network, its impact on education, research, policy and communication and the benefits of membership. The advantages of international networks as a mechanism to strengthen nursing and midwifery workforces and improve health systems are also highlighted. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in the Americas, oversees collaborating centres in the Region. Established in 1999, PANMCC consists of 17 centres situated in universities and schools of nursing. These centres provide crucial nursing and midwifery input to PAHO/WHO. The network supports global engagement and capacity building via collaboration, resource sharing and research colloquia. The linkages within the network enhance professional development, increase capacity building and heighten visibility of PANMCC and the work of its members.

RESUMEN En este artículo se presenta un comentario sobre la Red Panamericana de Centros Colaboradores de Enfermería y Partería (PANMCC, por su sigla en inglés). Los objetivos son presentar una visión general de la formación y evolución de la red, sus repercusiones en los ámbitos de la educación, la investigación, la política y las comunicaciones, así como los beneficios de pertenecer a la red. También se destacan las ventajas de las redes internacionales como mecanismo para fortalecer al personal de enfermería y partería y mejorar los sistemas de salud. La Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS), Oficina Regional de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para las Américas, supervisa los centros colaboradores en la Región. Fundada en 1999, la PANMCC consta de 17 centros ubicados en universidades y facultades de enfermería, los cuales proporcionan información crucial sobre enfermería y partería a la OPS/OMS. Esta red respalda el compromiso general y el desarrollo de capacidades mediante la colaboración, el intercambio de recursos y los coloquios de investigación. Los vínculos en la red mejoran el desarrollo profesional, aumentan el desarrollo de capacidades y aumentan la visibilidad de la PANMCC y el trabajo de sus miembros.

RESUMO Este artigo traz um comentário sobre a Rede Pan-Americana de Centros Colaboradores de Enfermagem e Obstetrícia (PANMCC). Os objetivos são apresentar uma visão geral da formação e evolução da Rede, seu impacto em educação, pesquisa, políticas e comunicação e os benefícios da filiação. Também são destacadas as vantagens das redes internacionais como mecanismo para valorizar as forças de trabalho em enfermagem e obstetrícia e melhorar os sistemas de saúde. A Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS) - o Escritório da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) nas Américas - supervisiona os Centros Colaboradores na região. Criada em 1999, a PANMCC é composta por 17 centros situados em universidades e escolas de enfermagem. Esses centros fornecem informações essenciais sobre enfermagem e obstetrícia para a OPAS/OMS. A rede apoia o envolvimento global e o fortalecimento institucional por meio de colaboração, compartilhamento de recursos e colóquios de pesquisa. Os elos dentro da rede aprimoram o desenvolvimento profissional, estimulam o fortalecimento institucional e aumentam a visibilidade da PANMCC e do trabalho dos seus membros.

Promoting telemedicine in Latin America in light of COVID-19 / Fomentar la telemedicina en América Latina en vista de la COVID-19 / Promoção da telemedicina na América Latina frente à COVID-19

ABSTRACT The Faculty of Health Sciences at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Barcelona, Spain) was officially designated a 'World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre in eHealth' on 5 April 2018. The Centre aims to provide support to countries willing to develop new telemedicine services; to promote the use of eHealth; and to study the adoption and use of mobile health in countries of both the Region of the Americas and Europe. On 11 March 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic given the significant increase in the number of cases worldwide. Since then, the Centre has played an important role in addressing COVID-19 by undertaking fruitful cooperative activities. Lockdowns and social distancing in response to the high contagion rate of COVID-19 were the main triggers for a challenging digital transformation in many sectors, especially in healthcare. In this extreme crisis scenario, the rapid adoption of digital health solutions and technological tools was key to responding to the enormous pressure on healthcare systems. Telemedicine has become a necessary component of clinical practice for the purpose of providing safer patient care, and it has been used to support the healthcare needs of COVID-19 patients and routine primary care patients alike. This article describes the Centre's contribution to the work of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO in supporting Latin American and European countries to develop new telemedicine services and guidance on how to address COVID-19 through digital health solutions. Future actions are also highlighted.

RESUMEN La Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Barcelona, España) fue oficialmente designada centro colaborador de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en el ámbito de la salud digital (también denominada "cibersalud" o "eSalud") el 5 de abril del 2018. El centro está destinado a prestar apoyo a los países que deseen crear nuevos servicios de telemedicina, promover el uso de la salud digital, y estudiar la adopción y el uso de la salud móvil en países de la Región de las Américas y Europa. El 11 de marzo del 2020 la OMS declaró la COVID-19 una pandemia mundial dado el aumento significativo del número de casos en todo el mundo. Desde entonces, el centro ha desempeñado un papel importante en la respuesta a la COVID-19 mediante la realización de fructíferas actividades de cooperación. Los confinamientos y el distanciamiento social en respuesta a la alta tasa de contagio de la COVID-19 fueron los principales desencadenantes de una compleja transformación digital en muchos sectores, especialmente en la atención de salud. En esta situación de crisis extrema, la rápida adopción de soluciones digitales y herramientas tecnológicas fue clave para dar respuesta a la enorme presión sobre los sistemas de salud. La telemedicina se ha convertido en un componente necesario de la práctica clínica con el fin de proporcionar una atención más segura a los pacientes, y se ha empleado para apoyar las necesidades de atención de salud de los pacientes con COVID-19 así como los pacientes habituales de los servicios de atención primaria. En este artículo se describe la contribución del centro a la labor de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) y la OMS al prestar apoyo a los países de América Latina y Europa en la creación de nuevos servicios de telemedicina y brindar orientación sobre cómo abordar la COVID-19 con soluciones digitales de salud. También se destacan las acciones futuras.

RESUMO A Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Barcelona, Espanha) foi oficialmente designada, em 5 de abril de 2018, "Centro Colaborador da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) em eSaúde". O centro tem como objetivo prestar apoio aos países dispostos a desenvolver novos serviços de telemedicina; promover o uso da eSaúde, ou saúde digital; e estudar a adoção e o uso da saúde móvel em países da Região das Américas e da Europa. Em 11 de março de 2020, a OMS declarou a COVID-19 como pandemia global, dado o aumento significativo do número de casos no mundo inteiro. Desde então, o centro tem desempenhado um papel importante no enfrentamento da COVID-19, empreendendo atividades frutíferas de cooperação. Os lockdowns e o distanciamento social em resposta à alta taxa de contágio da COVID-19 foram os principais desencadeadores de uma transformação digital desafiadora em muitos setores, especialmente na área da saúde. Neste cenário de crise extrema, a rápida adoção de soluções digitais de saúde e ferramentas tecnológicas foi fundamental para responder à enorme pressão sobre os sistemas de saúde. A telemedicina se tornou um componente necessário da prática clínica, com o objetivo de oferecer um atendimento mais seguro aos pacientes, e tem sido usada para apoiar as necessidades de saúde tanto dos pacientes com COVID-19 como dos pacientes da atenção primária de rotina. Este artigo descreve a contribuição do centro para o trabalho da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde (OPAS) e da OMS no apoio aos países latino-americanos e europeus para desenvolver novos serviços de telemedicina e orientação sobre como enfrentar a COVID-19 por meio de soluções de saúde digitais. Ações futuras também são destacadas.

Intervención de la representante de la OPS para Colombia. Gina Tambini Gómez / Intervention of the PAHO representative for Colombia. Gina Tambini Gómez

Iniciamos la presentación estableciendo un paralelismo histórico entre dos instituciones la Academia Nacional de Medicina con 150 años y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) con 120 años, destacando el contexto sanitario que le dio origen a ambas instituciones. En los inicios de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud y la Academia Nacional de Medicina buscaron sus miembros responder a brotes epidémicos, epidemias de enfermedades transmisibles buscando el saneamiento básico, la salubridad e higiene de la población.

Cooperation Agreements, Memorandums of Understanding, and Letters of Intent as Instruments to Facilitate the Implementation of Reliance in Latin America.

For more than a decade, the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, Pan-American Network or Drug Regulatory Harmonization, and the International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities, have encouraged regulators to adopt reliance and recognition pathways to reduce duplication, improve efficiency and efficacy, and strengthen regulatory capabilities, in order to facilitate marketing authorization approval, thereby maintaining supply chain integrity. Several factors have limited the more widespread implementation of reliance pathways in Latin America, among which is having the appropriate legal tools in place between and among agencies. Key among these tools are the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and cooperation agreements. Herein we have reviewed the content and the characteristics of MOUs and cooperation agreements available on the official websites of the regulatory agencies of the region (we found 11 multilateral MOUs and 8 cooperation agreements published), signed by Latin American agencies and interregional organizations. In this commentary, common characteristics are identified and recommendations for further implementation are made to promote communication, information sharing, and trust, thereby supporting the broader use of reliance pathways in the region.

Research ethics systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systemic assessment using indicators.

To strengthen research ethics systemically, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) devised a strategy that includes objectives and indicators to address core components of research ethics systems. We assessed 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean using these indicators. Most countries have adopted legal instruments to govern research with human participants and have implemented national bodies tasked with the oversight of research ethics committees. However, performance with regard to ethics training policies and clinical trial registration was less advanced, and efforts to adopt policies on responsible conduct of research and accelerated ethics review of emergency research did not meet the PAHO objectives in most countries. We discuss the pending challenges and provide recommendations aimed at helping countries from Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve the indicators, and, more generally, to strengthen research ethics with a systemic approach.

Implementación de ensayos clínicos y acceso posensayo a vacunas para la COVID-19 en Latinoamérica / Implementation of clinical trials and post-trial access to COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America

Latinoamérica fue durante noviembre de 2020 una de las regiones más afectada por la pandemia de COVID-19 en cuanto a prevalencia y muertes atribuidas al virus. Por ello, el inicio de testeo de vacunas en ciudadanos de la región fue recibido con altas expectativas sobre su efectividad. Frente a lo cual es esencial tener en cuenta ciertos principios fundamentales que deben guiar este proceso asegurando su correcta implementación. El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer consideraciones sobre el proceso de implementación de ensayos clínicos y acceso posensayo a vacunas para COVID-19 en Latinoamérica. En particular los relacionados con el respeto a la dignidad de los participantes, las tensiones históricas globales y regionales en materia de economía política de ensayos clínicos, algunos aspectos de la gobernanza global y el rol de la Organización Mundial de la Salud en la pandemia, y la necesidad de asegurar el acceso posensayo a la vacuna. Se concluye que la pandemia es una oportunidad para estrechar lazos de cooperación y solidaridad entre países latinoamericanos. Los ensayos clínicos son una instancia clave para reforzar la gobernanza local y regional con miras a fortalecer la transparencia y la vigilancia de la correcta realización de alianzas público-privadas en el desarrollo de terapias, en los que la Organización Mundial de la Salud y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, tienen un rol importante para la implementación de estrategias de integración y acceso a vacunas(AU)

Latin America was during November 2020 one of the most affected regions by the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of prevalence and deaths attributed to the virus. Therefore, the start of vaccine testing in citizens of the region was received with high expectations about its effectiveness. Therefore, it is essential to take into account certain fundamental principles that should guide this process ensuring its correct implementation. The objective of this article is to provide considerations on the process of implementing clinical trials and post-trial access to COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America, in particular those related to respect for the dignity of participants, the historical global and regional tensions regarding the political economy of clinical trials, some aspects of global governance and the role of the World Health Organization in the pandemic, and the need to ensure post-trial access to the vaccine. It is concluded that the pandemic is an opportunity to strengthen bonds of cooperation and solidarity between Latin American countries. Clinical trials are a key instance to strengthen local and regional governance with a view to consolidate transparency and monitoring of the correct implementation of public-private partnerships in the development of therapies, in which the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization have an important role for the implementation of integration strategies and access to vaccines(AU)

Mulheres e Saúde: as diferentes faces da inserção feminina no trabalho e na educação em saúde / Women and Health: the different faces of female insertion in work and in health education

A pandemia de COVID-19 produziu mudanças relevantes na vida cotidiana ao redor do mundo e, dentre essas mudanças, a visibilidade do trabalho em saúde e da ação das mulheres no enfrentamento à pandemia, nos serviços e sistemas de saúde e também, no cotidiano da vida das famílias e grupos. Desde que foi comemorado pela primeira vez, retomando a greve nas fábricas de Chicago (EUA) do dia 1º de maio de 1886, o foco das comemorações do Dia Internacional do Trabalhador é o trabalho que produz bens de consumo. Nos anos de 2020 e 2021, os aplausos foram para o trabalho em saúde e sua relevância no enfrentamento à pandemia. De forma similar, o Dia Internacional das Mulheres, que vem gerando manifestações desde a jornada pela igualdade de direitos civis e em favor do voto feminino, em 1909 em Nova York. Nos anos do enfrentamento à pandemia a visibilidade foi em relação à saúde das mulheres, sobretudo no trabalho formal e informal. Inicialmente, a data era itinerante, contudo, o dia 08 de março foi instituído formalmente pelas Nações Unidas desde 1975. A participação das mulheres no trabalho em saúde é uma das ênfases da campanha da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) para o ano de 2021, declarado o "Ano Internacional dos Trabalhadores da Saúde e Assistência". Como homenagem e reconhecimento à relevância dos trabalhadores e trabalhadoras de saúde, a OMS lançou a campanha "Proteja, Invista, Juntos". O slogan da campanha lembra que 70% da força de trabalho em saúde e assistência é formada por mulheres e que é necessário investir na igualdade de gênero nas iniciativas de desenvolvimento dos sistemas e serviços de saúde. Entre as iniciativas da campanha no Brasil, foi proposto o Livro Azul, como conceito articulador das estratégias de disseminação de conhecimentos e informações relativas à contribuição da Agenda Brasil para o Ano Internacional dos Trabalhadores da Saúde e Assistência e para compartilhar diferentes abordagens ao tema. Para essa edição do Livro Azul, produzida com a liderança da OPAS Brasil e, em particular, da Unidade Técnica de Capacidades Humanas para a Saúde, mobilizamos a produção de alguns textos de referência, que permitem compreender e tornar visível as diferentes faces da interface das mulheres na saúde, sobretudo em tempos de pandemia. Mobilizamos pesquisadoras e pesquisadores em grupos interinstitucionais em diferentes lugares do país para, com base na produção de pesquisas, elencar questões que permitam contribuir com a agenda de reflexões e iniciativas do Ano Internacional e, em especial, das interfaces das mulheres com a saúde. O resultado superou enormemente a expectativa inicial e o compartilhamos com todas as pessoas que acessarem a produção, numa iniciativa de cooperação com a Editora Rede Unida.

O Financiamento do SUS: uma luta do controle social / SUS Financing: a struggle for social control

Um dos elementos fundamentais da garantia do direito à saúde que tem sido caracterizado por este acúmulo de ataques estruturais e conjunturais é o financiamento das políticas, ações e serviços do SUS que, além de enfrentar um processo crônico de subfinanciamento estatal, viu-se mergulhado, a partir da situação política reacionária aberta em 2016, em intenso processo de desfinanciamento com a aprovação da Emenda Constitucional 95 (EC 95). Com o objetivo de tematizar a questão do financiamento da saúde pública, a Rede Unida em parceria com o Conselho Nacional de Saúde (CNS) e a Organização Panamericana de Saúde (OPAS) lançam este e-book intitulado "O FINANCIAMENTO DO SUS: UMA LUTA DO CONTROLE SOCIAL" pela Série "Participação Social & Políticas Públicas", que, a partir da compreensão da relevância do espaço do controle social para a mobilização e organização dos movimentos sociais no Brasil, busca resgatar as experiências e construções técnico-políticas do CNS derivadas de um de seus espaços de reflexão e debate sobre o tema, no caso, a Comissão de Orçamento e Finanças (COFIN).

Estimation of Intake of Critical Nutrients Associated with Noncommunicable Diseases According to the PAHO/WHO Criteria in the Diet of School-Age Children in Montevideo, Uruguay.

PURPOSE: To estimate the effect of the consumption of products with an excessive amount of critical nutrients associated with NCDs, according to the PAHO Nutrient Profile Model on the quality of the diet of Uruguayan school-age children (4 to 12 years). METHODS: A 24 h recall of food intake was conducted in a representative sample of 332 participants in the evaluation of the School Feeding Program in 2018 in public schools in Montevideo, Uruguay. Food and preparations were categorized according to the NOVA food classification, according to the nature, extent, and purposes of the industrial processes they undergo. Later, they were analyzed according to the Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model (PAHO NPM) to identify processed and ultra-processed products with an excessive content of critical nutrients. RESULTS: Only 0.52% of children consumed exclusively natural foods, or culinary ingredients. Twenty-five per cent of children consumed ≥4 products categorized with an excessive content of free sugars, total fat, or saturated fat according to the PAHO NPM; in the case of excessive sodium, this was 40%. In general, children who included products with excessive free sugars, sodium, or saturated fat in their diet exceeded the limits established by the World Health Organization, and, as a result, their diet is of poorer nutritional quality compared to children who did not consume such products. CONCLUSION: Diets free of ultra-processed and processed products with excess free sugars, total fats, saturated fats, and sodium increased the chances of school-age children in Montevideo of meeting WHO nutrient intake recommendations. Meanwhile, intake of each additional gram of products with excessive critical nutrients according to PAHO NPM, significantly worsens diets, preventing children from meeting WHO recommendations.

Evaluating intake levels of nutrients linked to non-communicable diseases in Australia using the novel combination of food processing and nutrient profiling metrics of the PAHO Nutrient Profile Model.

PURPOSE: To investigate intake levels of nutrients linked to non-communicable diseases in Australia using the novel combination of food processing and nutrient profiling metrics of the PAHO Nutrient Profile Model. METHODS: Dietary intakes of 12,153 participants from the Australian Health Survey (2011-12) aged 2 + years were evaluated. Food items reported during a 24 h recall were classified using the NOVA system. The Pan-American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model (PAHO NPM) was applied to identify processed and ultra-processed products with excessive content of critical nutrients. Differences in mean intakes and prevalence of excessive intakes of critical nutrients for groups of the population whose diets were made up of products with and without excessive content in critical nutrients were examined. RESULTS: The majority of Australians consumed daily at least three processed and ultra-processed products identified as excessive in critical nutrients according to the PAHO NPM. Individuals consuming these products had higher intakes of free sugars (ß = 8.9), total fats (ß = 11.0), saturated fats (ß = 4.6), trans fats (ß = 0.2), and sodium (ß = 1788 for adolescents and adults; ß = 1769 for children 5-10 years; ß = 1319 for children aged < 5 years) (p ≤ 0.001 for all nutrients) than individuals not consuming these foods. The prevalence of excessive intake of all critical nutrients also followed the same trend. CONCLUSION: The PAHO NPM has shown to be a relevant tool to predict intake levels of nutrients linked to non-communicable diseases in Australia and, therefore, could be used to inform policy actions aimed at increasing the healthiness of food environments.

Analysis of gaps in alcohol policies in Brazil using the Pan American Health Organization's Alcohol Policy Scoring.

BACKGROUND: National alcohol policies need to be systematized and evaluated to identify the gaps that should be filled by future laws. This study aims to search for and classify Brazilian public alcohol policies at the federal and state levels, based on the ten Alcohol Policy Scoring (APS) domains used by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to identify any gaps METHODS: Documental research was carried out in two phases: document identification and content analysis. The search included laws, decrees, and ordinances for alcohol referred to in this text as regulatory documents (RD), enacted until December 31, 2019, in Brazil and its 26 states and the Federal District. The APS was used to classify and score the RD, which consists of ten policy domains (including pricing, availability, marketing, and health services), weighted according to the level of scientific evidence of each strategy RESULTS: We identified and categorized 435 valid RD (21 national laws and 414 state laws). Overall, Brazilian alcohol policies account for 51.6% (255/494) of the APS score. In the pricing policy domain, the second most robust indicator of the APS, the policy gap reached 87% in 25 states, demonstrating a weakness. Only the federal laws against drink-driving include all the recommended dimensions. There are important legislative contradictions in the definition of an alcoholic beverage and in the content of the policies to control marketing CONCLUSION: At the national level, the federal government adopted alcohol policies in several of the PAHO policy domains but enacted RD with little practical effect. At the subnational level, despite the autonomy to complement federal laws, the states have not yet addressed the most important gaps.

[Between Alma-Ata and the Brazilian sanitary reform: the National Basic Health Services Program (Prev-saúde), 1979-1983]. / Entre Alma-Ata e a reforma sanitária brasileira: o Programa Nacional de Serviços Básicos de Saúde (Prev-saúde), 1979-1983.

The history of the National Basic Health Services Program (Prev-saúde) begins in 1979 with a joint effort involving the Ministries of Health, Social Security and Assistance, Interior, and Economy, as well as the Pan-American Health Organization. The objective was to reorganize basic health services in their connections with other levels of care. Internationally, it was part of the movement sparked by the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Alma-Ata in September 1978. Domestically, the program represented an accumulation of knowledge about the organization of services as well as a movement that was partially adapted to Brazilian health reform agenda. Prev-saúde was a set of health proposals that represented a technical consensus between bureaucracies and leaders of health reform.

A história do Programa Nacional de Serviços Básicos de Saúde (Prev-saúde) se inicia em 1979, na articulação entre os Ministérios da Saúde, da Previdência e Assistência Social, do Interior e da Economia e a Organização Pan-americana da Saúde. Teve como objetivo reorganizar os serviços básicos de saúde em suas conexões com os demais níveis assistenciais. Internacionalmente, inscrevia-se no movimento deflagrado pela Conferência de Alma-Ata, de setembro de 1978. Em termos nacionais, representava tanto um acúmulo de conhecimento sobre organização dos serviços quanto um movimento que se adequava, em parte, à agenda da reforma sanitária brasileira. O Prev-saúde representou um conjunto de proposições para a reorganização da saúde que, naquele contexto, era consenso técnico entre burocracias e lideranças da reforma da saúde.