[Maternal leave extension effect on breastfeeding according to poverty, Chile 2008-2018]. / Efecto de la extensión de licencia maternal en la lactancia materna según pobreza en Chile 2008-2018.

INTRODUCTION: In Chile in 2011, the postnatal leave was extended from 12 to 24 weeks. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the extension of maternity leave on the prevalence of breastfeeding in Chile according to poverty groups. METHODS: Ecological study on the annual prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding at 1st month (EBF1m) and 6th month (EBF6m), and supplemented at 12th month (BF12m) in the public health system between 2008 and 2018, based on the monthly statistical records of primary care. The prevalence was calculated nationally and by region groups according to the poverty level reported by the National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN). The variation in the time trend was determined through segmented Poisson regression models (joinpoint), estimating the Annual Percentage Change (APC). RESULTS: Nationally, since 2011, the prevalence of EBF6m and BF12m increased annually by 5.9% and 4.2%, reaching 58.9% and 40.2% in 2018, respectively. This pattern is repeated in the different regional poverty groups, showing a higher prevalence in the poorest group, reaching 61.7% at EBF6m and 51.6% at BF12m in 2018. The EBF1m decreased annually by 1.7% between 2008 and 2014 and then remained without changes, reaching 74.7% in 2018. CONCLUSIONS: The EBF6m prevalence increased significantly since 2011 due to the extension of the maternity leave. This effect occurs in all regional groups of poverty, narrowing the differen ces in prevalence.

Características y contenido de los programas de Magíster en Salud Pública en Chile / Features and contents of master programs in public health in Chile

Background: In Chile, public health training grew both in enrollment and in the number of universities offering programs on the subject. Aim: To compare the academic characteristics and the contents of the master's programs in public health offered by Chilean universities. Material and Methods: A search of all master's programs that include the word "public health " in their title was made, excluding those that did not declare current students in 2020. The academic characteristics and content of each program were compiled according to the information declared by each university. The contents were grouped according to the list of core competencies for the public health professional of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER). Results: Eleven programs were included, most of them are carried out in face-to-face modality. The academic load is expressed in Transferable Credit System credits (62-71), credits (87-125) or teaching hours (1252-2048). All programs declare to have a graduation activity, with a heterogeneous academic load. All programs have basic subjects in epidemiology and more than 60% include introductory topics in public health, research methodology, and health services management. No program declares demography or food safety as compulsory subjects. Conclusions: There is heterogeneity in the academic load and the contents between the programs. It is necessary to establish common criteria in the training of future public health professionals, at least in the compulsory subjects and the minimum academic load.

[Features and contents of master programs in public health in Chile]. / Características y contenido de los programas de Magíster en Salud Pública en Chile.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, public health training grew both in enrollment and in the number of universities offering programs on the subject. AIM: To compare the academic characteristics and the contents of the master's programs in public health offered by Chilean universities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search of all master's programs that include the word "public health " in their title was made, excluding those that did not declare current students in 2020. The academic characteristics and content of each program were compiled according to the information declared by each university. The contents were grouped according to the list of core competencies for the public health professional of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER). RESULTS: Eleven programs were included, most of them are carried out in face-to-face modality. The academic load is expressed in Transferable Credit System credits (62-71), credits (87-125) or teaching hours (1252-2048). All programs declare to have a graduation activity, with a heterogeneous academic load. All programs have basic subjects in epidemiology and more than 60% include introductory topics in public health, research methodology, and health services management. No program declares demography or food safety as compulsory subjects. CONCLUSIONS: There is heterogeneity in the academic load and the contents between the programs. It is necessary to establish common criteria in the training of future public health professionals, at least in the compulsory subjects and the minimum academic load.

Is neck circumference an appropriate tool to predict cardiovascular risk in clinical practice? A cross-sectional study in Chilean population.

OBJECTIVES: Neck circumference has emerged as a predictor of obesity and metabolic syndrome, but its clinical usefulness for different groups of population is not clearly defined. The aim is to evaluate the predictive capacity of neck circumference in order to detect cardiovascular risks (CVRs) on the Chilean population and to compare it with waist circumference performance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: General Chilean population. PARTICIPANTS: Data of 4607 adults aged 18 and over from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009-2010 were analysed. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometrics measures included neck and waist circumference, height and weight. CVR was identified according to the Framingham tables adapted for the Chilean population. Receiver operating characteristics curves and logistic regression models were made to evaluate the performance of neck circumference to predict a moderate/high CVR, comparing it to waist circumference. RESULTS: Almost 10% of the sample had a moderate or high CVR. The probability of having a moderate/high cardiovascular risk increase with cervical obesity (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.68) and central obesity (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.47 to 8.22). The area under the curves were high for cervical obesity (AUC 81.4%, 95% CI 78.8% to 84.0%) and central obesity (AUC 82.2%, 95% CI 79.7% to 84.7%) and not statistically different (p=0.152). CONCLUSIONS: Neck obesity has a high capacity to predict moderate/high CVR in the Chilean population. Its good performance appears as an opportunity to use it in clinical practice when waist circumference measurement is difficult to measure and eventually replace the waist circumference measurement as the technique is easier.