Use of geospatial analysis for priority setting in surgical system investment in Guatemala.

Background: Two-hour and 30 min travel times to a hospital capable of performing emergency general surgery and cesarean section are benchmarks for timely surgical access. This study aimed to estimate the population of Guatemala with timely access to surgical care and identify existing hospitals where the expansion of surgical services would increase access. Methods: The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) Anesthesia Facility Assessment Tool (AFAT) previously identified 37 public Guatemalan hospitals that provide surgical care. Nine additional public non-surgical hospitals were also identified. Geospatial analysis was performed to estimate walking and driving geographic access to all 46 hospitals. We calculated the potential increase in access that would accompany the expansion of surgical services at each of the nine non-surgical hospitals. Findings: The percentage of the population with walking access to a surgical hospital within 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h are 5·1%, 12·9%, and 27·3%, respectively. The percentage of people within 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h driving times are 27·3%, 41·1%, and 53·1%, respectively. The median percentage of the population within each of Guatemala's 22 administrative departments with 2 h walking access was 19·0% [IQR 14·1-30·7] and 2 h driving access was 52·4% [IQR 30·5-62·8]. Expansion of surgical care at existing public Guatemalan hospitals in Guatemala would result in a minimal increase in overall geographic access compared to current availability. Interpretation: While Guatemala provides universal health coverage, geographic access to surgical care remains inadequate. Geospatial mapping and survey data work synergistically to assess surgical system strength and identify gaps in geographic access to essential surgical care. Funding: None.

Síntomas de ansiedad y depresión en personal de salud que trabaja con enfermos de COVID-19 / Anxiety and depression symptoms in health personnel who work with COVID-19 patients

El personal de salud pública que se enfrenta a la COVID-19, está expuesto a múltiples riesgos entre ellos los trastornos psicológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la presencia de síntomas asociados a ansiedad y depresión en personal de salud que trabaja con enfermos de la COVID-19. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en el que participaron 61 profesionales y técnicos de atención sanitaria, que trabajaban directamente con pacientes con COVID-19, a los cuales se les consultó acerca de la presencia de síntomas asociados a la depresión y ansiedad, sus principales preocupaciones y el tiempo de trabajo continuo para evitar la aparición de síntomas psicológicos. El 64,1% de los participantes relató nerviosismo y 59,2% cansancio, para el 90,16% la principal preocupación fue el fallecimiento del paciente y el 60,66% de los participantes indicó que el período ideal, de atención continua de pacientes COVID-19, para evitar la aparición de síntomas psicológicos era de 7 días. Nuestros resultados sugieren que es necesario elaborar estrategias de trabajo para disminuir la aparición de síntomas asociados al deterioro de la salud mental de los profesionales de la salud que atienden pacientes COVID-19

Public health personnel facing COVID-19 are exposed to multiple risks including psychological disorders. The goal of this study was to determine the presence of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression in health personnel working with COVID-19 patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 61 health care professionals and technicians was conducted, working directly with COVID-19 patients, who were consulted about the presence of symptoms associated with depression and anxiety, their main concerns and ongoing working time to avoid the onset of psychological symptoms. 64.1% of participants reported nervousness and 59.2% tiredness, for 90.16% the main concern was the patient's death and 60.66% of participants indicated that the ideal period, of continuous care of COVID-19 patients, to prevent the onset of psychological symptoms was 7 days. Our results suggest that work strategies need to be developed to decrease the onset of symptoms associated with deteriorating mental health of health professionals caring for COVID-19 patients

Assessment of Anesthesia Capacity in Public Surgical Hospitals in Guatemala.

BACKGROUND: International standards for safe anesthetic care have been developed by the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Whether these standards are met is unknown in many nations, including Guatemala, a country with universal health coverage. We aimed to establish an overview of anesthesia care capacity in public surgical hospitals in Guatemala to help guide public sector health care development. METHODS: In partnership with the Guatemalan Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), a national survey of all public hospitals providing surgical care was conducted using the WFSA anesthesia facility assessment tool (AFAT) in 2018. Each facility was assessed for infrastructure, service delivery, workforce, medications, equipment, and monitoring practices. Descriptive statistics were calculated and presented. RESULTS: Of the 46 public hospitals in Guatemala in 2018, 36 (78%) were found to provide surgical care, including 20 district, 14 regional, and 2 national referral hospitals. We identified 573 full-time physician surgeons, anesthesiologists, and obstetricians (SAO) in the public sector, with an estimated SAO density of 3.3/100,000 population. There were 300 full-time anesthesia providers working at public hospitals. Physician anesthesiologists made up 47% of these providers, with an estimated physician anesthesiologist density of 0.8/100,000 population. Only 10% of district hospitals reported having an anesthesia provider continuously present intraoperatively during general or neuraxial anesthesia cases. No hospitals reported assessing pain in the immediate postoperative period. While the availability of some medications such as benzodiazepines and local anesthetics was robust (100% availability across all hospitals), not all hospitals had essential medications such as ketamine, epinephrine, or atropine. There were deficiencies in the availability of essential equipment and basic intraoperative monitors, such as end-tidal carbon dioxide detectors (17% availability across all hospitals). Postoperative care and access to resuscitative equipment, such as defibrillators, were also lacking. CONCLUSIONS: This first countrywide, MSPAS-led assessment of anesthesia capacity at public facilities in Guatemala revealed a lack of essential materials and personnel to provide safe anesthesia and surgery. Hospitals surveyed often did not have resources regardless of hospital size or level, which may suggest multiple factors preventing availability and use. Local and national policy initiatives are needed to address these deficiencies.

Características epidemiológicas de los pacientes portadores de COVID-19 en Pinar del Río, Cuba

RESUMEN Introducción: Comprender la evolución epidemiológica de la enfermedad COVID-19 proporcionará información oportuna para guiar la política de intervención con mayor eficiencia. Objetivo: Determinar las características epidemiológicas de los pacientes portadores de COVID-19. Métodos: Investigación epidemiológica, descriptiva, longitudinal realizada en la provincia de Pinar del Rio, Cuba, del 20 marzo-20 junio de 2020. El universo de estudio lo constituyeron los 52 casos portadores de COVID-19. Variables analizadas: edad, sexo, modos de contagio, afectados por municipios, número reproductivo básico y eventos de trasmisión local ocurridos. Para el análisis se empleó el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 21.0. Resultados: La enfermedad predominó en el sexo femenino 29 (55,77 %), en edades de 30 a 39 años 10 (19,24 %), el contacto directo fue el modo de contagio principal 47 (90,38 %), el municipio más afectado es Guane 19 (39,54 %), el índice de reproducción más alto, mes de abril (2,57); hubo dos eventos de trasmisión local en la provincia. Conclusiones: La enfermedad COVID-19 por su desarrollo, desde el punto de vista epidemiológico tuvo una evolución favorable en la provincia de Pinar del Río, lo que permitió su erradicación.

ABSTRACT Introduction: To understand the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 disease will provide appropriate information for guiding the interventions policy with higher efficiency. Objective: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 carriers. Methods: Epidemiological, descriptive, longitudinal study conducted in Pinar del Río province from March 20 to June 20, 2020. The study sample was formed by 53 COVID-19 carrier's cases. The variables analysed were: age, sex, way of contagion, patients per municipalities and events of local transmission occurred. For this analysis, it was used the statistics package called SPSS version 21.0 Results: The disease was predominant in the female sex (29 patients representing 55.7%), in ages from 30 to 39 years (10 patients representing 19.24%), the direct contact was the main contagion way (47 patients representing 90.38%); the most affected municipality was Guane with 19 patients (39.54%), the highest reproduction rate was in April (2,57), and there were two events of local transmission in the province. Conclusions: COVID-19 due to its behaviour and from the epidemiological point of view had a favourable evolution which allowed its eradication.