Performance of the Health System Network in Formosa, Argentina, in the Diagnosis of Leprosy.

Leprosy is a chronic, neglected tropical infectious disease, currently endemic in Formosa, a province in northwestern Argentina. To analyze the performance, distribution, and effectiveness of the health system in leprosy diagnosis in Formosa, we estimated the trend of the number of new cases of leprosy diagnosed between 2002 and 2019 and estimated a forecast for 2022 at the primary health care centers (PHCCs) of at the first level of care (1stLC), at district hospitals (DHs) of the second level of care (2ndLC), high-complexity hospitals at the third level of care (3rdLC), and in rural and urban areas. The general trend was calculated based on the new cases detection rate (NCDR) using the autoregressive-moving average model (ARMA). The 1stLC, 2ndLC, and 3rdLC and the rural/urban variables were assessed using a proportional Bayesian trend ARMA (TrARMA) model. A predictive model was used for estimated forecasts. Markov-Monte Carlo chains were applied with A Metropolis-Hastings's algorithm. The highest median proportion (Mp) of new cases of leprosy was diagnosed at the 2ndLC (Mp, 0.67; 97.5% credibility interval [CI] [0.56-0.77]), at the 3rdLC (Mp, 0.11; 97.5% CI [0.08-0.15]), and in urban areas (urban median proportion (uMp), 0.86; 97.5% CI [0.83- 0.88]), whereas the lowest proportion of new cases was diagnosed at the 1stLC (Mp, 0.082; 97.5% CI [0.061-0.108]) and in rural areas (rural median proportion (rMp), 0.13; 97.5% CI [0.11-0.16]). Our model predicts for 2022 that a median number of new cases of leprosy of 19.70 will be diagnosed in urban areas (97.5% CI [15.94-23.80]), and will continue to be diagnosed at the 2ndLC (median number of cases, 15.33; 97.5% CI [12.40-10.52]) and 3rdLC (median number of cases, 2.43; 97.5% CI [1.97-2.94]).

Intervención educativa en salud comunitaria para el empoderamiento de jefas de hogar en un sector económicamente vulnerable de la ciudad de Santiago de Chile / Health community educational intervention to empowerment female heads of households in an economic disadvantage community in Santiago Chile

OBJETIVO: contribuir al empoderamiento de las mujeres jefas de hogar pertenecientes a una comunidad de un sector económicamente vulnerable de la ciudad de Santiago, por medio de la entrega de herramientas y habilidades en salud. Muestra: 13 mujeres, entre 22 y 55 años. METODOLOGÍA: Intervención educativa basada en el Modelo 'Comunidad como Socio' de Anderson y McFarlane de Enfermería y el Modelo de Educación para Adultos de Jane Vella. Se respondió una encuesta anónima para recopilar información. El diagnóstico participativo permitió identificar temas a tratar: control de signos vitales y su aplicabilidad, y atención de primeros auxilios. RESULTADOS: Se aportó al conocimiento del manejo de cuidados básicos en salud (Signos Vitales, Primeros Auxilios y Hábitos de Vida Saludable) aplicados a su autocuidado y al de sus familias. Se practicó lo aprendido en un escenario simulado. CONCLUSIÓN: Se identificaron fortalezas, como motivación por el aprendizaje y buena recepción de las metodologías participativas. La intervención contribuyó al empoderamiento de las participantes mediante el aprendizaje de contenidos, otorgando seguridad para enfrentar situaciones de emergencia en su vida cotidiana.

OBJECTIVE: Contribute the empowerment of female heads of household belonging to a community of an economically vulnerable sector of the city of Santiago, through the delivery of tools and skills in health. Sample: 13 women, between 22 and 55 years old. METHODOLOGY: Educational intervention based on the "Community as a Partner" Model of Anderson and McFarlane of Nursing and the Adult Education Model of Jane Vella. A survey was answered anonymously to collect information. The participatory diagnosis allowed identifications of thetopics concerned including: control of vital signs and its applications and first aid attention demonstrated practically in the sessions. RESULTS: Contributions were made to the knowledge regarding the management of basic care in health (Vital Signs, First Aid and Habits of Healthy Living) applied to self-care of patients and their respective families. In a simulated scenario, participants in the survey demonstrated that they practiced what they had learned. CONCLUSION: Strengths such as motivation for learning and positive response to participative methodologies were identified. Additionally, the intervention contributed to the empowerment of the participants through the learning of contents and development of confidence to confront emergency situations in every day life.