Social inequalities in self-perceived health in Chile, does the urban environment matter?: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The health of a population is determined by urban factors such as the physical, social and safety environment, which can be modified by urban regeneration policies. The aim of this study was to analyze the associations of elements of the social, physical and safety environment of the neighborhood in the urban context with self-perceived health (SPH), according to axes of inequality, such as gender and educational level in Chile in 2016. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using a nationally representative population-based survey of Chile. We used data from the 2016 National Survey of Quality of Life and Health. Poor SPH in the urban population older than 25 years was analyzed in relation to social, physical and safety environment variables. Poisson multilevel regression models were estimated to obtain prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). All analyses were stratified by sex and educational level. RESULTS: SPH was worse in women than in men, especially in those with a lower education level. Poor SPH was associated with lack of support networks (PR = 1.4; 95%CI = 1.1-1.7), non-participation in social organizations (PR = 1.3; 95%CI = 1.1-1.6) and perceived problems with the quality of public space (PR = 1.3; 95%CI = 1.2-1.5) in women with a medium-high educational level and with a feeling of not belonging to the neighborhood (PR = 1.5; 95%CI = 1.2-1.8) and the perception of pollution problems (PR = 1.2; 95%CI = 1.0-1.4) in women with a low educational level. A feeling of unsafety was associated with both educational levels (PR = 1.3; 95%CI = 1.0-1.5). Poor SPH was associated with the feeling of not belonging (PR = 1.7; 95%CI = 1.2-2.5), and unsafety (PR = 2.1; 95%CI = 1.8-2.4) in men with a medium-high educational level, while there were fewer associations in men with a lower education level. CONCLUSIONS: Urban interventions are recommended to improve the health of the resident population and should take into account axes of inequality.

Association between maternity leave policies and postpartum depression: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Working mothers are at greater risk for postpartum depression. Maternity leave characteristics, including length, wage replacement and employment protection, could have relevant implications for mothers' mental health. We propose to explore whether there is an association between maternity leave characteristics and postpartum depression. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review searching for randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, cohort or cross-sectional studies on five databases using search terms including maternity and parental leave and depression, as well as references in relevant articles. We identified 500 articles and included 23 of those. We used the EPHPP Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies to assess the quality of the studies. RESULTS: Paid and longer maternity leaves tend to be associated with a reduction of postpartum depression symptoms in high-income countries. No studies explored the association between employment protection and postpartum depression. The quality of studies ranged from strong to weak, mostly influenced by study design. CONCLUSION: More restrictive maternity leave policies tend to be associated with higher rates of postpartum depression, although more research needs to be conducted in the Global South.

Assessing cohesion and diversity in the collaboration network of the SALURBAL project.

The SALURBAL (Urban Health in Latin America) Project is an interdisciplinary multinational network aimed at generating and disseminating actionable evidence on the drivers of health in cities of Latin America. We conducted a temporal multilayer network analysis where we measured cohesion over time using network structural properties and assessed diversity within and between different project activities according to participant attributes. Between 2017 and 2020 the SALURBAL network comprised 395 participants across 26 countries, 23 disciplines, and 181 institutions. While the cohesion of the SALURBAL network fluctuated over time, overall, an increase was observed from the first to the last time point of our analysis (clustering coefficient increased [0.83-0.91] and shortest path decreased [1.70-1.68]). SALURBAL also exhibited balanced overall diversity within project activities (0.5-0.6) by designing activities for different purposes such as capacity building, team-building, research, and dissemination. The network's growth was facilitated by the creation of new diverse collaborations across a range of activities over time, while maintaining the diversity of existing collaborations (0.69-0.75 between activity diversity depending on the attribute). The SALURBAL experience can serve as an example for multinational research projects aiming to build cohesive networks while leveraging heterogeneity in countries, disciplines, career stage, and across sectors.

Experiences of insecurity among non-standard workers across different welfare states: A qualitative cross-country study.

In recent decades, economic crises and political reforms focused on employment flexibilization have increased the use of non-standard employment (NSE). National political and economic contexts determine how employers interact with labour and how the state interacts with labour markets and manages social welfare policies. These factors influence the prevalence of NSE and the level of employment insecurity it creates, but the extent to which a country's policy context mitigates the health influences of NSE is unclear. This study describes how workers experience insecurities created by NSE, and how this influences their health and well-being, in countries with different welfare states: Belgium, Canada, Chile, Spain, Sweden, and the United States. Interviews with 250 workers in NSE were analysed using a multiple-case study approach. Workers in all countries experienced multiple insecurities (e.g., income and employment insecurity) and relational tension with employers/clients, with negative health and well-being influences, in ways that were shaped by social inequalities (e.g., related to family support or immigration status). Welfare state differences were reflected in the level of workers' exclusion from social protections, the time scale of their insecurity (threatening daily survival or longer-term life planning), and their ability to derive a sense of control from NSE. Workers in Belgium, Sweden, and Spain, countries with more generous welfare states, navigated these insecurities with greater success and with less influence on health and well-being. Findings contribute to our understanding of the health and well-being influences of NSE across different welfare regimes and suggest the need in all six countries for stronger state responses to NSE. Increased investment in universal and more equal rights and benefits in NSE could reduce the widening gap between standard and NSE.

[Precarious employment Measurement in Central America: psychometric properties based on the II Central American Survey of Working Conditions and Health]. / Medida de la precariedad laboral en Centroamérica: propiedades psicométricas en base a la II Encuesta Centroamericana de Condiciones de Trabajo y Salud.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the psychometric properties of a measure of Employment Precariousness (EP) in six Central American Spanish-speaking countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama) through the items of the EPRES scale (Employment Precariousness Scale) included in the II Central American Survey of Working Conditions and Health (II ECCTS) of 2018. METHODS: The sample was 3,782 salaried persons, aged 18 and older, formal and informal, who participated in the II ECCTS. An EP measure of 10 items was constructed, grouped in the dimensions of temporality, salary, labor rights, and exercise of these rights. RESULTS: The sample was composed mostly of men, with a permanent contract, with a working age of between 2 to 5 years, a salary between $301 and $500s, who have labor rights and who exercise them. The factorial structure could not be verified. However, nine of the ten articles showed a high factorial load with their dimensions. A high acceptability of the EP measure was observed, and the Cronbach's Alpha coefficients of the dimensions were between 0.59 and 0.72, except for temporality (0.30). The reliability of the total scale was 0.68 and the EP patterns in women, youth, temporary and lower income countries were as expected. CONCLUSIONS: The EP measure constructed from the items available from the EPRES scale in the II ECCTS questionnaire shows acceptable psychometric properties to approximate the epidemiological quantification of job insecurity in Central America.

OBJETIVO: Establecer las propiedades psicométricas de una medida de Precariedad Laboral (PL) en seis países centroamericanos de habla española (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá) mediante un conjunto de ítems incluidos en la II Encuesta Centroamericana de Condiciones de Trabajo y Salud (II ECCTS) de 2018 que se correspondían con ítems de la Escala de Precariedad Laboral (EPRES). Método: A partir de una muestra de 3.782 personas asalariadas de 18 años o más, formales e informales, en la II ECCTS, se construyó una medida de PL de 10 ítems representando cuatro dimensiones: temporalidad, salario, derechos y ejercicio de derechos. RESULTADOS: La muestra estuvo compuesta en su mayoría por hombres, con contrato permanente, con antigüedad laboral de entre 2 a 5 años, un salario entre 301 a 500 dólares, que reportaban tener derechos laborales y ejercerlos. La estructura factorial no pudo ser comprobada. Sin embargo, nueve de los diez ítems arrojaron alta carga factorial en sus dimensiones correspondientes. Se observó una alta aceptabilidad de medida de PL y los coeficientes de Alpha de Cronbach de las cuatro dimensiones fueron >0,59 excepto para temporalidad (0,30). La confiabilidad de la escala fue de 0,68 y los patrones de PL en mujeres, jóvenes, temporales y países con menores ingresos fueron los esperados.   Conclusiones: La medida de PL construida a partir de ítems disponibles de la escala EPRES en el cuestionario de la II ECCTS evidencia propiedades psicométricas aceptables para aproximarnos a la cuantificación epidemiológica de la precariedad laboral en Centroamérica.

[Excess mortality in 2020 in the working-age population of nine Latin American countriesExcesso de mortalidade na população em idade ativa em nove países da América Latina no ano de 2020]. / Exceso de mortalidad en población en edad de trabajar en nueve países de Latinoamérica, año 2020.

Objective: Estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, through excess all-cause mortality and potential years of productive life lost (YPLL) in the working-age population, in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries. Methods: Study based on data on deaths from all causes from age 15 to 69 years, mainly from national institutes of statistics. Estimates of expected deaths were based on reported deaths from 2015 to 2019. Excess mortality was estimated using the P indicator, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and potential YPLL up to age 70 years. Results: Excess deaths in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru totaled 426 978 (279 591 men and 147 438 women), representing a potential loss of 5 710 048 (3 738 775 in men and 1 971 273 in women) years of productive life. Observed mortality was significantly higher than expected in all countries except the Dominican Republic. Conclusions: COVID-19 in the working-age population will have a profound impact on socio-economic conditions. Timely counting of excess deaths is useful and can be used as an early warning system to monitor the magnitude of COVID-19 outbreaks. Monitoring of excess mortality in working-age people by the Ibero-American Observatory on Safety and Health at Work enables more accurate assessment of the social and economic burden of COVID-19.

Objetivo: Estimar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 durante o ano de 2020, por meio do excesso de mortalidade por todas as causas e dos anos produtivos de vida perdidos (APrVP) na população em idade ativa, em uma seleção de países da América Latina e do Caribe. Métodos: Estudo baseado em dados de óbitos por todas as causas entre 15 e 69 anos, principalmente dos Institutos Nacionais de Estatística. Os óbitos esperados foram estimados a partir daqueles registrados entre 2015 e 2019. O excesso de mortalidade foi estimado por meio do indicador P, da razão de mortalidade padronizada (RMP) e dos APrVP até os 70 anos. Resultados: O excesso de óbitos no Brasil, na Bolívia, no Chile, na Colômbia, na Costa Rica, em Cuba, no México, no Peru e na República Dominicana totalizou 426 978 (279 591 em homens e 147 438 em mulheres), o que representou uma perda de 5 710 048 (3 738 775 em homens e 1 971 273 em mulheres) APrVP. A mortalidade observada foi significativamente maior do que o esperado em todos os países, exceto na República Dominicana. Conclusões: O impacto da COVID-19 na população em idade ativa terá um impacto profundo na situação socioeconómica. O cálculo oportuno do excesso de mortes é útil e pode ser usado como um sistema de alerta precoce para monitorar a magnitude dos surtos de COVID-19. O monitoramento do excesso de mortalidade em pessoas em idade ativa, realizado pelo Observatório Ibero-Americano de Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho, permite avaliar com mais precisão a carga social e econômica da COVID-19.

Association between informal employment and depressive symptoms in 11 cities in Latin America.

Background: Mental health is an important contributor to the global burden of disease, and depression is the most prevalent mental disorder in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Informal jobs, often characterized by precarious working conditions, low wages, and limited employment benefits, are also highly prevalent in LAC and may be associated with poorer mental health. Our study tests the association between informal employment and major depressive symptoms in LAC cities. Methods: We used individual-level data collected by the Development Bank of Latin America via their "Encuesta CAF" (ECAF) 2016, a cross-sectional household survey of 11 LAC cities (N = 5430). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale with possible total score ranging from 0 to 30. Scores were dichotomized, with a score > ‾ 16 indicating the presence of major depressive symptoms. Informal employment was defined based on self-reported lack of contribution to the social security system. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) log-binomial models to estimate the association between informal employment and depressive symptoms overall and by gender. Models were adjusted for age, education, and household characteristics. Results: Overall, individuals employed in informal jobs had a 27% higher prevalence of major depressive symptoms (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 1.27; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.00, 1.62) compared to those in formal jobs. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among individuals with informal jobs was higher compared to those with formal jobs in both women (PR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.74) and men (PR: 1.22; 95% CI: 0.90, 1.65). Conclusions: Informal employment in LAC was associated with a higher prevalence of major depressive symptoms. It is important to develop policies aiming at reducing informal jobs and increasing universal social protection for informal workers.

Excess Mortality during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Cities of Chile: Magnitude, Inequalities, and Urban Determinants.

We estimated excess mortality in Chilean cities during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with city-level factors. We used mortality, and social and built environment data from the SALURBAL study for 21 Chilean cities, composed of 81 municipalities or "comunas", grouped in 4 macroregions. We estimated excess mortality by comparing deaths from January 2020 up to June 2021 vs 2016-2019, using a generalized additive model. We estimated a total of 21,699 (95%CI 21,693 to 21,704) excess deaths across the 21 cities. Overall relative excess mortality was highest in the Metropolitan (Santiago) and the North regions (28.9% and 22.2%, respectively), followed by the South and Center regions (17.6% and 14.1%). At the city-level, the highest relative excess mortality was found in the Northern cities of Calama and Iquique (around 40%). Cities with higher residential overcrowding had higher excess mortality. In Santiago, capital of Chile, municipalities with higher educational attainment had lower relative excess mortality. These results provide insight into the heterogeneous impact of COVID-19 in Chile, which has served as a magnifier of preexisting urban health inequalities, exhibiting different impacts between and within cities. Delving into these findings could help prioritize strategies addressed to prevent deaths in more vulnerable communities.

Exceso de mortalidad en población en edad de trabajar en nueve países de Latinoamérica, año 2020

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Estimar el impacto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 durante el año 2020, a través del exceso de mortalidad por todas las causas y los años potenciales de vida laboral perdidos en la población en edad de trabajar, de una selección de países latinoamericanos y el Caribe. Métodos. Estudio basado en datos de defunciones por todas las causas entre 15 y 69 años, procedentes principalmente de los Institutos Nacionales de Estadísticas. Se estimaron defunciones esperadas a partir de las registradas entre 2015 y 2019. El exceso de mortalidad fue estimado a través del indicador P, la razón de mortalidad estandarizada (RME) y los años potenciales de vida laboral perdidos (AVLP) hasta los 70 años. Resultados. El exceso de defunciones en Brasil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, México, Perú y República Dominicana sumó 431 083 (282 558 en hombres y 148 575 en mujeres), lo que representó una pérdida de 5 715 770 (3 742 955 en hombres y 1 972 815 en mujeres) de APVLP. La mortalidad observada fue significativamente superior a la esperada en todos los países, menos República Dominicana. Conclusiones. El impacto de la COVID-19 en la población en edad de trabajar tendrá un impacto profundo en la situación socioeconómica. El recuento oportuno del exceso de muertes resulta útil y puede ser usado como un sistema de alerta temprana para monitorizar la magnitud de los brotes de COVID-19. La monitorización del exceso de mortalidad en personas en edad de trabajar, realizada por el Observatorio Iberoamericano de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo permite evaluar con mayor exactitud la carga social y económica de la COVID-19.

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. Estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, through excess all-cause mortality and potential years of productive life lost (YPLL) in the working-age population, in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries. Methods. Study based on data on deaths from all causes from age 15 to 69 years, mainly from national institutes of statistics. Estimates of expected deaths were based on reported deaths from 2015 to 2019. Excess mortality was estimated using the P indicator, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and potential YPLL up to age 70 years. Results. Excess deaths in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru totaled 431 083 (282 558 men and 148 575 women), representing a potential loss of 5 715 770 (3 742 955 in men and 1 972 815 in women) years of productive life. Observed mortality was significantly higher than expected in all countries except the Dominican Republic. Conclusions. COVID-19 in the working-age population will have a profound impact on socio-economic conditions. Timely counting of excess deaths is useful and can be used as an early warning system to monitor the magnitude of COVID-19 outbreaks. Monitoring of excess mortality in working-age people by the Ibero-American Observatory on Safety and Health at Work enables more accurate assessment of the social and economic burden of COVID-19.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Estimar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 durante o ano de 2020, por meio do excesso de mortalidade por todas as causas e dos anos produtivos de vida perdidos (APrVP) na população em idade ativa, em uma seleção de países da América Latina e do Caribe. Métodos. Estudo baseado em dados de óbitos por todas as causas entre 15 e 69 anos, principalmente dos Institutos Nacionais de Estatística. Os óbitos esperados foram estimados a partir daqueles registrados entre 2015 e 2019. O excesso de mortalidade foi estimado por meio do indicador P, da razão de mortalidade padronizada (RMP) e dos APrVP até os 70 anos. Resultados. O excesso de óbitos no Brasil, na Bolívia, no Chile, na Colômbia, na Costa Rica, em Cuba, no México, no Peru e na República Dominicana totalizou 431 083 (282 558 em homens e 148 575 em mulheres), o que representou uma perda de 5 715 770 (3 742 955 em homens e 1 972 815 em mulheres) APrVP. A mortalidade observada foi significativamente maior do que o esperado em todos os países, exceto na República Dominicana. Conclusões. O impacto da COVID-19 na população em idade ativa terá um impacto profundo na situação socioeconómica. O cálculo oportuno do excesso de mortes é útil e pode ser usado como um sistema de alerta precoce para monitorar a magnitude dos surtos de COVID-19. O monitoramento do excesso de mortalidade em pessoas em idade ativa, realizado pelo Observatório Ibero-Americano de Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho, permite avaliar com mais precisão a carga social e econômica da COVID-19.

Non-Standard Employment and Unemployment during the COVID-19 Crisis: Economic and Health Findings from a Six-Country Survey Study.

The COVID-19 crisis is a global event that has created and amplified social inequalities, including an already existing and steadily increasing problem of employment and income insecurity and erosion of workplace rights, affecting workers globally. The aim of this exploratory study was to review employment-related determinants of health and health protection during the pandemic, or more specifically, to examine several links between non-standard employment, unemployment, economic, health, and safety outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Canada, the United States, and Chile, based on an online survey conducted from November 2020 to June 2021. The study focused on both non-standard workers and unemployed workers and examined worker outcomes in the context of current type and duration of employment arrangements, as well as employment transitions triggered by the COVID-19 crisis. The results suggest that COVID-19-related changes in non-standard worker employment arrangements, or unemployment, are related to changes in work hours, income, and benefits, as well as the self-reported prevalence of suffering from severe to extreme anxiety or depression. The results also suggest a link between worker type, duration of employment arrangements, or unemployment, and the ability to cover regular expenses during the pandemic. Additionally, the findings indicate that the type and duration of employment arrangements are related to the provision of personal protective equipment or other COVID-19 protection measures. This study provides additional evidence that workers in non-standard employment and the unemployed have experienced numerous and complex adverse effects of the pandemic and require additional protection through tailored pandemic responses and recovery strategies.

The Relation Between Precarious Employment Arrangements and Social Precarity: Findings from the PREMIS Study in Stockholm, Sweden.

Precarious employment (PE) is a well-known social determinant of health and health inequalities. However, as most previous studies have focused on physical and mental well-being, less is known about the social-related outcomes (ie, social precarity) associated with precarious arrangements. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate whether PE is associated with social precarity in a working population of 401 nonstandard employed workers in Stockholm, Sweden (2016-2017). PE was assessed with the Swedish version of the Employment Precarious Scale (EPRES-Se) and analyzed in relation to social precarity related to working life (eg, task quality and job security) and living conditions (eg, restraint in social activities and financial constraints). We found positive adjusted associations between quartiles of EPRES-Se and social precarity related to working life (eg, being locked in an occupation [aPRq4:1.33 [1.10-1.61]]) and living conditions (eg, inability to participate in social activities because of work [aPRq4:1.27 [1.10-1.46]]). Our findings suggest that individuals in PE experience social precarity, stressing that PE may have negative effects on well-being. Further studies using multidimensional constructs of PE and larger samples should analyze these findings according to social and policy contexts in order to be able to inform policymakers.

Exceso de mortalidad en población en edad de trabajar en nueve países de Latinoamérica, año 2020 / Excess mortality in 2020 in the working-age population of nine Latin American countries / Excesso de mortalidade na população em idade ativa em nove países da América Latina no ano de 2020

RESUMEN Objetivo. Estimar el impacto de la pandemia de la COVID-19 durante el año 2020, a través del exceso de mortalidad por todas las causas y los años potenciales de vida laboral perdidos en la población en edad de trabajar, de una selección de países latinoamericanos y el Caribe. Métodos. Estudio basado en datos de defunciones por todas las causas entre 15 y 69 años, procedentes principalmente de los Institutos Nacionales de Estadísticas. Se estimaron defunciones esperadas a partir de las registradas entre 2015 y 2019. El exceso de mortalidad fue estimado a través del indicador P, la razón de mortalidad estandarizada (RME) y los años potenciales de vida laboral perdidos (AVLP) hasta los 70 años. Resultados. El exceso de defunciones en Brasil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, México, Perú y República Dominicana sumó 426 978 (279 591 en hombres y 147 438 en mujeres), lo que representó una pérdida de 5 710 048 (3 738 775 en hombres y 1 971 273 en mujeres) de APVLP. La mortalidad observada fue significativamente superior a la esperada en todos los países, menos República Dominicana. Conclusiones. El impacto de la COVID-19 en la población en edad de trabajar tendrá un impacto profundo en la situación socioeconómica. El recuento oportuno del exceso de muertes resulta útil y puede ser usado como un sistema de alerta temprana para monitorizar la magnitud de los brotes de COVID-19. La monitorización del exceso de mortalidad en personas en edad de trabajar, realizada por el Observatorio Iberoamericano de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo permite evaluar con mayor exactitud la carga social y económica de la COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Objective. Estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, through excess all-cause mortality and potential years of productive life lost (YPLL) in the working-age population, in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries. Methods. Study based on data on deaths from all causes from age 15 to 69 years, mainly from national institutes of statistics. Estimates of expected deaths were based on reported deaths from 2015 to 2019. Excess mortality was estimated using the P indicator, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), and potential YPLL up to age 70 years. Results. Excess deaths in Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Peru totaled 426 978 (279 591 men and 147 438 women), representing a potential loss of 5 710 048 (3 738 775 in men and 1 971 273 in women) years of productive life. Observed mortality was significantly higher than expected in all countries except the Dominican Republic. Conclusions. COVID-19 in the working-age population will have a profound impact on socio-economic conditions. Timely counting of excess deaths is useful and can be used as an early warning system to monitor the magnitude of COVID-19 outbreaks. Monitoring of excess mortality in working-age people by the Ibero-American Observatory on Safety and Health at Work enables more accurate assessment of the social and economic burden of COVID-19.

RESUMO Objetivo. Estimar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 durante o ano de 2020, por meio do excesso de mortalidade por todas as causas e dos anos produtivos de vida perdidos (APrVP) na população em idade ativa, em uma seleção de países da América Latina e do Caribe. Métodos. Estudo baseado em dados de óbitos por todas as causas entre 15 e 69 anos, principalmente dos Institutos Nacionais de Estatística. Os óbitos esperados foram estimados a partir daqueles registrados entre 2015 e 2019. O excesso de mortalidade foi estimado por meio do indicador P, da razão de mortalidade padronizada (RMP) e dos APrVP até os 70 anos. Resultados. O excesso de óbitos no Brasil, na Bolívia, no Chile, na Colômbia, na Costa Rica, em Cuba, no México, no Peru e na República Dominicana totalizou 426 978 (279 591 em homens e 147 438 em mulheres), o que representou uma perda de 5 710 048 (3 738 775 em homens e 1 971 273 em mulheres) APrVP. A mortalidade observada foi significativamente maior do que o esperado em todos os países, exceto na República Dominicana. Conclusões. O impacto da COVID-19 na população em idade ativa terá um impacto profundo na situação socioeconómica. O cálculo oportuno do excesso de mortes é útil e pode ser usado como um sistema de alerta precoce para monitorar a magnitude dos surtos de COVID-19. O monitoramento do excesso de mortalidade em pessoas em idade ativa, realizado pelo Observatório Ibero-Americano de Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho, permite avaliar com mais precisão a carga social e econômica da COVID-19.

Precarious Employment and Stress: The Biomedical Embodiment of Social Factors. PRESSED Project Study Protocol.

The PRESSED project aims to explain the links between a multidimensional measure of precarious employment and stress and health. Studies on social epidemiology have found a clear positive association between precarious employment and health, but the pathways and mechanisms to explain such a relationship are not well-understood. This project aims to fill this gap from an interdisciplinary perspective, integrating the social and biomedical standpoints to comprehensively address the complex web of consequences of precarious employment and its effects on workers' stress, health and well-being, including health inequalities. The project objectives are: (1) to analyze the association between multidimensional precarious employment and chronic stress among salaried workers in Barcelona, measured both subjectively and using biological indicators; (2) to improve our understanding of the pathways and mechanisms linking precarious employment with stress, health and well-being; and (3) to analyze health inequalities by gender, social class and place of origin for the first two objectives. The study follows a sequential mixed design. First, secondary data from the 2017 Survey on Workers and the Unemployed of Barcelona is analyzed (N = 1,264), yielding a social map of precarious employment in Barcelona that allows the contextualization of the scope and characteristics of this phenomenon. Drawing on these results, a second survey on a smaller sample (N = 255) on precarious employment, social precariousness and stress is envisaged. This study population is also asked to provide a hair sample to have their levels of cortisol and its related components, biomarkers of chronic stress, analyzed. Third, a sub-sample of the latter survey (n = 25) is selected to perform qualitative semi-structured interviews. This allows going into greater depth into how and why the experience of uncertainty, the precarization of living conditions, and the degradation of working conditions go hand-in-hand with precarious employment and have an impact on stress, as well as to explore the potential role of social support networks in mitigating these effects.

Correction: The importance of using a multi-dimensional scale to capture the various impacts of precarious employment on health: Results from a national survey of Chilean workers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238401.].

COVID-19 and Precarious Employment: Consequences of the Evolving Crisis.

The world of work is facing an ongoing pandemic and an economic downturn with severe effects worldwide. Workers trapped in precarious employment (PE), both formal and informal, are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we call attention to at least 5 critical ways that the consequences of the crisis among workers in PE will be felt globally: (a) PE will increase, (b) workers in PE will become more precarious, (c) workers in PE will face unemployment without being officially laid off, (d) workers in PE will be exposed to serious stressors and dramatic life changes that may lead to a rise in diseases of despair, and (e) PE might be a factor in deterring the control of or in generating new COVID-19 outbreaks. We conclude that what we really need is a new social contract, where the work of all workers is recognized and protected with adequate job contracts, employment security, and social protection in a new economy, both during and after the COVID-19 crisis.

Effects of an urban regeneration program on related social determinants of health in Chile: A pre-post intervention study.

Urban regeneration programs, such as "Programa Quiero mi Barrio" (PQMB) that is carried out in neighborhoods with greater deprivation across Chile, can improve health and quality of life in socio-economically deprived neighborhoods. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of this program on the physical, social, and safety environments of neighborhoods intervened between 2011 and 2018, according to gender and socioeconomic position. Four indices and six sub-indices were constructed to measure physical, social, and safety environments of the neighborhoods. We conducted a pre- and post-intervention analysis with 2095 people using linear models adjusted for repeated measurements. After the intervention, participants had an improved perception of physical, social, and safety environments, as well as the use of spaces, particularly among women and people with higher levels of education. Therefore, the PQMB program is a form of public policy that can improve the quality of life and health of people living in underprivileged areas.

Life expectancy and mortality in 363 cities of Latin America.

The concept of a so-called urban advantage in health ignores the possibility of heterogeneity in health outcomes across cities. Using a harmonized dataset from the SALURBAL project, we describe variability and predictors of life expectancy and proportionate mortality in 363 cities across nine Latin American countries. Life expectancy differed substantially across cities within the same country. Cause-specific mortality also varied across cities, with some causes of death (unintentional and violent injuries and deaths) showing large variation within countries, whereas other causes of death (communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other noncommunicable diseases) varied substantially between countries. In multivariable mixed models, higher levels of education, water access and sanitation and less overcrowding were associated with longer life expectancy, a relatively lower proportion of communicable, maternal, neonatal and nutritional deaths and a higher proportion of deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other noncommunicable diseases. These results highlight considerable heterogeneity in life expectancy and causes of death across cities of Latin America, revealing modifiable factors that could be amenable to urban policies aimed toward improving urban health in Latin America and more generally in other urban environments.