CEDEUS

Permanent URI for this collection

https://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/86979

Browse

Browsing CEDEUS by Subject "03 Good health and well-being"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A Call for Biomonitoring Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: Considerations for Potentially Toxic Metals/ Metalloids
    (Ubiquity Press, 2022) Tamayo-Ortiz, Marcela; Riojas-Rodríguez, Horacio; Téllez-Rojo, Marta M.; Boischio, Ana; Mañay, Nelly; Menezes-Filho, José Antonio; Queirolo, Elena I.; Cortés Arancibia, Sandra Isabel; Kordas, Katarzyna; CEDEUS (Chile)
    The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region makes up 8.4% of the world’s population. Human biomonitoring (HBM) programs, which can shed light on populationlevel exposure to environmental contaminants such as toxic metals and thus, improve the health of the populations are inexistent in LAC countries. We call for the creation of HBM programs in the region and identify three viable design options for HBM at the individual level, through national surveys, newborn blood collection, and biobanks. We highlight some of challenges to the implementation of HBM programs, including financial and human resources, technical constrains (laboratory), sample, and data logistics. Finally, we provide the case studies of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay, to illustrate a range of responses to toxic metal exposure in non-occupational populations. Although different in many respects, the individual country responses share two commonalities: 1) academic centers drive the research to raise awareness of governmental entities; 2) reference levels are adapted from international norms rather than arising from the studied populations. Well-designed and sufficiently funded biomonitoring systems need to be established in each country of the LAC region. HBM programs are key to promoting human health by informing the public and contributing to policy processes that establish sustainable environmental controls and health prevention programs.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    A preliminary study on aflatoxin exposure by urine biomonitoring in Chile
    (2022) Foerster, Claudia; Monsalve, Liliam; Maldonado, Carlos; Cortés Arancibia, Sandra; Ferreccio, Catterina; CEDEUS (Chile)
    We assessed the occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in urine in a sample of the MAUCO population-based cohort (n = 120) using an enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) kit specially designed for the analysis of AFM1 in urine. We found AFM1 in the urine of 59% of the participants (> limit of detection), with 12% of the samples being over the limit of quantification. The mean of the quantifiable samples was 0.66 (± 0.35) ng/mg adjusted creatinine, ranging from 0.31 to 1.39 ng/mg creatinine. The mean probable daily intake (PDI) of AFB1 was 0.23 (± 0.37) ng/kg bw according to the upper bound (UB), being significantly higher in women and 0.14 (± 0.23) ng/kg bw in the modified lower bound (mLB) approach, ranging from 0.01 to 1.98 ng/kg bw. The risk of AFB1 was assessed with the margin of exposure (MOE) approach estimated at 2800 in the mean mLB and 1733 in the mean UB. According to the MOE values obtained in this study, aflatoxin B1 exposure must be considered a public health concern and must be taken as a priority for food risk management.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Association between maternity leave policies and postpartum depression: a systematic review
    (Springer, 2023) Hidalgo-Padilla, Liliana; Toyama, Mauricio; Hanae, Jessica; Tanaka, Zafra; Vives Vergara, Alejandra; Diez-Canseco, Francisco; CEDEUS (Chile)
    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.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Estimation of crowding factors for public transport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Santiago, Chile
    (2022) Basnak Klajn, Paul Alexander; Giesen Encina, Ricardo; Muñoz Abogabir, Juan Carlos; CEDEUS (Chile)
    A sharp decrease in public transport demand has been observed during the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. In this context, it is relevant to understand how mode preferences have changed since the surge of COVID-19.& nbsp;In order to better understand how the pandemic changed mode choice, particularly regarding the impact of crowding and face mask use in public transport, we conducted a stated preference on-line and on-street survey in Santiago, Chile. Our sample is balanced in gender but has a higher proportion of individuals with college degrees and those under 45 years of age than the population of Santiago.& nbsp;The data collected was then used to estimate two multinomial mode choice models, a latent class model and a mixed logit model with latent variables.& nbsp;The models yielded a value of travel time in crowded conditions (4 pax/m2) and low face mask use (50%) of 3.0-5.1 times higher than the case with low crowding (0.5 pax/m2) and 100% face mask use. Moreover, women tend to be more sensitive than men to the use of face masks in public transport. Besides, young and low-income people are relatively less sensitive to crowding.& nbsp;The crowding penalization obtained is higher than in pre-pandemic models calibrated for Santiago for similar passenger densities. Also, as we expected, it grows non-linearly with passenger density. Disinfection of vehicles, as well as the perception of health risk, cleanliness, safety and comfort, were also relevant in explaining mode choice. Further research shall discuss how the change of mode preferences together with new demand patterns influence the operational design of public transport services.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exposición a contaminantes provenientes de termoeléctricas a carbón y salud infantil: ¿cuál es la evidencia internacional y nacional?
    (Sociedad Chilena de Pediatría, 2019) Cortés Arancibia, Sandra; Yohannessen, Karla V.; Tellerias C., Lidya; Ahumada P., Ericka; CEDEUS (Chile)
    Las centrales termoeléctricas (CTE) a carbón representan un riesgo para la salud de las comunidades expuestas. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura científica nacional e internacional enfocada en los efectos en salud de niños y la exposición a emisiones al aire provenientes de CTE a carbón. Se incluyeron 21 artículos para su revisión en texto completo, donde se midieron efectos en salud infantil relacionados a presencia de biomarcadores de exposición y efecto, daños perinatales, neuroconductuales y respiratorios principalmente. La exposición a emisiones de CTE a carbón en el embarazo se asoció a niños con bajo peso y muy bajo peso al nacer, menor talla, menor diámetro de Circunferencia del Cráneo (CC) y prematuridad; el diámetro de CC aumentó en recién nacidos después del cierre de CTE. Se encontraron menor coeficiente de desarrollo (CD) y coeficiente intelectual (CI) en niños expuestos a emisiones de CTE a carbón comparados con no expuestos; CD aumentó cuando la central fue cerrada. Por otro lado, vivir en zonas con fuentes de emisión de mercurio (asociadas a CTE y plantas de cemento que funcionan con carbón) se asoció con mayor riesgo de autismo. En salud respiratoria, los artículos fueron consistentes en reportar menor función pulmonar en niños residentes en zonas expuestas a fuentes de combustión de carbón comparados con grupos de niños no expuestos. Es muy necesario abrir el debate en Chile sobre los riesgos controlables a los que se enfrenta la población infantil a consecuencia de plantas generadoras de energía instaladas en Chile.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Health protection among own account and platform workers during COVID19 in Chile. The PWR project
    (2022) Ruiz, M. ; Vives Vergara, Alejandra; Alvarez, V.; Diaz, I.; Zaupa, A.; CEDEUS (Chile)
    Background: In the last decades, non-standard employment has grown globally. Especially for own account workers (OAW), this implies the self-management of economic, health and other work-related risks. In the context of COVID19, this management was stressed by lockdowns and the novel health risks imposed by an unknown and highly contagious virus, demanding the incorporation of new knowledge and preventive actions. As part of a six-country multiple case qualitative study on non-standard workers (NSW), we explore their experiences and strategies deployed to protect their health while continuing to work. Methods: We performed 40 in-depth interviews to NSWs between October 2020 and February 2021, identified through the PWR online-survey and selected through an intentional sampling strategy according to levels of precarity (high-low), gender (male/female) and age (18-39/40-55). Interviews were analysed through abductive thematic analysis. Results: We observed a significant transfer to platform, Uber-like jobs in the delivery of goods during lockdown (n = 7). In the absence of institutional prevention programs and provision of protective equipment, OAWs (n = 13) refer the self-provision of COVID19 prevention to protect themselves and their families while continuing to work, deploying a series of strategies amidst limited understanding of both mode of transmission of the virus and actual effective preventive measures. This had serious consequences for them and their families, expressed in anguish, sense of lack of control, fear, and fragility in the face of a major health risk given their constant potential exposure to the virus, leading to both physical and mental health problems, as well as COVID19 infection. Conclusions: The substantial growth worldwide of gig delivery work during lockdowns magnified a pressing public health problem, critically requiring social security for gig and OAWs and the development of more equitable and accessible occupational health for all. Key messages: • Substantial growth worldwide of gig delivery work during lockdowns magnified a pressing public health problem.• Social security for gig and OAWs are critically required as well as the development of more equitable and accessible occupational health for all.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere of an agricultural area of central Chile and inhalation cancer risk assessments
    (2023) Pozo, Karla; Cortés Arancibia, Sandra; Gómez, Victoria; Guida, Yago; Torres, Mariett; Carvalho, Gabriel Oliveira de; P?ibylová, Petra; Klánová, Jana; Jorquera, Héctor; CEDEUS (Chile)
    Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent toxic substances prone to long-range atmospheric transport. Even in low concentrations, environmental exposure to PAHs can impact human health. In this study we aimed to i) investigate the occurrence of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (?15PAHs), from August 2016 to January 2018, in the atmosphere of Molina, using polyurethane foam disks (PAS-PUF) in central Chile; and ii) perform deterministic and probabilistic (using Monte Carlo simulations) inhalation cancer risk assessments. Gas chromatography and tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC- MS/MS) measured target PAHs. Results showed ?15PAHs ranging from 2 ng m-3 to 108 ng m-3, with four-ring PAHs as the prevalent compounds, including phenanthrene (44%) and fluoranthene (24%). Winter season showed the highest PAH levels (increasing factor up to ?8 times). PAHs diagnostic ratios showed the prevalence of pyrogenic combustion (winter) and petrogenic combustion (summer). Lifetime cancer risk assessments, using BaP-eq values, indicated an increased cancer risk for the exposed population considering different risk assessment approaches. Younger individuals were the most affected by an increased cancer risk at all sampling sites. The Monte Carlo probabilistic assessment indicated that infants and toddlers could be exposed to PAH air concentrations exceeding the cancer risk threshold in over 94% of the simulations. The coldest months in the studied region are critical for human exposure and health risk due to intense wood combustion. Indoor air can be even more relevant due to the chronic inhalation of the smoke and associated chemicals.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Work Status, Financial Stress, Family Problems, and Gender Differences in the Prevalence of Depression in Chile
    (Oxford University Press, 2019) González Medina, Gabriel; Vives Vergara, Alejandra; CEDEUS (Chile)
    Introduction: It is widely known that women have a higher prevalence of depression than men. These differences may be explained by social differences between women and men due to gender roles. In Chile, as elsewhere, women have greater household responsibilities, lower job incomes, and especially low labor market participation. However, the incidence of these gender differences on the higher prevalence of depression in women requires further study in the Chilean context. Objective: To identify main social differences between women and men associated with gender differences in the prevalence of depression in middle-aged Chilean men and women. Data source: Data comes from the second Chilean National Health Survey (2009-2010), a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample (n = 2771) composed of 1103 men and 1668 women (39.8 and 60.2%, respectively), whose age range goes from 25 to 55 years old. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. Methods: Prevalence ratios were calculated through Poisson regression models to estimate associations between the prevalence of past episodes of depression and social stressful life events variables for men and women separately. Gender prevalence ratios of depression (Gender PR) adjusted for age and subsequently adjusted by the social and stressful life events variables. The analyses considered factors such as age, educational level, per-capita household income, work status, role as the head of household, marital status, events of violence, family problems, personal health problems or accidents, and self-reported financial stress. Results: This study finds that doing housework, reporting a serious family problem and having high financial stress were associated with a higher prevalence of depression in both genders. Whereas, health problems were only associated with prevalence in men. The age-adjusted gender PR was 2.84 [confidence interval (CI): 2.0-4.1], and when all selected variables were included attenuated to a PR of 1.86 (CI 1.3-2.7). The variable most strongly associated with depression in the fully-adjusted model was housework (PR: 5.3; CI: 1.3-21.0). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study finds that depression in in Chile is associated with social factors such as participation in housework, family problems, and financial stress, all of which are more common in women. To make further progress in the study of this public health problem in Chile, it is essential to incorporate more detailed characterization of gender roles in surveys and other studies. Likewise, social policies and interventions that contribute to reduce gender social inequalities in the exposure to adverse life circumstances can contribute to reduce unnecessary and avoidable gender disparities in health.