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The mission of the Pan American Journal of Public Health is to serve as an important vehicle for disseminating scientific public health information relevant to the Region of the Americas. The journal aims to strengthen national and local health systems and to bridge the gap between health care and policy-makers, ultimately improving the health of the peoples of the Americas.

Ethics in public health surveillance: progress and challenges in the Americas

Public health surveillance is essential to protect the health of the population and address health inequities. The World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on Ethical Issues in Public Health Surveillance is a comprehensive international ethical framework that provides specific guidance on surveillance work and its challenges.

Paths to mainstreaming gender and intersectionality in neglected tropical disease programs

Neglected tropical diseases affect more than one billion people worldwide, over 55 million of whom are in the Region of the Americas. These conditions can cause long-term disability and death, and disproportionately affect populations living in poverty. It is well known that adopting the gender perspective and incorporating intersectionality in the development of health programs can help reduce inequities. Based on this idea, this article suggests specific actions for the mainstreaming of gender and intersectionality.

Social protection strategies for people with tuberculosis in Latin America: (re) thinking policies and practices

This study critically analyzes the effects of social protection policies on tuberculosis treatment and discusses perspectives for the implementation of comprehensive, sustainable care in Latin America. Based on the theory of social determinants of health, this article offers theory and reflection on the effects of social inequalities on adherence to treatment, showing that financial support, food security, and access to transportation are fundamental elements in reducing the impact of the disease on individuals and communities.

Energy and sodium content of foods reported in the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2018-2019, Costa Rica, according to the NOVA classification

Objective

To describe the energy and sodium content of foods reported in the 2018–2019 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey of Costa Rica, classified using the NOVA system, by urban/rural residence and income quintiles.

Methods

Descriptive study in which records of food purchases from the 2018–2019 National Household Income and Expenditure Survey were converted to energy and sodium content by means of food composition tables. Foods were classified into the four NOVA groups and analyzed according to urban/rural residence and income quintiles.

Evaluating health systems through ambulatory care-sensitive conditions

Ambulatory care-sensitive conditions are those for which effective primary health care services could prevent hospitalizations or mitigate severe complications. Hospital admissions for these conditions have been used to measure the effectiveness of primary health care. We review and compare lists of these conditions developed by national and international health entities to explore their applicability to diverse health care systems, the conditions included and the methodological challenges of making cross-country comparisons.

Distance between place of residence and location of maternal deaths: Regional, ethnic-racial, and territorial inequalities in Brazil, 2018 to 2023

Objective

To analyze the distance between the place of residence and the location of maternal deaths in Brazil from 2018 to 2023, taking into account territorial, ethnic-racial, and regional inequalities. 

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