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BACKGROUND: Irresponsible dog ownership in urban areas is a public health concern with significant implications for human, animal, and environmental welfare. Factors such as abandonment, variations in adoption, insufficient supervision, emerging identification initiatives, and collective feeding impact the growth of stray dog populations and the transmission of diseases. Developing a modeling tool to understand the dynamics of canine population growth and the effect of human behavior on this phenomenon is essential. METHODS: An ordinary differential equation model was developed to depict the growth dynamics and movements of urban dog populations, distinguishing between those with owners (restricted and semi-restricted) and those without (stray and community dogs). Two equilibrium states of the system were analyzed: with and without the presence of individually owned dogs. An increase rate for the population of individually owned dogs was calculated, and a local sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the impact of parameters on the reduction of this population. Additionally, two global sensitivity analysis methods were used to evaluate the simultaneous influence of the parameters. RESULTS: Findings indicate that system equilibrium depends on various dog categories. Although total eradication of stray and community dogs is unlikely, equilibrium levels are directly related to subpopulation growth rates, responsible ownership practices, and adoption and abandonment rates. The growth rates of the population of dogs without individual owners have a direct and proportional influence on their regulation, while adoption rates have an inverse and proportional effect. The study, through global sensitivity analysis, identifies key parameters for each dog subpopulation. For restricted dogs, environmental carrying capacity is the most variable factor; for semi-restricted dogs, awareness of responsible ownership is crucial. The abandonment of restricted dogs significantly impacts stray dog dynamics, while the transition from stray to community status is an important variable factor for community dogs. CONCLUSION: Addressing the situation of unowned dogs requires a collective effort to reduce risks associated with the spread of zoonotic diseases, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss, thus contributing to public health and environmental conservation.

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A mathematical epidemiological model incorporating the mobility of rodents and human groups among zones of less or major contact between them is presented. The hantavirus infection dynamics is expressed using a model type SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed), which incorporates the displacement of the rodent and the human, between the urban and rural sector, the latter being subdivided in populated and non-populated. The results show the impact that rodent or human displacement may have on the propagation of hantavirus infection. Human mobility is more significant than rodents in increasing the number of hantavirus infection cases. The results found may be used as a reference by the health authorities to develop more specific campaigns on the territorial dynamics of the rodent, attend to the mobility of humans in these territories, mainly agricultural and forestry workers, and strengthen control-prevention actions in the community, to prevent future outbreaks that are fatal.

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BACKGROUND: The use of pesticides can result in harm to both the environment and human health. There is a growing concern in the field of occupational health about the impact on the mental health of agricultural workers. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to systematize scientific evidence from the last ten years on the impact of occupational exposure to pesticides on the development of depression symptoms in agricultural workers. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search in the PubMed and Scopus databases from 2011 to September 2022. Our search included studies in English, Spanish, and Portuguese that examined the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and symptoms of depression in agricultural workers, following the guidelines recommended by the PRISMA statement and the PECO strategy (Population, Exposure, Comparison, and Outcomes). RESULTS: Among the 27 articles reviewed, 78% of them indicated a link between exposure to pesticides and the incidence of depression symptoms. The pesticides most frequently reported in the studies were organophosphates (17 studies), herbicides (12 studies), and pyrethroids (11 studies). The majority of the studies were rated as having intermediate to intermediate-high quality, with the use of standardized measures to assess both exposure and effect. CONCLUSION: The updated evidence presented in our review indicates a clear association between pesticide exposure and the development of depressive symptoms. However, more high-quality longitudinal studies are necessary to control for sociocultural variables and utilize pesticide-specific biomarkers and biomarkers of depression. Given the increased use of these chemicals and the health risks associated with depression, it is crucial to implement more stringent measures to monitor the mental health of agricultural workers regularly exposed to pesticides and to enhance surveillance of companies that apply these chemicals.

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Introduction: Migration figures place Chile as one of the South American countries with the highest rate of migrants. The present study estimated the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, quality of life, and psychosocial occupational risks in migrant workers from the Maule region. Methods: Cross-sectional study with migrant workers between 18 and 60 years of age residing in the Maule region (n = 145). The applied questionnaires were: a psychosocial risk questionnaire, a health and quality of life questionnaire, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. A bivariate statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal Wallis, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression models. Results: In Chile, 21% of the migrants maintained the same work activity as in their country of origin. Although the quality of life in physical and mental health is adequate, 52% have low psychological demands at work, 48.9% have low levels of active work and development skills, 57.7% have a high-risk level of compensation and self-esteem, and 65.5% have a high-risk level of double presence at work. Migrants with a higher quality of life in the physical health dimension have a lower risk of maintaining a balance between effort and reward; they worked 44 hours a week and did not work directly at Maule. Migrants with a higher quality of life in the mental health dimension have a lower risk of emotional demands, perceive greater social support in the company, and are less concerned about domestic chores. Conclusions: Migrants with lower quality of life in the physical health dimension presented less compensation at work and recognition, came to work directly in the region, and had jobs with fewer contract hours. Workers with lower quality of life in their mental health exhibited a greater risk of psychological demands at work and perceived low social support in the company; they were concerned about having to respond to domestic and salaried work.

Introducción: Las cifras migratorias sitúan a Chile como uno de los países sudamericanos con mayor número de migrantes. El presente estudio estimó la relación entre características sociodemográficas, calidad de vida y riesgos psicosociales laborales en migrantes trabajadores de la región del Maule. Métodos: Estudio transversal con trabajadores migrantes entre 18 y 60 años, residentes en la Región del Maule (n = 145). Las encuestas aplicadas fueron: Cuestionario de riesgo psicosocial, Cuestionario de salud y calidad de vida y Cuestionario sociodemográfico. Se realizó un análisis estadístico bivariado con pruebas no paramétricas de U de Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, correlación de Spearman y modelos de regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados: Un 21% de los migrantes mantuvo en Chile la misma actividad laboral a la que se dedicaban en su país de origen. Si bien la calidad de vida de la salud física y mental es adecuada, 52% presenta bajas demandas psicológicas en el trabajo, 48,9% bajos niveles de trabajo activo y habilidades de desarrollo, 57,7% tiene un nivel de alto riesgo en la compensación y la autoestima, y 65,5% un nivel de alto riesgo de doble presencia en el trabajo. Los migrantes con mayor calidad de vida en la dimensión salud física presentan menor riesgo de mantener el equilibrio entre el esfuerzo y recompensa, poseen un trabajo de 44 horas a la semana y no llegaron a trabajar directamente al Maule. Los migrantes con mayor calidad de vida en la dimensión salud mental poseen menor riesgo en las demandas emocionales, perciben mayor apoyo social en la empresa y menor preocupación por las tareas domésticas. Conclusiones: Los migrantes con menor calidad de vida en la dimensión salud física, presentan menores compensaciones en el trabajo, bajo reconocimiento, llegaron directamente a trabajar a la región y poseían trabajos con menos horas de contrato. Los trabajadores con menor calidad de vida en su salud mental exhiben mayor riesgo en las exigencias psicológicas en el trabajo, perciben bajo apoyo social en la empresa y preocupación por responder al trabajo doméstico y al asalariado.

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INTRODUCIÓN: Las cifras migratorias sitúan a Chile como uno de los países sudamericanos con mayor número de migrantes. El presente estudio estimó la relación entre características sociodemográficas, calidad de vida y riesgos psicosociales laborales en migrantes trabajadores de la región del Maule. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con trabajadores migrantes entre 18 y 60 años, residentes en la Región del Maule (n = 145). Las encuestas aplicadas fueron: Cuestionario de riesgo psicosocial, Cuestionario de salud y calidad de vida y Cuestionario sociodemográfico. Se realizó un análisis estadístico bivariado con pruebas no paramétricas de U de Mann Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, correlación de Spearman y modelos de regresión lineal múltiple. RESULTADOS: Un 21% de los migrantes mantuvo en Chile la misma actividad laboral a la que se dedicaban en su país de origen. Si bien la calidad de vida de la salud física y mental es adecuada, 52% presenta bajas demandas psicológicas en el trabajo, 48,9% bajos niveles de trabajo activo y habilidades de desarrollo, 57,7% tiene un nivel de alto riesgo en la compensación y la autoestima, y 65,5% un nivel de alto riesgo de doble presencia en el trabajo. Los migrantes con mayor calidad de vida en la dimensión salud física presentan menor riesgo de mantener el equilibrio entre el esfuerzo y recompensa, poseen un trabajo de 44 horas a la semana y no llegaron a trabajar directamente al Maule. Los migrantes con mayor calidad de vida en la dimensión salud mental poseen menor riesgo en las demandas emocionales, perciben mayor apoyo social en la empresa y menor preocupación por las tareas domésticas. CONCLUSIONES: Los migrantes con menor calidad de vida en la dimensión salud física, presentan menores compensaciones en el trabajo, bajo reconocimiento, llegaron directamente a trabajar a la región y poseían trabajos con menos horas de contrato. Los trabajadores con menor calidad de vida en su salud mental exhiben mayor riesgo en las exigencias psicológicas en el trabajo, perciben bajo apoyo social en la empresa y preocupación por responder al trabajo doméstico y al asalariado.

INTRODUCTION: Migration figures place Chile as one of the South American countries with the highest rate of migrants. The present study estimated the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, quality of life, and psychosocial occupational risks in migrant workers from the Maule region. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with migrant workers between 18 and 60 years of age residing in the Maule region (n = 145). The applied questionnaires were: a psychosocial risk questionnaire, a health and quality of life questionnaire, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. A bivariate statistical analysis was performed using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal Wallis, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: In Chile, 21% of the migrants maintained the same work activity as in their country of origin. Although the quality of life in physical and mental health is adequate, 52% have low psychological demands at work, 48.9% have low levels of active work and development skills, 57.7% have a high-risk level of compensation and self-esteem, and 65.5% have a high-risk level of double presence at work. Migrants with a higher quality of life in the physical health dimension have a lower risk of maintaining a balance between effort and reward; they worked 44 hours a week and did not work directly at Maule. Migrants with a higher quality of life in the mental health dimension have a lower risk of emotional demands, perceive greater social support in the company, and are less concerned about domestic chores. CONCLUSIONS: Migrants with lower quality of life in the physical health dimension presented less compensation at work and recognition, came to work directly in the region, and had jobs with fewer contract hours. Workers with lower quality of life in their mental health exhibited a greater risk of psychological demands at work and perceived low social support in the company; they were concerned about having to respond to domestic and salaried work.

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Introduction: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people's mental health care. This study aims to describe mental health care in the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic of the year 2020 compared to the first semester of the year 2019 in the public health establishments of the commune of Chillán, Chile. Methods: A descriptive ecological study. The treated cases were analyzed in aggregate, considering the pandemic, amount of admissions, the reason for consultation, sex, and age for the years 2019 and 2020. Prevalence, percentages, and statistical analysis were evaluated using non-parametric tests. Results: The prevalence of cases due to admissions to the mental health program in primary health care remained similar between the first semester of 2019 and the first semester of 2020. Most mental health cases concentrate on mood (affective) and anxiety disorders. Statistically significant differences were observed between 2019 and 2020 in the number of mental health admissions for mental and behavioral disorders due to psychotropic substances, harmful use disorders, drug dependence, and personality disorders. Conclusions: It is a priority for Chile to increase coverage in primary mental health care. The data provided in this study show at an exploratory level that the initial situation of the pandemic could have affected access to timely care for the most vulnerable people with mental disorders.

Introducción: A nivel mundial, la pandemia por COVID-19 ha afectado la atención en salud mental de las personas. El presente estudio tiene como propósito describir la atención de salud mental en el primer semestre de la pandemia COVID-19 del año 2020, comparado con el primer semestre del año 2019 en los establecimientos de salud pública de la comuna de Chillán, Chile. Métodos: Estudio ecológico descriptivo. Se analizaron de manera agregada los casos atendidos considerando la pandemia, cantidad de ingresos, motivo de consulta, sexo y edad para los años 2019 y 2020, observando prevalencias, porcentajes y comparación estadística con pruebas no paramétricas. Resultados: La prevalencia de casos por ingresos al programa de salud mental de atención primaria en salud/especialidad se mantuvo similar entre el primer semestre del año 2019 y el primer semestre del año 2020. La mayor proporción de casos de salud mental se concentran en los trastornos de humor (afectivos) y trastornos de ansiedad. Se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el año 2019 y 2020 en el número de atenciones por ingresos en salud mental para los trastornos mentales y del comportamiento debido a consumo sustancias psicotrópicas, trastornos por consumo perjudicial o dependencia a drogas y trastornos de personalidad. Conclusión: Es prioritario que en Chile se aumente la cobertura en la atención primaria de salud mental, los datos entregados en este estudio muestran a nivel exploratorio que la situación inicial de la pandemia pudo haber afectado el acceso a la atención oportuna de las personas más vulnerables con trastornos de salud mental.

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INTRODUCCIÓN: A nivel mundial, la pandemia por COVID-19 ha afectado la atención en salud mental de las personas. El presente estudio tiene como propósito describir la atención de salud mental en el primer semestre de la pandemia COVID-19 del año 2020, comparado con el primer semestre del año 2019 en los establecimientos de salud pública de la comuna de Chillán, Chile. MÉTODOS: Estudio ecológico descriptivo. Se analizaron de manera agregada los casos atendidos considerando la pandemia, cantidad de ingresos, motivo de consulta, sexo y edad para los años 2019 y 2020, observando prevalencias, porcentajes y comparación estadística con pruebas no paramétricas. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de casos por ingresos al programa de salud mental de atención primaria en salud/especialidad se mantuvo similar entre el primer semestre del año 2019 y el primer semestre del año 2020. La mayor proporción de casos de salud mental se concentran en los trastornos de humor (afectivos) y trastornos de ansiedad. Se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el año 2019 y 2020 en el número de atenciones por ingresos en salud mental para los trastornos mentales y del comportamiento debido a consumo sustancias psicotrópicas, trastornos por consumo perjudicial o dependencia a drogas y trastornos de personalidad. CONCLUSIÓN: Es prioritario que en Chile se aumente la cobertura en la atención primaria de salud mental, los datos entregados en este estudio muestran a nivel exploratorio que la situación inicial de la pandemia pudo haber afectado el acceso a la atención oportuna de las personas más vulnerables con trastornos de salud mental.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people's mental health care. This study aims to describe mental health care in the first semester of the COVID-19 pandemic of the year 2020 compared to the first semester of the year 2019 in the public health establishments of the commune of Chillán, Chile. METHODS: A descriptive ecological study. The treated cases were analyzed in aggregate, considering the pandemic, amount of admissions, the reason for consultation, sex, and age for the years 2019 and 2020. Prevalence, percentages, and statistical analysis were evaluated using non-parametric tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of cases due to admissions to the mental health program in primary health care remained similar between the first semester of 2019 and the first semester of 2020. Most mental health cases concentrate on mood (affective) and anxiety disorders. Statistically significant differences were observed between 2019 and 2020 in the number of mental health admissions for mental and behavioral disorders due to psychotropic substances, harmful use disorders, drug dependence, and personality disorders. CONCLUSIONS: It is a priority for Chile to increase coverage in primary mental health care. The data provided in this study show at an exploratory level that the initial situation of the pandemic could have affected access to timely care for the most vulnerable people with mental disorders.

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BACKGROUND: Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the literature on pesticide-related health effects in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region, an area of intensive agricultural and residential pesticide use, is sparse. We conducted a scoping review to describe the current state of research on the health effects of pesticide exposure in LAC populations with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity building needs. METHODS: We searched PubMed and SciELO for epidemiological studies on pesticide exposure and human health in LAC populations published between January 2007 and December 2021. We identified 233 publications from 16 countries that met our inclusion criteria and grouped them by health outcome (genotoxicity, neurobehavioral outcomes, placental outcomes and teratogenicity, cancer, thyroid function, reproductive outcomes, birth outcomes and child growth, and others). RESULTS: Most published studies were conducted in Brazil (37%, n=88) and Mexico (20%, n=46), were cross-sectional in design (72%, n=167), and focused on farmworkers (45%, n=105) or children (21%, n=48). The most frequently studied health effects included genotoxicity (24%, n=62) and neurobehavioral outcomes (21%, n=54), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides were the most frequently examined (26%, n=81). Forty-seven percent (n=112) of the studies relied only on indirect pesticide exposure assessment methods. Exposure to OP pesticides, carbamates, or to multiple pesticide classes was consistently associated with markers of genotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly among children and farmworkers. DISCUSSION: Our scoping review provides some evidence that exposure to pesticides may adversely impact the health of LAC populations, but methodological limitations and inconsistencies undermine the strength of the conclusions. It is critical to increase capacity building, integrate research initiatives, and conduct more rigorous epidemiological studies in the region to address these limitations, better inform public health surveillance systems, and maximize the impact of research on public policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9934.

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BACKGROUND: Physical environment can influence well-being, quality of life and health and population health in several ways. Exposure to green spaces improves the physical and mental health of individuals. Chile has privileged conditions for outdoor activities that could benefit millions of people. However, a small percentage of the Chilean population is exposed to green spaces in the recommended amounts to promote health. AIM: To describe the benefits of green spaces on physical and mental health and their relationship with the practice of physical activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of the scientific literature in English in the Web of Science (WoS) electronic database published between 2006-2019. RESULTS: In addition to the direct benefits of green spaces, there are synergistic effects of performing physical activities in these environments such as feelings of good health, satisfaction with life and pleasure, increased physiological relaxation, positive emotions, mental well-being, restoration of attention, decreased perceived stress and a reduction negative affections. CONCLUSIONS: This review supports strategies for improving access to green spaces in urban areas coupled with physical activity promotion in these settings. Health and urban planning stakeholders should consider these aspects in future programs.

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Human interactions and perceptions about health risk are essential to understand the evolution over the course of a pandemic. We present a Susceptible-Exposed-Asymptomatic-Infectious-Recovered-Susceptible mathematical model with quarantine and social-distance-dependent transmission rates, to study COVID-19 dynamics. Human activities are split across different location settings: home, work, school, and elsewhere. Individuals move from home to the other locations at rates dependent on their epidemiological conditions and maintain a social distancing behavior, which varies with their location. We perform simulations and analyze how distinct social behaviors and restrictive measures affect the dynamic of the disease within a population. The model proposed in this study revealed that the main focus on the transmission of COVID-19 is attributed to the "home" location setting, which is understood as family gatherings including relatives and close friends. Limiting encounters at work, school and other locations will only be effective if COVID-19 restrictions occur simultaneously at all those locations and/or contact tracing or social distancing measures are effectively and strictly implemented, especially at the home setting.

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