Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Sep 2003
ReviewSources of exposure to and public health implications of organophosphate pesticides.
To review the public health significance of organophosphate pesticide exposure in the United States of America. Since the situation of high organophosphate pesticide exposure and the concomitant health risks in the developing countries of the world is well known, this article seeks to highlight the public health significance of organophosphate exposure in the United States, where it is less common than in many other nations. Looking at the situation in the United States would serve to further emphasize the seriousness of organophosphate pesticide-related health issues in developing countries. ⋯ Organophosphate pesticides continue to pose a risk to human health in the United States. Biological monitoring should be used to strictly regulate occupational exposures to organophosphates and thus protect the health and safety of workers. Among the public there should be an increased awareness of environmental exposure to organophosphates as well as of the threat of chemical warfare or terrorism.
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Aug 2003
[Physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual violence during pregnancy as a reproductive-risk predictor of low birthweight in Costa Rica].
To determine the prevalence of physical, psychological, emotional, and sexual violence during pregnancy and the association that that violence has with low birthweight. ⋯ Our results indicate the need to investigate this subject more deeply, to train health workers concerning violence toward women as a reproductive-risk factor, and to form groups of experts on this subject to develop specialized protocols for the early identification of pregnant women subject to violence.
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Jul 2003
Comparative Study[Birth rates and reproductive risk in adolescents in Chile, 1990-1999].
For Chilean teenage mothers under 15 years old and from 15 to 19 years old, to evaluate the trends in birth rates and reproductive risk for the period of 1990-1999. ⋯ In the period studied, the Chilean teenage mothers faced greater reproductive risk than did the women 20-34 years old. The number of live births among teenage mothers tended to rise during the 1990-1999 period, but the change was significant only for the mothers under age 15. These results point to the need to develop programs that improve both sex education and birth control practices starting in early adolescence.
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Rev. Panam. Salud Publica · Feb 2003
Availability, safety, and quality of blood for transfusion in the Americas.
This article has two objectives: (1) to present for countries and territories of the Region of the Americas data on the number of blood donations, proportion of voluntary blood donors versus remunerated blood donors, coverage of screening for infectious agents, and separation of donated blood into its components and (2) to explore the relationships of those characteristics with economic and organizational factors in the countries and territories. ⋯ The availability, safety, and quality of blood for transfusion in the Americas needs to be improved. As part of that effort, national policies and strategies must be put into place so that the resources already allocated for blood services are better utilized.