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Objective. To estimate the mortality gap due to interpersonal violence in adolescents and young people in 'social territories' made up of 17 Latin American countries, by age and sex for the years 1990 and 2019, based on estimates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors (GBD) Study, 2019. Methods. Ecological epidemiological study of mortality due to interpersonal violence. Countries were divided into three strata according to the social development index (SDI). To estimate the gaps, the Poisson regression model was used, and the odds ratio and its respective 95% confidence interval were calculated. Results. The global burden of mortality due to interpersonal violence showed a significant increase in men in strata 1 and 2, and a decrease in stratum 3; a significant decrease was observed in women in stratum 2. By age group, the burden of interpersonal violence increased in both men and women aged 20 years and older. Conclusions. Interpersonal violence continues to be an important public health problem in Latin America, affecting mainly adolescents and young people in countries with lower socioeconomic development. It is urgent to evaluate the public policies that have been implemented in order to determine the causes that prevent the reduction of current gaps, and to implement plans that act on the social determinants of interpersonal violence and that promote a positive transformation with equity. The GBD report can serve as an important tool in the design, implementation, and monitoring of public policies aimed at preventing interpersonal violence in the Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries have made important progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets related to health (SDG3) at the national level. However, vast within-country health inequalities remain. We present a baseline of health inequalities in the region, against which progress towards the SDGs can be monitored. Setting. We studied 21 countries in LAC using data from Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey carried out from 2011 to 2016. Participants. The surveys collect nationally representative data on women and children using multistage sampling. In total, 288 207 women and 195 092 children made part of the surveys in the 21 countries. Outcome measures. Five health intervention indicators were studied, related to reproductive and maternal health, along with adolescent fertility and neonatal and under-five mortality rates. Inequalities in these indicators were assessed through absolute and relative measures. Results. In most countries, subnational geographical health gradients were observed for nearly all women, child, and adolescent (WCA) indicators. Coverage of key interventions was higher in urban areas and among the richest, compared with rural areas and poorer quintiles. Analyses by woman's age showed that coverage was lower in adolescent girls than older women for family planning indicators. Pro-urban and pro-rich inequalities were also seen for mortality in most countries. Conclusions. Regional averages hide important health inequalities between countries, but national estimates hide still greater inequalities between subgroups of women, children and adolescents. To achieve the SDG3 targets and leave no one behind, it is essential to close health inequality gaps within as well as between countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To estimate the burden of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Treponema pallidum (TP), and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among people aged 10 to 25 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Methods. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS databases were searched, as well as documents from regional organizations or national health Institutions. Population-based studies that reported prevalence or incidence of CT, NG, TP, and HPV detected through confirmatory tests in adolescents and young people were included. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled estimators were calculated in cases where heterogeneity was <70%; when not feasible, prevalence ranges were reported. Results. Out of a total of 3 583 references, 15 prevalence studies complied with the inclusion criteria. Due to substantial heterogeneity (>70%), it was not possible to pool frequency estimators. Among the general population, the prevalence of CT infection ranged between 2.1% and 30.1% (9 studies, 5 670 participants); for NG, prevalence ranged between 0% and 2.9% (8 studies, 5 855 participants); for TP, prevalence varied between 0% and 0.7% (3 studies, 11 208 participants), and for HPV infection, prevalence ranged between 25.1% and 55.6% (8 studies, 3 831 participants). Conclusions. Reliable, population-based data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in adolescents and youth in Latin America and the Caribbean are limited. Additional studies are needed to better understand the burden of STIs in this population. However, given the substantial prevalence of STIs detected, countries need public health policies for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of STIs in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine the time pattern of adolescent fertility rates (AFRs) in the countries of the Region of the Americas, categorizing them to evaluate their mobility and differences, and to produce a forecast for 2023. Methods. Ecological and descriptive study of a time series of AFRs in 32 countries, from 1960 to 2019, based on information from the World Bank and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Trends in the AFR were estimated using a linear regression model (Prais-Winsten method). Differences were evaluated between two subperiods (1960-1989 and 1990-2019) and among four categories of the AFR for 2019 by testing related samples and analysis of variance, respectively. The AFR for 2023 was predicted with autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. Results. The AFR time series for the sample was non-stationary and the annual average trend was downward (coefficient = -1.173; p < 0.001; R2 adjusted = 0.968), dropping from 124 per 1 000 in 1960 to 56.1 per 1 000 in 2019. The countries with the largest and smallest annual trend were Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (-2.783) and Argentina (0.017). Between subperiods (1960-1989 compared to 1990-2019) there were no statistically significant differences between the AFR in Uruguay and Argentina, but there were significant differences among the four categories of AFR for 2019. The average AFR for the sample should continue declining to 2023, but it could increase in eight countries. Conclusions. The time series is largely non-stationary, with a downward trend to 2023. There has been an uneven decline in AFRs, with significant differences among the four groups of countries categorized by their AFR in 2019. The lowest AFRs correspond to two countries in North America, five in the non-Latin Caribbean, and one in South America. The highest AFRs correspond to countries in the Latin Caribbean and in Central and South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To compare the prevalence of bullying victimization, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, and negative health behaviors (current tobacco use, recent heavy alcohol use, truancy, involvement in physical fighting, and unprotected sexual intercourse) in five different Latin American countries and determine the association of bullying victimization with these outcomes, exploring both bullying type and frequency. Methods. Study data were from Global School-based Student Health Surveys from Bolivia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, and Uruguay, which covered nationally representative samples of school-going adolescents. The surveys used a two-stage clustered sample design, sampling schools and then classrooms. Logistic regression models were run to determine the statistical significance of associations with bullying. Results. Among the 14 560 school-going adolescents included in this study, the prevalence of any bullying victimization in the past 30 days was 37.8%. Bullying victimization was associated with greater odds of suicidal ideation with planning (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.12; P < 0.0001) and at least one suicide attempt (AOR: 3.07; P < 0.0001). An increasing exposure-response effect of increasing days of bullying victimization on suicide outcomes was also observed. Bullying victimization was associated with higher odds of current tobacco use (AOR: 2.14; P < 0.0001); truancy (AOR: 1.76; P < 0.0001); physical fighting (AOR: 2.40; P < 0.0001); and unprotected sexual intercourse (AOR: 1.77; P < 0.0001). Conclusions. Although the prevalence of bullying victimization varied by country, its association with suicidal ideation and behavior and negative health behaviors remained relatively consistent. Addressing bullying needs to be made a priority in Latin America, and an integrated approach that also includes mental and physical health promotion is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report describes 1) the evaluation of the Familias Fuertes primary prevention program in three countries (Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador) and 2) the effect of program participation on parenting practices. Familias Fuertes was implemented in Bolivia (10 groups, 96 parents), Colombia (12 groups, 173 parents), and Ecuador (five groups, 42 parents) to prevent the initiation and reduce the prevalence of health-compromising behaviors among adolescents by strengthening family relationships and enhancing parenting skills. The program consists of seven group sessions (for 6-12 families) designed for parents/caregivers and their 10-14-year- old child. Parents/caregivers answered a survey before the first session and at the completion of the program. The survey measured two important mediating constructs: “positive parenting” and “parental hostility.” The Pan American Health Organization provided training for facilitators. After the program, parents/caregivers from all three countries reported significantly higher mean scores for “positive parenting” and significantly lower mean scores for “parental hostility” than at the pre-test. “Positive parenting” practices paired with low “parental hostility” are fundamental to strengthening the relationship between parents/caregivers and the children and reducing adolescents' health-compromising behaviors. More research is needed to examine the long-term impact of the program on adolescent behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To describe and compare trends in leukemia mortality among children (0-14 years of age) and adolescents and young adults (AYA, 15-24 years of age) in 12 countries in Latin America during 1980-2004. Methods. Data from the World Health Organization mortality database was analyzed using a joinpoint regression model to identify significant mortality rate changes over time and to estimate annual percent change. Results. Leukemia is ranked first among cancer-related causes of death among children and AYA in Latin America. In children, the global percentage changes indicate increased rates for both sexes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Mexico, with substantially higher rates for Mexico. In AYA, significant increases were observed for both sexes in Mexico; Ecuador saw some increase for both sexes; and Colombia and Uruguay had increases in females only. Downward trends were observed in Argentina for both sexes, and in Costa Rica for males only. There were no major changes in the other countries analyzed. Conclusions. Leukemia mortality rates among AYA are declining, but show less significant decreases than rates among children. The study results point to a global need for further advances, specifically for AYA, similar to those made by childhood leukemia therapeutic protocols. Also, specialized oncological centers exist in most countries of Latin America, but they are often inaccessible. Special attention should be given to Mexico due to the significant increase in mortality rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses issues pertaining to the mental health programs for children and adolescents instituted by the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in October 2005. Some of the most intractable child mental health problems seen on LAC nations, as well as the discrepancies in income distribution in LAC countries, are presented. Reports also indicate that children in the LAC countries face daunting risk factors.