Delphi Study on the Contextualization of Recommendations for Promoting Healthy Eating in Urban Settings of Latin America and the Caribbean.

International public health agencies recommend policies to improve diets and promote healthy eating, but implementation often falters due to varying contextual factors across regions. This study evaluates the relevance and applicability of these policies in urban areas of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Using the Delphi technique, we convened a panel of 21 experts from 13 LAC countries, representing public policy, research, social action, and healthcare.

Anxiety and depression in first-year university students: the role of family and social support.

Background: Adolescents and young are one of the population groups with the highest prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. Few studies address this problem in young university students. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of anxiety and depression in first-year university students and its association with family functionality and social support.

Vaccination against COVID-19 and socioeconomic inequalities: A cross-sectional study in Ecuador.

Background: Equity in vaccination against COVID-19 is a public health concern. The objective of this study was to analyze socioeconomic inequalities related to vaccination for the first and second doses from primary series against COVID-19 in Ecuador.

Methods: Secondary database study in 12,743,507 respondents from 15 years and over.

Access to health services for chronic disease care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador: A qualitative analysis using a Social Determinants of Health approach.

This qualitative study aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare access for patients with chronic conditions in Ecuador from the patient's perspective. We interviewed 19 patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension or type 2 diabetes in rural and urban areas of Ecuador during August and September 2020. We used the Framework Method to analyse the interview transcripts with ATLAS.

Digital health literacy and subjective wellbeing in the context of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study among university students in Ecuador.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an avalanche of information, which, if not properly addressed, generates uncertainty and limits healthy decision-making. On the other hand, the pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems among young people and adolescents, causing a worsening of their wellbeing. Previous studies have found that digital health literacy has a positive impact on people's attitudes toward the disease.

High prevalence of chronic malnutrition in indigenous children under 5 years of age in Chimborazo-Ecuador: multicausal analysis of its determinants.

Background: Despite the multiple initiatives implemented to reduce stunting in Ecuador, it continues to be a public health problem with a significant prevalence. One of the most affected groups is the rural indigenous population. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of chronic malnutrition in indigenous children under 5 years of age and its association with health determinants, focusing on one of the territories with the highest prevalence of stunting.

Digital Health Literacy Related to COVID-19: Validation and Implementation of a Questionnaire in Hispanic University Students.

Digital health literacy influences decision-making in health. There are no validated instruments to evaluate the digital literacy about COVID-19 in Spanish-speaking countries. This study aimed to validate the Digital Health Literacy Instrument (DHLI) about COVID-19 adapted to Spanish (COVID-DHLI-Spanish) in university students and to describe its most important results.

Breastfeeding, feeding practices and stunting in indigenous Ecuadorians under 2 years of age.

Background: The indigenous child population in Ecuador has a high prevalence of stunting. There is limited evidence of the association between breastfeeding, feeding practices, and stunting in indigenous children. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices and explore their association with stunting in Ecuadorian indigenous children under two years of age.

A multidimensional model of healthy ageing: proposal and evaluation of determinants based on a population survey in Ecuador.

Background: Healthy ageing is a complex construct which involves multiple dimensions. Previous studies of healthy ageing have focused only on measuring the intrinsic capacity of the older person. The objectives of this study were to design a multidimensional model of healthy ageing and to identify its determinants from national data in Ecuador.

Social capital and its relationship with malnutrition and anemia in children from rural coastal Ecuador.

Introduction: Social capital is considered an important determinant of health and overall wellbeing; however, to the best of the authors' knowledge, literature relating social capital to malnutrition in developing countries is still relatively small. This article examines the relationships between social capital and chronic malnutrition and anemia in a population of rural coastal children in Ecuador.

Methods: A cross-sectional study in two groups of 246 and 282 children under 5 years and their families was performed.

Is a higher altitude associated with shorter survival among at-risk neonates?

Introduction: We hypothesize that high altitudes could have an adverse effect on neonatal health outcomes, especially among at-risk neonates. The current study aims to assess the association between higher altitudes on survival time among at-risk neonates.

Methods: Retrospective survival analysis.

Contextualizing Evidence for Action on Diabetes in Low-Resource Settings-Project CEAD Part I: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol.

Challenges remain for policy adoption and implementation to tackle the unprecedented and relentless increase in obesity, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this mixed-methods study is to analyse the contextual relevance and applicability to low-resource settings of a sample of evidence-based healthy public policies, using local knowledge, perceptions and pertinent epidemiological data. Firstly, we will identify and prioritise policies that have the potential to reduce the burden of diabetes in low-resource settings with a scoping review and modified Delphi method.

A Multi-causal Model for Chronic Malnutrition and Anemia in a Population of Rural Coastal Children in Ecuador.

Objectives: Chronic malnutrition and anemia are prevalent in developing countries. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic malnutrition and anemia and their associated factors in children under five using a multi-causal model in a rural community in the coast of Ecuador.

Methods: The study included 314 children under 5 years old who were residents of San Isidro, Ecuador.

Socioeconomic inequalities and measles immunization coverage in Ecuador: A spatial analysis.

Introduction/background: Inequalities in measles immunization coverage facilitate the onset of outbreaks. This study aimed to quantify socioeconomic inequalities associated with measles immunization coverage at the population level.

Methods: An ecological study was performed using two datasets: the results of a measles immunization survey performed in Ecuador, in 2011, and socioeconomic data from the 2010 census, aggregated by canton.

Role of health determinants in a measles outbreak in Ecuador: a case-control study with aggregated data.

Background: In 2011-2012, an outbreak of measles occurred in Ecuador. This study sought to ascertain which population characteristics were associated.

Methods: Case-control study of aggregate data.

[Tobacco use in Brazilian school adolescents: association with mental health and family context].

Objective: To study the association between aspects of mental health and the family context with tobacco experimentation and consumption among Brazilian schoolchildren.

Method: A cross-sectional study using data from the National Survey of Schoolchildren's Health in Brazil conducted on 109,104 schoolchildren from the ninth year of elementary school, day scholars in public and private schools in all Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District. Descriptive analysis of variables, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed with logistic regression estimates, adjusted for socioeconomic variables, obtaining the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI).