The scope and sustainability of, and data about, utilization of embedded research: qualitative evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Objectives: This paper describes and analyzes embedded implementation research and the empirical processes of planning for utilization, strategies to promote utilization and the sustainability of utilization of results from research led by decision-makers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Methods: This qualitative, descriptive and interpretive study is based on the findings from semistructured interviews with members of teams working under the Embedding Research for the Sustainable Development Goals initiative (2018-2019) as well as their responses to a self-assessment follow-up questionnaire 1 year after the project was completed.

Results: Altogether 13 teams from 11 countries participated in the Initiative.

Hospital accreditation in Mexico fails to improve the quality of healthcare: lessons from an impact evaluation.

Healthcare quality in low- and middle-income countries poses a significant challenge, contributing to heightened mortality rates from treatable conditions. The accreditation of health facilities was part of the former health reform in Mexico, proposed as a mechanism to enhance healthcare quality. This study assesses the performance of hospital accreditation in Mexico, utilizing indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, and safety.

Replacement of core team members on embedded implementation research teams: experiences from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Objective: To understand how replacement of decision-makers (DMs) serving as principal investigators (PI) or co-PIs on research teams may affect the feasibility and value of embedded implementation research (EIR) used to improve health policies, programs, and services in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Methods: This was a descriptive qualitative study based on 39 semistructured interviews with 13 embedded research teams selected by financing agencies to explore team composition, interaction among members, and research results. Interviews were conducted at three points during the study period from September 2018 to November 2019; data were analyzed from 2020 to 2021.

Misinformation messages shared via WhatsApp in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploratory study.

Little is known about the role of WhatsApp in spreading misinformation during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. The aim of this study is to analyze the message content, format, authorship, time trends and social media distribution channels of misinformation in WhatsApp messages in Mexico. From March 18 to June 30, 2020 the authors collected all WhatsApp messages received via their personal contacts and their social networks that contained information about COVID-19.

Relevance and quality of implementation research proposals to face the challenges of public health in Latin-America and the Caribbean.

Objectives: To analyse the relevance and quality of the research proposals submitted to the 2016 call for proposals for the initiative Improving Programme Implementation through Embedded Research (iPIER-2016) to address current public health challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using information from 108 research proposals using quantitative and qualitative methods. We used three frameworks to analyse the relevance of the proposals: The Global Burden of Disease, the WHO Health Systems Conceptual Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals proposed in 2015 by the United Nations.

Collaboration between health system decision makers and professional researchers to coproduce knowledge, a scoping review.

Background: Recent literature uses different terms and approaches to the collaboration between researchers and health system decision-makers in the research process. In 2012, the World Health Organisation proposed to "Embed research within decision-making processes". Yet, important contributions use other terms and perspectives for the same issue.

Tuberculosis screening indicators in indigenous population in Colombia: a mixed methods research.

This study aims to evaluate, via a mixed methods study, the implementation of the screening process for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) within indigenous population of the Department of Cauca, Colombia, during the 2016-2018 period. Indicators assessing the PTB screening process were elaborated and estimated. Subsequently, an evaluation of the indicators were performed based on a sampling process from health care providers of the municipalities with the highest and lowest PTB incidence and from key agents' perspective.

Health care workers' perceptions of episiotomy in the era of respectful maternity care: a qualitative study of an obstetric training program in Mexico.

Background: Episiotomy in Mexico is highly prevalent and often routine - performed in up to 95% of births to primiparous women. The WHO suggests that episiotomy be used in selective cases, with an expected prevalence of 15%. Training programs to date have been unsuccessful in changing this practice.

Analysis of implementation outcomes of quality improvement initiatives in Haiti: the fingerprint initiative.

Objective: To assess the process and outcomes of the implementation of an electronic fingerprint initiative as part of quality improvement in three health facilities in the Northern Department of Haiti, in terms of its acceptability, adoption, feasibility, fidelity, and sustainability. In Haiti, poor attendance of the healthcare workforce is a nationwide problem, closely related to the quality of care. Three health institutions have tried to implement an electronic fingerprint system to monitor and improve attendance.

Embedded implementation research determinants in Latin American health systems.

Objective: To assess the determinants of embedded implementation research (EIR) conduct in seven Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Methods: This qualitative interpretative study conducted and analyzed 14 semi-structured interviews based on a grounded theory approach using Atlas-ti© 7.5.

Embedding research into health services in Latin America and the Caribbean: experiences and challenges of the Technical Support Center.

This article describes the main models for embedding research and the successful experiences and challenges faced in joint work by researchers and decisionmakers who participated in the Embedding Research for the Sustainable Development Goals (ER-SDG) initiative, and the experience of the Technical Support Center. In June 2018, funding was granted to 13 pre-selected research projects from 11 middle- and low-income countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Paraguay, and Peru). The projects focused on the system-, policy-, or program-level changes required to improve health and build on the joint work of researchers and decisionmakers, with a view to bringing together evidence production and decision-making in health systems and services.

Tuberculosis care cascade for the indigenous population in Colombia: an operational research study.

Objective: Construct and evaluate the care cascade for pulmonary tuberculosis in the indigenous population of the department of Cauca (Colombia) and identify existing gaps.

Methods: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. In the first phase, the pulmonary tuberculosis care cascade for the indigenous population of Cauca was evaluated.

[Embedding research into health services in Latin America and the Caribbean: experiences and challenges of the Technical Support CenterExperiências e desafios do Centro de Apoio Técnico na pesquisa integrada aos serviços na América Latina e Caribe].

This article describes the main models for embedding research and the successful experiences and challenges faced in joint work by researchers and decisionmakers who participated in the Embedding Research for the Sustainable Development Goals (ER-SDG) initiative, and the experience of the Technical Support Center. In June 2018, funding was granted to 13 pre-selected research projects from 11 middle- and low-income countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Paraguay, and Peru). The projects focused on the system-, policy-, or program-level changes required to improve health and build on the joint work of researchers and decisionmakers, with a view to bringing together evidence production and decision-making in health systems and services.

[Tuberculosis care cascade for the indigenous population in Colombia: an operational research studyCascata de atenção da tuberculose para os povos indígenas na Colômbia: pesquisa operacional].

Objective: Construct and evaluate the care cascade for pulmonary tuberculosis in the indigenous population of the department of Cauca (Colombia) and identify existing gaps.

Methods: Mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. In the first phase, the pulmonary tuberculosis care cascade for the indigenous population of Cauca was evaluated.

[Inequalities in access to services, basis for policies to reduce the health gap].

Objective: To estimate inequalities in access to health services among Mexican population living in localities of 100 000 or less inhabitants.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional analysis using the National Health and Nu- trition Survey 100k 2018 survey data. Access was estimated using health insurance and care for the last health condition.

[The health of Mexicans living in localities with less than 100 000 inhabitants].

Objective: To describe the health and nutritional status of Mexican population living in localities under 100 000 inhabitants (100k) in year 2018 in comparison it with a sample of similar characteristics in 2012.

Materials And Methods: The more relevant results analyzed in 19 articles about health and nutrition of the population are presented. This included information on access and utilization of health services, health and nutrition status by age groups and households affected by food insecurity (FI).

[Occupational health and safety: educational intervention for cleaning workers in research sectors].

Objective: To evaluate the results of educational interven- tion on health and safety regarding principles of biosafety in cleaning workers of a health institution.

Materials And Methods: Using concurrent mixed methods, we evaluated a total of 31 workers on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices of biosafety and risk perception. We conducted baseline measurements and two follow-ups.

Quality of family planning services in Mexico: The perspective of demand.

Introduction: Family planning (FP) is one of the key services provided by health care systems. Extending beyond matters of sexual and reproductive health, its area of influence impacts directly on the development of individuals and nations. After 60 years of intense FP activities in Mexico, and in light of recent restructuring of health service supply and financing, services need to be assessed from a user perspective.

An explanatory analysis of economic and health inequality changes among Mexican indigenous people, 2000-2010.

Introduction: Mexico faces important problems concerning income and health inequity. Mexico's national public agenda prioritizes remedying current inequities between its indigenous and non-indigenous population groups. This study explores the changes in social inequalities among Mexico's indigenous and non-indigenous populations for the time period 2000 to 2010 using routinely collected poverty, welfare and health indicator data.

Migration Decision-Making among Mexican Youth: Individual, Family, and Community Influences.

We explored migration decisions using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with male and female youth ages 14 to 24 (n=47) from two Mexican communities, one with high and one with low U.S. migration density.

Migrants suffering violence while in transit through Mexico: factors associated with the decision to continue or turn back.

To identify and analyze the factors associated with the decision of migrants suffering violence while in transit through Mexico, to continue on their trip or turn back. Cross-sectional study combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. Socio-demographic and health characteristics, as well as types of violence and factors associated with the decision to continue on the trip, were explored for 862 migrants.

Acceptability and reliability of an adolescent risk behavior questionnaire administered with audio and computer support.

Objective: To test acceptability and reliability of audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) system administered at the household level to gather data on risk behaviors among adolescents in Mexico.

Methods: Answers to sensitive behavior-related questions obtained using ACASI systems were compared with answers to the same questions obtained through face-to-face interviews (FFIs). Focus groups were conducted to explore ACASI acceptability among adolescents and its feasibility in obtaining better self-reported data on sensitive behaviors.