Proyectos

Latin America is home to an estimated 600 million people, the majority of whom live in severe economic deprivation and political instability. While mental illness and substance use problems (MISUP) in Latin America account for approximately a tenth of the world's total burden of the disease, very few individuals receive adequate treatment. 18 million Latin Americans are reported to be facing unemployment, eviction, and homelessness as a result of mental disorders. Untreated MISUP are a major public health issue as they can lead to long-term disability, impaired functioning, caregiver burden, and ultimately premature death. Given the prevalence of such issues in Latin America, an effort to address health equity and accessibility to mental health services is warranted. Research regarding mental health service use in Latin America is scarce, with even fewer studies focusing on barriers to accessibility such as stigma and discrimination. The goal for this project is to share key insights among Latin American countries to better understand factors that inhibit access to mental health services. Funding for a 3-day meeting bringing together key stakeholders from Chile, Canada, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina who are actively addressing these issues will serve three objectives: 1. Dissemination of Research - Disseminating findings from anti-stigma projects in Chile, Peru and Canada detailing challenges within their health systems, impact of interventions and opportunities to further research in this area. 2. Information Gathering - Exploring research studies concerning factors that prevent access to mental health care in Bolivia and Argentina to extract key insights from each approach. 3. Collaboration - Developing new, relevant and collaborative regional projects, research and interventions addressing accessibility to mental health services.

La contaminación ambiental extradomiciliaria es un importante problema de salud ambiental ya que es responsable del 7,6% de la mortalidad anual total y de la pérdida de 103,1 millones de años de vida saludable. Entre algunos de los efectos adversos que se han reportado para el Material Particulado, uno de los principales contaminantes, se encuentran aumento en la mortalidad, morbilidad, muerte prematura, enfermedades cardiovasculares y respiratorias, cáncer de pulmón, impacto adverso en la actividad del sistema nervioso central que resulta en deterioro cognitivo, y efectos nocivos sobre el desarrollo fetal y el embarazo, afectando mayormente a grupos más vulnerables. Si bien, a nivel global, se cuentan con estrategias y criterios de monitoreo de calidad del aire para identificar la concentración de los contaminantes relacionados con la salud, es posible que estos no permitan analizar con mayor profundidad las diferencias en la distribución geográfica de los contaminantes y su impacto en poblaciones específicas. En ese sentido, el presente proyecto tiene el objetivo de establecer una metodología para la generación de un mapa confiable de la contaminación del aire a partir de una red de monitoreo, el cual permita correlacionar de manera más precisa a través de modelos de interpolación, la contaminación del aire con los problemas de salud respiratorio de las personas del sector considerado, hacer una validación de la metodología propuesta con un programa piloto en un área a determinar de la comuna de Rancagua y realizar divulgación de resultados en colegios y jardines de la región con la finalidad de generar un debate más amplio y democrático sobre tanto de prácticas personales así como de las nuevas políticas relacionadas con la contaminación del aire. Para esto se propone emplear diversos métodos propios de cada disciplina. Primeramente, se estimará un radio máximo de cobertura de un sensor dentro del cual se garantice cierto grado de confianza (Variograma empírico) respecto de los valores entregados por el sensor como promedios representativos, para así determinar el tamaño/forma del área geográfica total donde instalar la red de sensores (Obj 1). Con esta información se determinará una configuración inicial de los sensores en un área geográfica determinada considerando la capacidad de la red, usando como ubicación potencial establecimientos educativos. Luego se hará un análisis estadístico con los datos proporcionados por la red y por sensores móviles para determinar una nueva configuración que maximice la confianza de la nueva interpolación. Una vez instalados los sensores y a partir de los datos entregados por ellos se escogerá una nueva configuración a través de un análisis estadístico de covarianzas (Obj 2). Además, se realizará un estudio ecológico para correlacionar las mediciones de contaminación de aire y algunos indicadores de salud respiratoria y atención de salud considerando distintos puntos geográficos de la sexta región (Obj 3). Finalmente, el proyecto desarrollará un plan de educación ambiental para concientizar sobre el tema y favorecer el cambio de comportamientos a nivel individual y comunitario (Obj 4). Con este proyecto se espera abordar con una visión interdisciplinaria un tema que es de especial preocupación en la región, como es la contaminación ambiental, fortaleciendo esta línea de investigación tanto en el instituto de ingeniería como en el de Salud, involucrando de forma activa también a estudiantes de pregrado.

Consolidar y fortalecer una nueva red de nodos de innovación social que promueva la inclusión socio laboral en personas con alguna discapacidad, personas mayores, mujeres y personas en situación de vulnerabilidad enfocada en los sectores económicos priorizados en la Estrategia de Desarrollo Regional 2011-2020 (EDRE) y de innovación, priorizando el sector turístico, y agroalimentario y la puesta en valor de la identidad cultural.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global phenomenon aggravated in recent decades by the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine, the lack of prevention and control measures for infections associated with health care, and the limited development of new antimicrobials. It causes an increase in mortality, morbidity, and health spending. In this sense, the irrational use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals can reduce the effectiveness of those antibiotics in treating animal and human diseases. It also represents an additional risk for antimicrobial resistance by transferring antibiotics to food for human consumption and generating a new source of exposure. The residual antibiotics in food have been related to some adverse effects on human health, including allergic reactions, disruption of digestive system function, and chronic toxic effects from prolonged low-level exposure. It also represents a risk for the animals by jeopardizing the effectiveness of the necessary treatments. Considering that, the project seeks to generate evidence regarding progress at the local level in regulatory issues and regarding the presence of antibiotics in food to raise awareness about the proper use of antibiotics in animals and humans and promote good practices

Water is an irreplaceable resource for developing socioeconomic activities and maintaining life on the planet. According to projections, water scarcity will increase, especially in those countries vulnerable to the effects of climate change and accelerated population growth. The negative impacts of the water deficit are already visible in some regions of the planet. Through the ECOH-WATER project, we will develop capacities for the access and use of rainwater in educational centers in Guatemala and Bolivia for sustainable consumption, adapting to the impacts generated by climate change through strategies based on local needs. To do this, we will first diagnose the areas at risk of drought using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to prioritize interventions. In the selected areas, we will develop an Action Research study with a strong participatory component to involve communities in implementing a rainwater harvesting system. Additionally, we will implement educational strategies for developing skills in seeking rational and sustainable water use. The project will establish alliances with local actors for the project's sustainability. The search for strategies to access quality water for human, animal, and environmental consumption is a worldwide priority. It must involve the communities, raise awareness about natural resources and risk behaviors, and work collaboratively with decision-makers. On the other hand, the transdisciplinary work proposed in this project will allow the search for solutions with an integral vision. On the other hand, this project highlights the south-south collaboration to generate learning, enhance local resources, and move toward our region's sustainable development.

The environment can be described as indispensable as it houses all life on earth, and evidence suggests that activities in interaction with nature not only provide physical and psychological benefits but also socially and economically. Nonetheless, we are currently confronted with many environmental challenges, including climate change, loss of biodiversity and degradation of natural habitats, which have adverse health outcomes for animals, humans and our shared environment. Furthermore, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, additional threats have emerged such as an increase in the use and disposal of plastic products for medical and non-medical applications and the amount of packaging used to deliver food and groceries to residences, leading to significant challenges in handling solid and hazardous medical wastes. This could become a crucial concern in the medium or long term, whilst aggravating the already existing issues, especially in countries with inadequate waste management systems. Recognizing this, environmental education has become more relevant than ever in ensuring a sustainable future by promoting responsible decision-making at the individual, institutional and community levels. The strengthening of environmental literacy through formal and informal educational strategies at different stages of the life course, considering day-to-day situations, will eventually allow for the development of capacities in the population, thereby conserving our shared environment. Project aim: The project's main objective, therefore, is to empower the community for environmental care through educational strategies based on local needs in Guatemala and Bolivia. This is to be achieved using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach by forming a multidisciplinary and intersectoral working group that includes professionals from the academy and representatives from diverse sectors like education, work, transportation, legislators and civil society. The project also follows a spiral approach, focusing on a problem and continuing with planning, action, observation and critical reflection, giving rise to a new progressive cycle. To better disseminate the project and population adherence, a digital platform app is to be designed to make available all the education material and specific guides that support this process. Ultimately, creating awareness and educating, based on evidence, about our actions' impact will allow a better co-existence and promote sustainable development, sustainable use and care of natural resources when considering practices in rural and urban communities

Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) play a substantial role in the ecology, economy, and culture of many communities, especially in South America. They act as the main pollinators for many native florae and cultivated tropical plants. Their products such as honey, pollen, propolis and cerumen have also been used as a source of income for generations while creating an imprint on the culture of native communities. Nevertheless, in recent decades, stingless bees currently face several environmental threats including the extensive deforestation of native forests, accelerated expansion of urban areas, excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, agriculture intensification and the introduction/spread of exotic competing bee species. In this context, meliponiculture – i.e., keeping stingless bees for their products – is becoming more important for research not only as an optimal strategy for the conservation of bees and their environment but also for their economic value. In general, meliponiculture also promotes a variety of good environmental practices from different viewpoints in the society, maintains the traditional knowledge of native beekeeping and generates a link with innovation and scientific development. In Bolivia, meliponiculture remains an incipient activity although many indigenous communities have an ancient relationship with stingless bees. In Guatemala, the Maya tribe have also practiced meliponiculture for many years. Nevertheless, traditional knowledge is getting lost over time which must be recovered and supported by new techniques to generate a successful practice of beekeeping. Project aim: Considering this, the project, therefore, aims to optimize the sustainable development of meliponiculture. This is to be achieved by documenting its traditional use in health while promoting good practices and commercialization to have a positive, direct impact over ecosystems as well as human health in cultural landscapes in indigenous communities in Bolivia and Guatemala. For this, an interdisciplinary methodology is to be designed, which consists of a research component and educational interventions at the various processes of the production chain of meliponiculture: from the producers to consumers. Ultimately, the SBEES project is relevant, taking into account the One Health vision, as it seeks to promote a sustainable interaction between stingless bees, humans and the environment.

During the last decades, employment conditions has changed in an important way. Although these changes have included more flexible employment relations, it has also included higher levels of job insecurity and lack of social security. This situation has affected all groups of workers, including those in stable jobs(2) and people working in the health sector. Those changes in the labour market have particularly affected young professionals, in this sense, the current rate of youth unemployment is one of the highest reported in recent year, or the conditions in which they work are poor or informal, often working in jobs below their professional training, generating a major concern for the professional future. This situation could generate also additional stress at this stage of life, as well as frustration and demotivation. Little information is available about working conditions and labour insertion process in young health professionals and the association with health conditions. For this, Maria Teresa Solis Soto (Alumna, Bolivia) in coordination with Leonardo Briceño (Universidad del Rosario, Colombia), and Ricardo Oyarzun (Universidad Austral de Chile) carried out a study (baseline) to evaluate the relationship between work experiences, expectations and individual characteristics with physical and mental health in newly graduated young professionals. This study, also has the support of Universidade Federal do Paraná-Brazil, Universidad San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca- Bolivia, CIH Alumni Network, and Master in International Occupational Safety and Health. In the universities included, all students in the last year were invited to participate. For baseline study, we collected information about socioeconomic information and, lifestyle, Job expectations, History of previous working conditions, psychosocial factors (pre-employment), academic Information, health conditions. The study ask for ethical approval in each country. International ethical research guidelines were considered at all research steps. A written informed consent form as well as a letter explaining the importance of the study were to the questionnaire. Confidentiality and voluntary participation was respected. Preliminary results were disseminated to inform the local universities. This information will be useful for universities and labour organizations in order to implement strategies that fit with the current and future labour market conditions taking care of the human resource for health.

Convenio de Transferencia Directa de recursos para la Ejecución de Servicios de Asesoría y Acompañamiento en la Instalación de Incubadoras de Cooperativas Inclusivas a Municipalidades adjudicatarias de la Modalidad Continuidad de la Estrategia de Desarrollo Local Inclusivo. Coordinación de la Red de Cooperativas Inclusivas de Chile, REFICOOP.

Convenio de transferencia Programa Participación Inclusiva Territorial, año 2023, entre Servicio Nacional de la Discapacidad y Universidad de O’Higgins. "Programa de participación inclusiva en la Macrozona Austral: desarrollo de herramientas para la implementación". El presente proyecto tiene el objetivo de fortalecer el proceso de inclusión y participación de las organizaciones de y para personas con discapacidad, cuidadoras/es y sus familiares, mediante la entrega de herramientas prácticas a las organizaciones, la promoción de la asociatividad y el posicionamiento de la temática con los actores relevantes en el territorio de la Macrozona Austral. Para esto propone alcanzar su objetivo general y sus objetivos específicos a través de aplicación de métodos mixtos multicéntricos e intervenciones de base comunitaria, estructurados en cuatro líneas de trabajo principales, 1) fortalecimiento de las organizaciones en el territorio a partir de la realización de un catastro regional y de diagnósticos participativos, 2) escuela de gestión social y territorial, 3) actividades de difusión y 4) sistematización y evaluación desde un enfoque de ciencias de la implementación.