Population ageing and pension systems in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Labour markets and pension systems

Includes bibliography

The impact of gender discrimination on poverty in Brazil

Includes bibliography

Review of the efficacy and safety of cryoablation for the treatment of small renal masses

Purpose: Small renal masses are increasingly being discovered incidentally on imaging for another reason. The standard of care of these masses involves excision by open or laparoscopic techniques. Recently, ablative techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoablation, have taken a more prominent role in the treatment algorithm of these masses. We evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cryoablation to treat renal tumours. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted. There was no language restriction. Studies were obtained from the following sources: the Cochrane Library, PUBMED, EMBASE and LILACS. Results: There was no clinical trial identified in the literature. Thus, we described the results from 23 case series and retrospective studies with a reasonable sample size (number of reported patients in each study ≥30), with a total of 2104 analyzed tumours from 2038 patients. There was wide variability in the outcomes reported, but success rates were generally good. Follow-up was generally short, but some series reported outcomes at 5 years. The most common complications reported were hemorrhage (some of the patients requiring transfusion), perinephric hematoma and urine leaks. Conclusion: Cryoablation presents a feasible treatment for patients with small renal masses. Only short-term data are available and, as such, meaningful conclusions regarding long-term cancer control cannot be made. More rigorous studies are needed. © 2013 Canadian Urological Association.

Potentially hazardous waste produced at home

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the sources of waste generation household consisting of biological material and to investigate the knowledge presented by those responsible for the generation of waste in the home environment on the potential health risk human and environmental. Method. It is a quantitative survey performed in Parque Capuava, Santo André (SP). The questionnaire was administered by the community employers and nursing students during the consultation with nursing supervision through interview question/answer. The exclusion criteria were patients who were not in the area served by the Basic Health Unit which covers the area of Pq Capuava. The sample was consisted of 99 persons and the data collection a questionnaire was used. Results: We observed that 63.3% of people said to use disposables, with the majority (58.7%) of these use the public collection as the final destination of these materials. It was reported that 73.7% of those surveyed reported having knowledge about the risk of disease transmission. Public awareness of the importance of proper packaging and disposal of potentially hazardous household waste may contribute significantly to the preservation of human and environmental health and this procedure can be performed and supervised by professional nurses. Conclusion: We suggest implementation of workshops for community health workers and the general population in order to enhance their knowledge about the storage and disposal of potentially infectious waste generated at home, thereby reducing the potential risk of disease transmission by improper management. © 2013 Chaves et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Consenso de Montevideo sobre población y desarrollo

Incluye Bibliografía.

Montevideo consensus on population and development

Includes bibliography

Propuesta de estrategia para avanzar, desde la perspectiva de América Latina y el Caribe, hacia una convención internacional sobre los derechos humanos de las personas de edad

En la Declaración de Brasilia, aprobada en la segunda Conferencia regional intergubernamental sobre envejecimiento en América Latina y el Caribe: hacia una sociedad para todas las edades y de protección social basada en derechos en 2007, y ratificada por la CEPAL mediante la resolución 644(XXXII); de 2008, se insta a los gobiernos participantes a realizar esfuerzos encaminados a impulsar la elaboración de una convención internacional sobre los derechos de las personas de edad (artículo 24);. Se solicitaba asimismo la designación de un relator especial en el Consejo de Derechos Humanos encargado de velar por la promoción y protección de los derechos humanos de las personas de edad (artículo 25);.En el pasado bienio se celebraron tres reuniones de conformidad con ese compromiso. Las dos primeras tuvieron lugar, respectivamente, en Río de Janeiro (Brasil); (2008); y en Buenos Aires (Argentina); (2009);. En la tercera reunión, celebrada en Santiago (Chile); los días 5 y 6 de octubre de 2009, los países participantes solicitaron a la Secretaría de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL); que elaborara "una propuesta de estrategia sobre cómo avanzar en el seguimiento de los artículos 24 y 25 de la Declaración de Brasilia". La propuesta debería incluir "los contenidos mínimos que deberían estar presentes, desde la perspectiva de América Latina y el Caribe, en una convención internacional sobre los derechos de las personas de edad".En respuesta a esa solicitud, en este documento se presenta, en primer lugar, un panorama general sobre las normas existentes en materia de derechos humanos que están relacionadas con la promoción y protección de los derechos de las personas de edad, tanto a nivel internacional como regional. A continuación se señalan los argumentos que, desde la perspectiva de América Latina y el Caribe, justifican la aprobación de una convención internacional sobre los derechos de las personas de edad, así como los contenidos mínimos que esa convención debería incluir. Por último, se presenta una propuesta de estrategia para promover la aprobación.

The use of databases of social and gender statistics in the development of policies and programmes

The unavailability of data to inform policy planning and formulation has been repeatedly cited as the main challenge to economic and social progress in the Caribbean. Furthermore, even in instances when data is produced, broader gaps exist between its production and eventual use for evidence-based policy formulation. Owing to those challenges, this report explores the use of databases of social and gender statistics in the development of policies and programmes in the Caribbean subregion. The report offers a general appraisal of databases against two main considerations: (i) maximizing the use of existing databases in relevant policies and programmes; and (ii) bridging the gaps in data availability of relevant statistical databases and their analyses. The assessment entailed an inventory of social and gender databases maintained by data producers in the region and analysis of the extent to which the databases are used for policy formulation. To that end, a literature search as well as consultations with a number of knowledgeable persons active in the field of statistics and data provision was conducted. Based on the review, a set of recommendations were produced to improve current practices within the region with respect evidence based policy formulation.

Employing knowledge networks as tools for the development of Caribbean Small Island Developing States

Expertise, skills, experiences, understandings and capabilities (knowledge) aid development, not just by informing decision-making, but also by providing ideas for actions and activities that can be taken. Due to their size, and economic and environmental vulnerabilities, Caribbean Small Island developing States (SIDS) faces special challenges when working towards their economic, social and environmental development goals. These challenges have contributed to the creation of knowledge gaps, and that which is already available is located in isolated pockets, throughout the Caribbean. Migration of skilled persons compounds the issue, thereby removing much needed knowledge to beyond the traditional borders of the Caribbean. It is necessary to find ways to connect these dispersed knowledge resources. Knowledge networks are tools that can connect the existing skills, expertise, experiences and understandings accessible and create new ones to move towards greater development in the Caribbean. The purpose of this paper is to explore and highlight the role that knowledge networks can play as an aid in the development of Caribbean SIDS. It offers, with Caribbean examples, definitions and discussions of the components, types, and the advantages and disadvantages they hold for the subregion. The paper goes further to provide some ideas on assembling and analysing the different types of knowledge networks. It concludes with a few recommendations geared toward improving the availability of knowledge in the Caribbean.