Reduction of infant mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean: uneven progress requiring a variety of responses

Infant mortality has unquestionably declined throughout Latin America over the last decade, even under conditions of low and unstable economic growth and a meagre overall reduction of poverty in the region. The declines in infant mortality vary from one country to another. The persistence of high infant mortality rates is related to low income, teenage pregnancy and lack of access to basic services, as well as to the lack of appropriate health care infrastructure. At the same time, both the rural population as a whole, and the indigenous and Afro-descendent population in particular, has fallen markedly behind, with overall infant mortality rates much higher than among the rest of the population. Moreover, the cause and incidence of death in this age group have been changing according with the changes in neonatal and post-neonatal deaths. Our editorial line-up has created space for opinions from adolescents and youth, as well as from policy experts on the problem, its causes, and approaches to dealing with infant mortality. We also offer succinct information on a broad range of programmes—utilizing various interventions—in different countries of the region regarding maternal and infant care, in an attempt to bring about a reduction in mortality.

Rights of urban children

Urban children in Latin AmericaThis issue of Challenges addresses a topic deserving of special attention: the high proportion of children and adolescents in the region's urban areas who live in precarious conditions. Their disparate living conditions are examined with a look at the moderate deprivation (housing deficiencies, monetary poverty or low level of education) and severe deprivation (a combination of two or more of the aforementioned deficits) affecting urban dwellers. It is estimated that about 29.0% of children and adolescents in these areas live in conditions of severe deprivation and 27.6% experience moderate deprivation for an average of eight countries.In severely deprived rural and urban areas a higher proportion of children are not immunized against measles, and a greater percentage of adolescents are neither studying nor economically active, and are already parents.These disparities call for differentiated policies with a strong local focus and the potential to improve living conditions, lower the risk of infant morbidity and mortality, and reduce rates of adolescent pregnancy and school dropout. Significant initiatives and policies designed to produce healthy and inclusive environments have already been put in place in some of the most vulnerable areaswith a view to improving the quality of life among these groups.In addition to the featured article, the issue includes information on relevant meetings and conferences held in the region over the year, children's and adolescents' testimonies, and expert opinion.

Efeitos da temperatura de incubação e da idade da matriz no desenvolvimento in ovo, qualidade, desempenho e produção de ovos da progênie de codornas japonesas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito de genótipos de feijoeiro, óleo de nim em diferentes formulações e período residual no controle de Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman, 1833)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Assistência de ar em pulverização no manejo fitossanitário na cultura da soja Glycine max (L.) Merrill

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interferência da pressurização da calda de pulverização sobre microrganismos entomopatogênicos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação de nematóides entomopatogênicos contra o bicudo da cana-de-açúcar Sphenophorus levis Vaurie, 1978, e efeito da associação desses agentes com inseticidas químicos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fatores relacionados com a produtividades de ovos de avestruzes (Struthio camelus)

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Eficácia pós-expositiva de RNAs de Interferência (siRNAs) e Ribavirina em camundongos infectados com o vírus rábico de origem canina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

América Latina: porcentajes urbanos 1990 = Latin America: percentage urban 1990

Publicación bilingüe (Español e inglés)

Fatores sócio-demográficos e antecedentes obstétricos relacionados à sífilis na gestação em uma amostra de gestantes do Distrito Federal

Pós-graduação em Ginecologia, Obstetrícia e Mastologia - FMB

Controle químico de Monomorium floricola (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) por meio de produtos microencapsulados

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Toxicidade de formicidas utilizados em pastagens sobre a formiga não-alvo Ectatomma brunneum (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ectatomminae) e seus efeitos na dinâmica populacional em condições de laboratório

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Colheita, beneficiamento e qualidade de sementes de milho (Zea mays L.) variedade AL-34

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Vitamina C intra-ovo e estresse por calor na incubação de frangos de corte

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV