Revista Cubana de Salud Pública

Epidemiology and public health in Cuba: strategy for the control of diseases

Methodological quality of complete economic evaluations published in Cuban medical journals from 1999 to 2014

Self efficacy and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing hemodialysis

Tuberculin test performed in health staff of Bogota

Demand for infant-juvenile gynecology service in the primary health care from 1996 to 2011

Validation of a questionnaire for quantification of backache in school children

Particularities of the family coping with a child diagnosed as cerebral palsy patient and under rehabilitation

Opportunities for the upgrading of the health managing staff from a gender perspective

Invariance of the gender category in the health-related behavioral differences found in hypertensive patients

Consumption of crack cocaine in injection drug users in Colombia

Post-trauma stress syndrome observed in Chilean commune of Cobquecura 2010

Adverse antimicrobial reactions in Cuba (2003-2012)

Use of tissue adhesives for the wound closure in medical practice

About the Report on the reliability of the Cuban Journal of Public Health

Autopsy as strength of the Cuban health care system

Se señalan algunas de las principales fortalezas del sistema de salud cubano y se destaca el significado de la autopsia dentro de ellas. El propósito de este trabajo es argumentar por qué se puede considerar a la realización de las autopsias como una fortaleza del sistema de salud. Se exponen aspectos que deben tenerse en cuenta para hacer más eficiente su práctica. Finalmente se concluye que el elevado índice de autopsias efectuadas con la más alta calidad y su mayor aprovechamiento en la asistencia, enseñanza, investigaciones, administración de salud y la sociedad en general, son razones por las autopsas y su realización constituye una fortaleza del sistema de salud de Cuba.

Some of the main strengths of the Cuban health care system and the meaning of autopsy within it were stated in this paper. The objective was to substantiate why the performance of autopsy is considered one of the strengths of the health care system in Cuba. Several aspects that should be taken into consideration in order to make practice of autopsy more effective were also put forward. It was finally concluded that the high rate of autopsies performed with the highest quality standards as well as its utilization in medical assistance, medical education, research, health administration and the society in general are good reasons for the performance of autopsy to become of the strengths of the Cuban health system.

Psychoeducation as an alternative for the psychological care of the breast cancer survivors

La atención integral a las sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama constituye uno de los mayores retos para las autoridades sanitarias encargadas del control de la enfermedad. En Cuba, emerge como una necesidad el fortalecimiento de la atención psicológica como parte del seguimiento a estas personas. De ahí que el propósito de esta comunicación sea informar acerca de la psicoeducación como una estrategia viable, económica y efectiva para abordar las necesidades de las sobrevivientes, desde la atención primaria de salud. Propone integrar lo educativo-preventivo y lo psicológico, en función de fortalecer las capacidades para afrontar la enfermedad de un modo más adaptativo, desde la estimulación de zonas salutogénicas. La inclusión de la psicoeducación, propiciaría optimizar la calidad de vida y ayudaría a disminuir la vulnerabilidad ante la enfermedad.

The comprehensive care of the survivors of breast cancer is one of the greatest challenges for the health authorities in charge of this disease management. In Cuba, the strengthening of the psychological care emerges as a requirement and is part of the follow-up of these persons. The objective of this communication was to report about the psychoeducation as a viable, economic and effective strategy to meet the needs of survivors in the primary health care. It suggested that educational-preventive and psychological elements should be integrated in order to strengthen the capacities to cope with the disease and its physical and psychological sequelae in a more adaptive way from the stimulation of the salutogenic areas. Inclusion of psychoeducation would provide optimal quality of life and would help to reduce vulnerability to cancer.

Universal health coverage and its conceptual interpretation

La definición actual de cobertura universal de salud, omite varios aspectos esenciales sin los cuales no sería posible avanzar en la salud pública, por lo que en este artículo se pretende discursar sobre la cobertura universal de salud y su interpretación conceptual, asimismo proponer una definición inclusiva válida para los estados, gobiernos y sectores de la sociedad y la economía responsables en última instancia de la salud poblacional. Se hace referencia a la complejidad, determinación social y la necesidad de que la salud sea construida con la acción social integral e integrada de los estados, gobiernos y todos los actores que conforman la sociedad, dentro de un marco jurídico que la refrende. Una propuesta podría ser considerar la cobertura de salud, como la capacidad de la sociedad, los estados y gobiernos para responder a la salud y el bienestar de la población, lo cual incluye legislaciones, disponibilidad de infraestructura, capital social y tecnológico, así como estrategias integradas de planificación, organización, acción y financiamiento para la protección de salud de toda la población de manera equitativa e inclusiva.

The present definition of universal health coverage puts aside several essential aspects which are indispensable to advance in the public health, so this article was intended to discuss about the universal health coverage and its conceptual interpretation as well as to put forward a valid inclusive definition for the states, the governments and the sectors of the society and the economy which are ultimate responsible for the population's health. Reference was made to the complexity, social determinants and the needs that health be constructed with the comprehensive and integrated social action of the states, the governments and all the actors making up the society within a legal framework that endorses it. In this regard, it was suggested that health coverage could be considered as the capacity of the society, the states and governments to respond to health requirements and to the wellbeing of the population, all of which includes legislations, availability of infrastructures, social and technological capital as well as integrated strategies of planning, organization, action and financing for the protection of the whole population´s health in an equitable and inclusive way.