salud pública

Number of Neurologists and Neurology Training Programs available in the Public Health System of Ecuador: Analysis and Recommendations. Número de Neurólogos y Programas de Entrenamiento en Neurología disponibles en el Sistema de Salud Público del Ecuador: Análisis y Recomendaciones.

Introduction: In 2008, Ecuador’s neurologic healthcare profile displayed significant needs, a lack of neurologists, and neurology training accessibility. In that year, a new constitution introduced universal health care. No publication analyzes Ecuador’s neurological Public Healthcare capacity. Hence, an up-to-date analysis of the number of neurologists and neurology training programs is required.

Objective: Determine if Ecuador’s public healthcare meets the minimum ideal ratio recommended by the World Health Organization of 1 neurologist per 100,000 population and the numb er of neurology training programs in Ecuador.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of public data until November 2022 from Ecuador’s Public Health System (PHS) and the Council of Higher Education. Ratios were calculated using the N ational Institute of Statistics and Censuses’ information.

Results: The public health network had ninety-four neurologists. Most found in Pichincha (37/39.4%) and Guayas (24/25.5%). There was one per province in five provinces. No neurologists were available in eight provinces. Two provinces met the ideal ratio. Ecuador’s ratio was 0.54:100,000 neurologists per population. One neuro logy training program was found in Quito.

Conclusion: Ecuador’s PHS has a shortage of neurologists, unfulfilling the minimum ideal ratio, and a severe lack of neurology training. Decentralizing neurological services, primary care support, and governmental funding for neurology training are an urgent need.

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Palabras clave: Ecuador, Educación de Posgrado, neurología, salud pública,

Keywords: Ecuador, neurology, Postgraduate Education, public health,

Causas de Traumatismo Intracraneal en Pacientes Atendidos en el Servicio de Emergencias del Hospital de Especialidades Teodoro Maldonado Carbo de Guayaquil. Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injury In Patients Admitted To The Emergency Department Of A Specialty Hospital In Guayaquil

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as an alteration in brain function caused by an external force. The most common causes of TBI are falls and traffic accidents, the latter being the most c ommon in low-income countries.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with a diagnosis of intracranial trauma in the emergency department of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 with the aim of analyzing its causes, clinical and radiological characteristics.

Results: 324 patients were analyzed within the study, evidencing that the most common cause of TBI was traffic accident followed by falls. TBI is more common in men with a mean age of 40 years. Using Pearson’s chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, a statistically significant association was found between cause with age and length of hospital stay (p<0.001). However, there were no significant associations between the specific cause of TBI with patient clinical variables or mortality (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The most prevalent cause of intracranial trauma was traffic accident. There is an association between the cause of TBI and length of hospital stay.

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Palabras clave: accidente de tránsito, caídas accidentales, determinantes de mortalidad, estancia hospitalaria, salud pública, Traumatismo intracraneal,

Keywords: accidental falls, hospital stay, mortality determinants, public health, traffic accident, traumatic brain injury,

Psychiatrists available in the Ecuadorian public health system and psychiatry residency programs in Ecuador – A cross-sectional analysis. Psiquiatras disponibles en el sistema de salud público y programas de residencia en psiquiatría del Ecuador – Un análisis transversal

Introduction: In 2008, Ecuador’s mental health profile displayed deficiencies due to the lack of psychiatrists and psychiatry residency programs. The same year, access to universal health care, was instituted as a right in the Constitution. There are no studies on the Public Health System’s capacity to provide mental health services, hence an updated analysis of the number of psychiatrists and psychiatry training programs available is required.

Objective: To determine the number of psychiatrists available through the Public Health System and to calculate the ratio of psychiatrist per 10,000 population; to establish the number of residency programs available.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the data available from the Ecuadorian Public Health System and the Higher Education Council of Ecuador. Ratios were calculated using data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses.

Results: Ecuador’s psychiatrists ratio is 0.08:10,000 and the adjusted ratio (psychiatrists and psychologists) is 0.65:10,000. The Public Health System has 138 psychiatrists, concentrated in Pichincha (n=51) and Guayas (n=27). Three provinces had no psychiatrists available. There are two psychiatry training programs in Quito.

Conclusion: Ecuadorian Public Healthcare holds a shortage of psychiatrists which inhibit the minimum ideal ratio fulfillment, along with a noticeable lack of psychiatric training programs availability.