Rocío Robledo-Martínez

Características socioculturales de la actividad física en tres regiones de Colombia

OBJECTIVE Investigating socio-cultural aspects related to living in a community and physical activity in Bogotá and the departments of Antioquia and Quindío. METHODS An exploratory, qualitative study was carried out within the framework of the cultural relationships found in the regions being investigated. The research strategies used were field-observation, semi-stuctured individual and participative interviews (primary sources) and documentary review related to the cultural processes employed in the regions being studied (secondary source). RESULTS Two types of results were obtained which were common for the three regions and specific for each of them, bearing in mind their own cultural processes and community dynamics. CONCLUSIONS The elements identified by field-observation and interpretative findings resulting from studying the interviews agreed with the theory and prior experience of other countries, providing new considerations associated with specific cultural and community context of the regions being investigated.

Aproximación a la construcción teórica de la promoción de la salud

Definitions of healthcare promotion were examined from the theory of knowledge regarding its ontological and epistemological aspects as considered by several paradigms. Three-phase periodisation was used. The first distancing regarding the positivist paradigm and healthcare promotion through definitions of public health was made during the background phase (1920-1973). The promotion of healthcare acquired its own identity and became explicit policy in the midst of scenarios involving the confluence of paradigms during the foundational phase (1974-1986). Positivist and non-positivist paradigms became broadly articulated during the consolidation phase (1987-2008), becoming extended to methodological aspects.

Evaluación de condiciones ambientales: aire, agua y suelos en áreas de actividad minera en Boyacá, Colombia

Objectives To determine concentrations of PM10, mercury and lead in indoor air of homes, water sources and soil in municipalities near mining operations. Method 6 points were evaluated in areas of influence and 2 in control areas. For measurements of indoor air, we used the NIOSH 600 method (PM10), NIOSH 6009 (mercury) and NIOSH 7300 (lead). For water analysis we used the IDEAM Guide for monitoring discharges. For soil analysis, we used the cold vapor technique (mercury) and atomic absorption (lead). Results In almost all selected households, the average PM10 and mercury concentrations in indoor air exceeded applicable air quality standards. Concentrations of lead were below standard levels. In all water sources, high concentrations of lead were found and in some places within the mining areas, high levels of iron, aluminum and mercury were also found. In soil, mercury concentrations were below the detection level and for lead, differences between the monitored points were observed. Conclusions The results do not establish causal relationships between mining and concentration of these pollutants in the evaluated areas because of the multiplicity of sources in the area. However, such studies provide important information, useful to agents of the environmental health system and researchers. Installation of networks for environmental monitoring to obtain continuous reports is suggested.

Identificación de capacidades en salud ambiental de las autoridades ambientales en Colombia

Objectives To diagnose the capabilities that environmental authorities and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development have to assume their role in environmental health, based on the capacity model of the United Nations Program for Development UNDP. Method Document review, interviews on key issues and a commented survey were conducted. 84 entities were selected for a tailored survey; complete information was obtained from 76 institutions. Results The valuation of environment favorability was within the acceptable and unfavorable categories; knowledge management capabilities were found to be precarious and assessment of functional capabilities ranged between appropriate and acceptable. The assessment of specific capabilities had a rating of poor or barely acceptable. Conclusions Two major problems were found: a. The environmental authorities do not conceive or implement these capabilities based on the UNDP model but on the conventional model of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development; b. Environmental authorities show an incipient level of incorporation of environmental health policies in their field of action.

Análisis multidimensional de las capacidades en salud ambiental del Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible en Colombia

OBJECTIVES To approach the multidimensional analysis of functional capacities in environmental health in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, based on the UNDP model of interactions between central problems and functional capabilities. METHOD Individual institutional results obtained through surveys and information from secondary sources, CAR (Autonomous Regional Corporations) and environmental authorities on policies, strategies, action plans, regional environmental management plans, regulations, activities, and accountabilities related to environmental health during the period 2012-2015 were used as sources of information. RESULTS The consolidation of results per corporation about core issues and functional capabilities, in terms of the level of response, shows a significant heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS Public leadership and social empowerment constitute a virtuous circle that allows strengthening capacities in projects of high social interest. Moreover, other capacities such as achieving commitments and institutional and technical capacities (policy design, implementation, evaluation, etc.) can be strengthened as well. Three alternatives for environmental health capabilities implementation have been proposed.

Caracterización de la formación y desempeño del talento humano que labora en Salud Ambiental en Colombia

Objectives To characterize the peculiarities in the training, exercise, and performance of human talent working in environmental health in Colombia. Method Documentary and database reviews. Surveys and semi-structured interviews. Results Approximately 70 % of professionals in the area of environmental health work in health management, food engineering, environmental engineering, sanitary engineering, veterinary medicine, and pharmaceutical chemistry. 63 % of technologists belong to the field of sanitation technology. Only 20 % of surveyed educational institutions apply the competence approach to training to their students and the identification of occupational characteristics in the labor market is only used at the undergraduate level as a criterion of academic analysis and design. Only 20 % of educational institutions identify educational trends in Colombian and or international environmental health as a contribution to their programs. In prospective practices, the following topics to be strengthened were identified: risk factor identfication, measurement, and control; design and implementation of mechanisms for controlling environmental risks; forms of interdisciplinary work between the natural, social and health sciences; preventative and environmental protection measures and the concept of environment (natural, social, and cultural). Conclusion The human talent currently working in environmental health in the country is concentrated in primary care activities (inspection, monitoring and control) and a large spread exists in mission processes and competences, both professionally and technologically. A lack of coordination between the environmental sector and the education sector can be observed. A great diversity exists among the profiles offered by the different educational programs related to environmental health.