The genetic trait of lactase persistence (LP) evolved as an adaptation to milking pastoralism in the Old World and is a well‐known example of positive natural selection in humans. However, the specific mechanisms conferring this selective advantage are unknown. To understand the relationship between milk drinking, LP, growth, reproduction, and survival, communities of the Coquimbo Region in Chile, with recent adoption of milking agropastoralism, were used as a model population.DNA samples and data on stature, reproduction, and diet were collected from 451 participants. Lactose tolerance tests were done on 41 of them. The European −13,910*T(rs4988235) was the only LP causative variant found, showing strong association (99.6%) with LP phenotype.Models of associations of inferred LP status and milk consumption, with fertility, mortality, height, and weight were adjusted with measures of ancestry and relatedness to control for population structure. Although we found no statistically significant effect of LP on fertility, a significant effect (P = 0.002) was observed of LP on body mass index (BMI) in males and of BMI on fertility (P = 0.003). These results fail to support a causal relationship between LP and fertility yet suggest the idea of a nutritional advantage of LP. Furthermore, the proportion of European ancestry around the genetic region of −13,910*Tis significantly higher (P = 0.008) than the proportion of European ancestry genome‐wide, providing evidence of recent positive selection since European–Amerindian admixture. This signature was absent in nonpastoralist Latin American populations, supporting the hypothesis of specific adaptation to milking agropastoralism in the Coquimbo communities.

Background: Telehealth is an essential component of modern healthcare, and it was especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, but disparities in digital and technological literacy among health professionals may limit its equitable adoption and impact. Objective: This study seeks to validate an eight-item telehealth literacy survey among health professionals in Central–South Chile and to examine demographic and behavioral determinants of literacy levels, developing predictive models to identify key factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2182 health professionals from urban and rural centers in Central–South Chile completed the adapted survey along with questions on age, gender, nationality, and frequency of telehealth use. We assessed internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), explored factor structure via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and tested associations using Pearson correlations, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and both linear and multinomial logistic regressions. Results: The instrument demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.92) and a two-factor structure explaining 65% of variance. Age negatively correlated with literacy (r = −0.26; p < 0.001), while the frequency of telehealth use showed a positive correlation (r = 0.26; p < 0.001). Female professionals and those in urban settings scored significantly higher on telehealth literacy (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). The reduced multinomial model achieved moderate classification accuracy (51.65%) in distinguishing low, medium, and high literacy groups. Conclusions: The validated survey is a reliable tool for assessing telehealth literacy among health professionals in Chile. The findings highlight age, gender, and geographic disparities, and support targeted digital literacy interventions to promote equitable telehealth practice.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic nociplastic pain condition predominantly affecting women. Although often addressed within biomedical frameworks, its structural and relational dimensions remain underexplored. This study examined how social, familial, and economic factors are associated with symptom severity and self-perceived mental health among women with FM, with particular emphasis on social participation and perceived discrimination. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among women diagnosed with FM in Chile. Participants were recruited through patient organizations and community networks and completed a self-administered questionnaire covering biopsychosocial aspects of FM. Multifactor ANOVA models were used to explore associations between social and familial variables and symptom count and perceived mental health. Results: Participants were mostly middle-aged women who reported a high burden of symptoms and moderate levels of self-perceived mental health. Involvement in FM-related organizations was significantly associated with differences in symptom perception and better mental health, while perceived discrimination was linked to poorer mental health outcomes. Conclusions: Social participation and supportive environments emerge as potential determinants of health among women with FM. Primary care providers should adopt social and gender-sensitive approaches that acknowledge the influence of discrimination, economic vulnerability, and support networks in shaping the illness experience.