To establish and maintain successful global pharmaceutical and health care partnerships, pharmacists, pharmacy educators, and students should first learn more about the political, cultural, economic and health care dynamics that affect all of the parties involved in these arrangements. This paper explores Latin America within the context of transnational pharmacy and health-based engagement, including pharmacy-related concepts, health care and cultural considerations, behavioral health perspectives, and common misconceptions. Expert knowledge and experience were used to support and corroborate the existing literature about cultural dynamics of health. Recommendations are provided for how schools and colleges of pharmacy can enhance engagement in culturally sensitive partnerships within Latin America. Health-based profiles of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico are presented to serve as models for establishing, enhancing, and maintaining partnerships across Latin America.

La inseguridad alimentaria (InSAN) ocurre cuando hay carencia en el acceso a alimentos suficientes, inocuos y nutritivos con la finalidad de cubrir las necesidades energéticas diarias, ha sido objeto de múltiples aproximaciones, en las que se han identificado diferencias entre hombres y mujeres. Pese a lo anterior, dichos abordajes no se han realizado desde una Perspectiva de Género (PG), misma que permitiría no solo encontrar diferencias entre hombres y mujeres, sino también identificar las causas que constituyen el acceso desigual a una adecuada alimentación. El presente artículo tiene el objetivo de mostrar la pertinencia y desafíos que tiene la perspectiva de género al abordar la inseguridad alimentaria, como una herramienta útil para la comprensión e intervención de este fenómeno. El resultado de la revisión bibliográfica en torno a la InSAN, muestra no sólo lo novedoso y útil que puede ser en este campo la PG como herramienta teórico-metodológica, sino lo necesaria que resulta para que el conocimiento generado devenga en propuestas de intervención viables desde el ámbito público.

Introducción: En el mundo se pierden cerca de un tercio de todos los alimentos producidos para consumo humano en el mundo, mientras que en Jalisco sólo 68.5% de la población tiene seguridad alimentaria. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar a los beneficiarios socio-demográficamente y evaluar seguridad y pobreza alimentaria. Material y método: Se obtuvieron datos del proyecto “Modelo logístico para el aprovechamiento, conservación y manejo de alimentos: plataforma de alimentos (JAL 2016-01-02-279011)” muestreo a conveniencia de familias atendidas por Banco de Guadalajara, Zapotlanejo y Tepatitlán (n=311). Se evaluó el grado de seguridad y pobreza alimentaria, escolaridad, ingreso familiar comparado con la línea de bienestar mínimo, gasto en alimentación; variables cuantitativas en mediana y rango intercuartilar; cualitativas en frecuencia y porcentaje. Resultados: El 97.4% son mujeres, solo 10% de ellas concluyó preparatoria, 75% presentaron sobrepeso u obesidad. Únicamente 7.4% se clasificó como seguridad alimentaria,Guadalajara tuvo el mayor porcentaje con inseguridad alimentaria moderada y severa (29.7% y 4.7%), y Tepatitlán leve (73.5%), 60% del ingreso se destina a alimentación, 78% muestran pobreza alimentaria. Conclusiones: La pobreza alimentaria coexiste con desnutrición y la obesidad, las mujeres son las encargadas del hogar y la alimentación, por lo que debe intervenirse con enfoque de género y la inseguridad alimentaria leve debe considerarse un problema a atender.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects between 1% and 14% of pregnancies worldwide. Major risk factors include advanced maternal age, excess adiposity, family history of type 2 diabetes, and unhealthy dietary habits. In Mexico, evidence on the association between dietary patterns and GDM remains scarce, particularly in socioeconomically vulnerable populations with limited access to specialized nutrition services. This study aimed to evaluate the association between dietary patterns and the presence of GDM in pregnant women attending the outpatient obstetrics clinic of a teaching public hospital in Guadalajara, México. Methods: We conducted a case–control study including 169 pregnant women: 71 with GDM confirmed by the ADA one-step 75 g oral glucose tolerance test OGTT criteria and 98 without GDM based on a negative OGTT, recruited consecutively from the same clinic during the same period. Dietary intake was assessed using a culturally adapted and validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified through Principal Component Analysis, and associations were examined using logistic regression adjusted for maternal age, pregestational BMI, and family history of type 2 diabetes. Results: Women with GDM had higher maternal age, greater pregestational BMI, and more frequent family history of type 2 diabetes compared with controls. Three dietary patterns were identified: Western, Healthy, and Dairy/Refined. High adherence to the Western pattern was inversely associated with GDM (aOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.16–0.78; p = 0.010); however, this finding most likely reflects post-diagnosis dietary modifications rather than a protective effect, while maternal age remained the strongest risk factor (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03–1.16; p = 0.002). The Healthy pattern (aOR = 1.25; 95% CI: 0.55–2.82; p = 0.593) and the Dairy/Refined pattern (aOR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.39–1.66; p = 0.554) were not significantly associated with GDM in the adjusted model. Conclusions: GDM was associated with older maternal age, higher pregestational BMI, and family history of T2DM. The inverse association with the Western pattern may reflect post-diagnosis dietary changes rather than a protective effect. Due to the retrospective design, causal inference is not possible, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 represents a major global health crisis and has resulted in drastic changes to daily life. While even prior to the start of the pandemic college students had a high prevalence of mental health conditions, this group is even more at risk during the pandemic. OBJECTIVE To investigate the emotional impact of quarantine and transition to remote learning on health science students from two countries, regarding anxiety prevalence, mental wellbeing and coping behaviors during the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS A total of 28 students from Tecnologico de Monterrey (TEC) in Guadalajara, Mexico and 19 students from Drake University (Drake) in Iowa, United States participated in the study. All students were studying health sciences, including degree programs such as medicine, pharmacy, and nutrition and wellness. This longitudinal study assessed students’ immediate psychological response during the COVID-19 pandemic by using an anonymous online questionnaire administered in April and again in May 2020. The survey was created to assess anxiety levels, coping mechanisms, and changes in daily habits. Demographics such as gender, age, non-academic working, living arrangements, household size, and number of roommates/co-habitants were also collected. RESULTS The April survey sample included 47 students and the May survey sample included 41 students. At least 50% of respondents were females, 20 to 21 years of age. The April survey results showed that more TEC students rated their food intake as higher than before the pandemic when compared to Drake students (p=0.032). Alcohol consumption reportedly stayed the same for Drake students and was lower for TEC students (p=0.004). The May survey results showed a statistically significant difference only for the alcohol consumption (p<0.001). Sleep time between April and May in TEC students showed a significant statistical difference, with students reporting less sleep time in May (p=0.016). The analysis for the level of anxiety according to the Beck Anxiety Inventory showed no statistically significant differences, neither when comparing between intra (TEC p=0.189 and Drake p=0.879) and inter group survey times (TEC vs Drake in April p=0.919 and TEC vs Drake in May p=0.305). The most common physical symptoms reported by students during both study periods were: feeling hot, nervous, fear of losing control, inability to relax, and fear of the worst happening. CONCLUSIONS There is growing concern surrounding the mental health status and needs of health science students during the pandemic. It is important to monitor changes in students’ mental health in response to the pandemic and to create interventions that target students appropriately.