Exchange rate volatility, corruption, and economic growth.

This study assesses the impact of exchange rate volatility on economic growth using a panel of 194 countries for the period 1995-2019. We resort to dynamic panel data models considering the exchange rate volatility estimated based on GARCH models as an explanatory variable, along with some control variables such as the level of economic openness and financial development, investment, government spending, and the expected level of education. Countries are grouped according to the level of corruption of the governments. The estimates from both Difference and System Generalized Method of Moments are obtained. The results consistently show a significant negative effect of exchange rate volatility on economic growth, which diminishes as the financial system develops. An important finding is that the effect of volatility is lower in high-corruption countries, which could be because they are used to dealing with the economic instability associated with low levels of governance and incorporate it as part of their costs.

Calidad del Aire y Enfermedades Respiratorias bajo Diversos Esquemas de Circulación Vial en Bucaramanga (Santander, Colombia) / Air Quality and Respiratory Diseases under Different Vehicular Restrictions Systems in Bucaramanga (Santander, Colombia) / Qualidade do ar e doenças respiratórias em vários esquemas de circulação rodoviária Introdução em Bucaramanga (Santander, Colombia)

Resumen Introducción. En 2017, la ciudad de Bucaramanga ensayó diversos esquemas de restricción vehicular para mejorar la movilidad y calidad del aire. Estos esquemas fueron: libre circulación (PP0), restricción limitada (PP1) y restricción ampliada (PP2). Objetivo. de este estudio fue comparar los niveles de material particulado (PM10) y de ozono troposférico (O3) en estos tres esquemas, y evaluar su efecto sobre la calidad del aire, así como el impacto de dicha calidad sobre la incidencia de enfermedades respiratorias. Materiales y Métodos. La información sobre variables meteorológicas y niveles de contaminantes por hora y día pertenece al Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales de Colombia. Las estadísticas de enfermedades respiratorias corresponden a la Secretaría de Salud y Ambiente de Bucaramanga. Toda la información corresponde al año 2017. La comparación de los niveles de contaminantes se hizo con base en estadísticas descriptivas, pruebas ANOVA y funciones de densidad. El análisis de los factores que afectan la incidencia de enfermedades respiratorias se basó en un modelo de regresión de Poisson, con las variables climatológicas combinadas en factores obtenidos a través de análisis de componentes principales. Resultados. El ANOVA indicó diferencias significativas en niveles promedio de PM10 entre esquemas de movilidad. Las funciones de densidad muestran una sustancial reducción de PM10 bajo PP2. En el modelo de Poisson, O3 resultó estadísticamente no significativo; el número de casos de enfermedades respiratorias atendidos en centros hospitalarios fue significativamente inferior en PP2 y se decrece con una disminución de PM10. Conclusiones. PP2 permite 48 % de ganancia ambiental en cuanto a emisiones de PM10; bajo PP1 esta ganancia es inferior al 3 %. Ningún esquema contribuye a reducir las ya bajas concentraciones de O3. Una caída del 10 % en los niveles de PM10 disminuye el número de casos de enfermedades respiratorios en 5,6 %. El estudio favorece la adopción del esquema PP2.

Abstract Introduction. In 2017, the city of Bucaramanga attempted different vehicle restriction systems to improve traffic flow and air quality. These systems were: free circulation (PP0), limited restriction (PP1), and extended restriction (PP2). Objective. of this study was to compare the levels of the particulate matter (PM10) and tropospheric ozone (O3) through the three systems and evaluate their effect on air quality and its impact on the incidence of respiratory diseases. Materials and Methods. The information on meteorology variables and levels of pollutants per hour and day was provided by the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies. The statistics on respiratory diseases were provided by the Ministry of Health and Environment of Bucaramanga. All statistical information relates to the year 2017. The comparison of levels of air pollutant was based on descriptive statistics, ANOVA tests, and density functions. The analysis of the factors affecting the incidence of respiratory diseases relied on a Poisson regression model, with meteorology variables combined into factors based on principal component analysis. Results. ANOVA indicates significant differences in average levels of PM10 among sytems. Density functions show a substantial reduction of PM10 under PP2. In the Poisson model, O3 ended up being not statistically significant; the number of cases of respiratory diseases was significantly lower under PP2 and decreases with the level of PM10. Conclusions. The PP2 scheme allows a 48 % environmental gain in PM10; under PP1 this gain is less than 3 %. None of the schemes seems to contribute to reducing the already low concentrations of O3. A 10 % reduction in PM10 reduces the number of reported cases of respiratory diseases by 5.6 %. The study supports the adoption of the PP2 system.

Resumo Introduçao. Em 2017, a cidade de Bucaramanga testou vários esquemas de restrição de veículos para melhorar a mobilidade e a qualidade do ar: livre circulação (PP0), restrição limitada (PP1) e restrição estendida (PP2). Objetivo. deste estudo foi comparar os níveis de material particulado (PM10) e ozônio troposférico (O3) nesses três esquemas para avaliar o efeito na qualidade do ar e o impacto na incidência de doenças respiratórias. Métodos. A informação sobre as variáveis meteorológicas e níveis de poluentes por hora e dia pertencem ao Instituto de Hidrologia, Meteorologia e Estudos Ambientais da Colômbia. As estatísticas de doenças respiratórias correspondem à Secretaria da Saúde e Meio Ambiente da cidade de Bucaramanga. Toda a informação utilizada corresponde ao ano de 2017. A comparação dos níveis de contaminantes foi feita com base em estatística descritiva, testes ANOVA e funções de densidade. A análise dos fatores que afetam a incidência de doenças respiratórias foi baseada no modelo de regressão de Poisson, com as variáveis climáticas agrupadas em fatores obtidos por meio da análise dos componentes principais. Resultados. A prova ANOVA indica diferenças significativas nos níveis médios de PM10. As funções de densidade mostram uma redução substancial de PM10 em PP2. No modelo de Poisson, o O3 mostrou-se não significativo; O número de casos de doenças tratadas em centros hospitalares foi significativamente menor no PP2 e é reduzido com uma diminuição no PM10. Conclusões. O PP2 permite ganho ambiental de 48 % no PM10; no PP1, esse ganho é inferior a 3 %. Nenhum esquema ajuda a reduzir as já baixas concentrações de O3. Uma queda de 10 % nos níveis de PM10 diminui o número de casos de doenças respiratórias em 5,6 %. Assim sendo, este estudo favorece a adoção do esquema PP2.

Percepción de la calidad en la prestación de servicios de salud con un enfoque seis sigma / Perceptive analysis of the quality in health services´ delivery with a Six-Sigma approach

Introducción: Garantizar el acceso a servicios de salud de calidad es una de las condiciones necesarias para la reducción de la pobreza y de la desigualdad en un país. Objetivo: Analizar la percepción de la calidad en la prestación de servicios de salud en un hospital asistencial. Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado en pacientes atendidos durante los meses de marzo y abril de 2016 en las áreas de urgencias y consulta externa del Hospital Lázaro Alfonso Hernández Lara, Colombia. La muestra quedó conformada por 220 pacientes, seleccionados de forma aleatoria. Se aplicó la metodología seis sigma, útil para organizar el mejoramiento continuo de los servicios de salud. Los datos de la población objetivo se obtuvieron mediante la encuesta SERVQUAL, instrumento que mide la percepción de la calidad. Resultados: Respecto a la calidad de atención percibida, la dimensión seguridad apareció confundida con empatía, y, como factor diferenciador, surgió la dimensión comodidad, separada de elementos tangibles. La calificación global de la percepción corroboró que alrededor del 50 por ciento de los pacientes tuvieron percepciones bajas en las dimensiones de calidad evaluadas. Conclusiones: Los pacientes manifiestan una baja percepción de la calidad en servicios de salud recibidos. Ello permite recomendar a las directivas del hospital revisar los procesos relacionados con la calidad de los servicios prestados, y proponer políticas de mejoramiento en las áreas de urgencias y de consulta externa de acuerdo con las necesidades y las condiciones de los usuarios(AU)

Introduction: Ensuring access to quality health services is one of the necessary conditions for reducing poverty and inequality in a country. Objective: To analyze the perception of quality in the provision of health services in a public care hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients treated from March to April 2016 in the emergency and outpatients clinics of Lázaro Alfonso Hernández Lara Hospital, in Colombia. The sample included 220 patients that were randomly selected. Six sigma methodology which is useful for organizing the continuous improvement of health services was applied. Data from the target population were obtained through the SERVQUAL survey, which measures the perception of quality. Results: Regarding the perceived quality of care, the security dimension appeared confused with empathy, and as a differentiating factor, the comfort dimension emerged, separated from tangible elements. The overall rating of perception confirmed that about 50 percent of patients had low perceptions on the quality's dimensions assessed. Conclusions: Patients show low quality's perception regarding the health services they receive. This makes possible to recommend hospital directives to review the processes related to the quality of the services provided, and to propose improvement policies in the emergency and outpatient areas, according to the needs and conditions of the users(AU)

Environmental and socio-economic determinants associated with the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the northeast of Colombia.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a vector-borne disease that is widely distributed in most tropical regions. Colombia has experienced an important increase in its incidence during the last decade. There are CL transmission foci in the Colombian departments of Santander and Norte de Santander. Objectives: To identify environmental and socio-economic variables associated with CL incidence in the municipalities of the northeast of Colombia between 2007 and 2016. Methods: This was an ecological study of CL cases aggregated by municipality. The cases reported during the study period were analyzed with a negative binomial regression to obtain the adjusted incident rate ratio for environmental and socio-economic variables. Findings: During the study period, 10 924 cases of CL were reported, and 110 (86.6%) municipalities reported at least one CL case. The coverages of forest (aIRR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.07), heterogeneous agricultural zones (aIRR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06) and permanent crops (aIRR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12) were associated with a higher incidence of CL. Conversely, urban functionality (aIRR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.96), minimal-altitude above sea level (aIRR 0.84, 95% CI 0.79-0.90) and shrub coverage (aIRR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.0) were negatively associated with the incidence of CL in the municipality. Main conclusions: Our results confirm the importance of environmental determinants, such as height above sea level, and coverage of forest, permanent crops and heterogeneous agricultural zones, for the occurrence of CL; these findings also suggest the importance of shrub coverage. Furthermore, urban functionality was a socio-economic determinant independently associated with CL incidence.

Medicaid managed care and the distribution of societal costs for persons with severe mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: Managed care financing strategies that involve financial risk to insurers can reduce budgeted health expenditures. However, resource substitution may occur and negate apparent savings in budgeted expenditures. These substitutions may be important for individuals with disabling illnesses. The distribution of societal costs for adults with mental illnesses enrolled in plans that differ in their financial risk is examined to evaluate the degree to which risk-based financing strategies result in net savings or in the differential distribution of costs across public or private payers. METHOD: Six hundred twenty-eight adults with severe mental illnesses enrolled in three Medicaid plans that differ in financial risk arrangements were followed for 1 year to determine the distribution of resource use across Medicaid and other payers. Self-reported service use was obtained through interviews. Cost data were derived from self-reported expenditure, administrative, or agency data. Statistical procedures were used to control for preexisting group differences. RESULTS: Managed care was associated with a tendency toward reduced overall costs to Medicaid. However, private expenditures for managed care enrollees offset decreased Medicaid expenditures, resulting in no net difference in societal costs associated with managed care. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the distribution of societal costs is essential in evaluating health care financing strategies. For adults with mental illnesses, efforts to manage Medicaid expenditures may result in substituting individual and family resources for Medicaid services. Government must focus on the distribution of societal costs since risk-based financing strategies may redistribute costs across the fragmented human services sector and result in unintended system inefficiencies.

Examination of the effects of financial risk on the formal treatment costs for a Medicaid population with psychiatric disabilities.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the effects of differing financial risk arrangements for mental health, physical health, and pharmacy services on the overall costs of these services with particular attention to cost containment and cost shifting. METHODS: Comprehensive service utilization information was obtained from a sample of 458 adults with severe mental illnesses during a 12-month period. Rate information was used to calculate costs for health, mental health and pharmacy. A 2-part model was employed to test for differences among financial risk conditions. RESULTS: Total treatment costs, both those financed by Medicaid and those paid by other sources, were lower in plans that had a broader array of services for which they were at risk. Pharmacy costs were principally responsible for these differences. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment costs for adults with severe mental illnesses can be contained by placing providers at financial risk. However, risk arrangements may also increase treatment costs borne by other payers including charity services and self-pay. Evaluating the impact of at-risk financing mechanisms from a public health perspective requires assessing cost shifting, particularly for pharmaceuticals.