Distribución y caracterización de equipos de salud capacitados a distancia por el Instituto Nacional de Epidemiología / Distribution and characterization of trained health teams remotely by the Instituto Nacional de Epidemiología

En el artículo se analizan las características de los alumnos que participaron en los cursos a distanciarealizados por el Instituto Nacional de Epidemiología entre 2005 y 2012. Se inscribieron 4163 alumnos y se aceptaron 2724 (65,5%). El 57,1% de los aceptados aprobó el curso. Participaron alumnos de todas las jurisdicciones y de países de la región, en su mayoría médicos, enfermeros yquímicos.

Articulos del cono sur Argentina: impacto de la fortificación con ácido fólico sobre el estado nutricional en mujeres y la prevalencia de defectos del tubo neural / Articles in the Southern Cone Argentina: the impact of folic acid fortification on nutritional status in women and the prevalence of neural tube defects

Se evaluó el efecto de la fortificación dela harina de trigo con ácido fólico (iniciada en 2003) sobre la ingesta de folatos en la población de mujeres en edad reproductiva y en embarazadas y los niveles séricos de folato y vitamina B12 en los mismos grupos. Asimismo, seanalizaron los cambios ocurridos en las tasas de defectos del tubo neural antes de la fortificación y después de ella.

[Impact of folic acid fortification on women's nutritional status and on the prevalence of neural tube defects]. / Impacto de la fortificación con ácido fólico sobre el estado nutricional en mujeres y la prevalencia de defectos del tubo neural.

INTRODUCTION: In 2003 iron and folic acid fortification of wheat flour became mandatory in Argentina. Folate nutritional status was assessed in a national probabilistic sample of women 10-49 years old and pregnant women. Changes in the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) were evaluated before and after fortification. POPULATION AND METHODS: Data from the National Nutritional and Health Survey done in 2005 were used for folate intakes (24 hs dietary recall) and serum levels. Fetal and infant mortality rates for NTDs were assessed in the period 2000-2006 from Vital Statistics Series, based on birth and death certificates. Prevalence of NTDs in hospital discharge statistics were analyzed in the pre and post fortification period. RESULTS: Median folate intakes were 532 and 821 microg/ day in women 10-49 years-old and pregnant women, respectively. In both groups, folic acid from wheat flour represented 245 and 331 microg/day. Serum folate was assessed in 5.322 women 10-49 years old and in 1.321 pregnant women. Prevalence of serum folate concentration <3 ng/mL was 0.8% in women of child-bearing age and 2.7% in pregnant women. Mortality rate due to anencephaly in 2000-2003 was 53.1 per 100.000 births and decreased to 23.3 per 100.000 births in 2005-2006. Spina bifida mortality rate decreased 67% in the same period. In a similar way, hospital discharge statistics showed a decrease of 54% for anencephaly, 33% for encephalocele, and 45% for spina bifida between 2000 and 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Food fortification with folic acid was associated with adequate intakes and serum folate levels in women. Concurrently, NTDs prevalence and mortality showed a significant reduction.