[Costs and sick leave due to chikungunya in the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Guerrero, Mexico]. / Costos e incapacidad por chikunguña en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social en Guerrero, México.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya fever (CHIK) generally causes temporary sick leave, affecting groups of productive age, which represents a significant economic impact from the labor point of view. The objective was to estimate costs of disability due to chikungunya in the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) in Guerrero, Mexico. METHODS: Cost assessment of working population from IMSS in Guerrero who met the definition of case for CHIK and took sick leave, which was registered in the Original Disability Certificates (OCI, according to its initials in Spanish) processed from January to April, 2015. Paid sick days were multiplied by the current minimum wage of the municipality of Acapulco (geographical area A, general = $ 70.10: seventy pesos with 10 cents per day]). RESULTS: Of all the OCIs, 31.5% (38 271/12 062) met the criteria for CHIK with a total of 41 197 prescribed days and 14 941 paid sick days with an estimated cost of 2 397 393.40 pesos (two million, three hundred and ninety seven thousand, three hundred and ninety three dollars and forty cents). CONCLUSIONS: Sick leaves increase the costs in health systems. These costs increase as increases the number of days granted. The average number of days granted is consistent with the information published in different articles.

INTRODUCCIÓN: la fiebre por chikunguña (CHIK) ocasiona generalmente una incapacidad temporal y afecta grupos en edad productiva, lo cual representa un impacto económico significativo desde el punto de vista laboral. El objetivo fue estimar los costos de incapacidad por chikunguña en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) en Guerrero, México. MÉTODOS: evaluación de costos en población trabajadora del IMSS del estado de Guerrero que cumplió con la definición de caso para CHIK y requirió una incapacidad asentada en el registro OCI (Original del Certificado de Incapacidad) y tramitada de enero a abril del 2015. Los días subsidiados se multiplicaron por el salario mínimo vigente para el municipio de Acapulco (área geográfica A, generales = $70.10 [setenta pesos con 10 centavos diarios]). RESULTADOS: del total de registrados en el OCI, el 31.5% (38 271/12 062) contaban con criterios para CHIK con un total de 41 197 días prescritos y 14 941 subsidiados con un costo estimado de $2 397 393.40. CONCLUSIONES: la incapacidad genera un incremento en los costos a los sistemas de salud. Estos aumentan a medida que los días otorgados se incrementan. El promedio de días otorgados es consistente con la información publicada en los diferentes artículos.

[The teaching of occupational medicine in Mexican medical schools]. / Enseñanza de medicina del trabajo en el pregrado de las escuelas de medicina en México.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current situation of teaching occupational medicine (OM) in academic programs and medical schools in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted and schools were identified through the main directories of medical schools. For the analysis of information descriptive and inferential statistics were used. RESULTS: A total of 75 medical schools were identified. In 39 (52%) the subject is mandatory, with a predominance in public schools (p< 0.02). Among the schools that offer the subject, only 15 (38%) have professors specialized in OM. CONCLUSIONS: Disparity in teaching basic aspects of OM in medical schools explains the little development and social and professional recognition of the specialty; it also highlights serious problems for public health, derived from the lack of prevention of risks in work environments.

Enseñanza de medicina del trabajo en el pregrado de las escuelas de medicina en México / The teaching of occupational medicine in Mexican medical schools

OBJETIVO: Analizar el estado actual de la enseñanza de medicina del trabajo (MT) en facultades y escuelas de medicina en México. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo una encuesta descriptiva. Se identificaron facultades y escuelas a través de directorios de organizaciones de educación superior. Para el análisis de la información, se utilizó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. RESULTADOS: De las 75 escuelas y facultades de medicina, 39 (52 por ciento) ofrecen la asignatura como obligatoria, con predominio en planteles públicos (p< 0.02). Sólo 15 (38 por ciento) cuentan con especialistas en MT como profesores. CONCLUSIONES: La disparidad en la enseñanza de aspectos básicos sobre MT en el pregrado explica en parte el poco desarrollo y el pobre reconocimiento social y profesional de la especialidad, lo que desencadena problemas para la salud pública derivados de la escasa prevención de riesgos de trabajo y de conservación de la salud de los trabajadores en los centros laborales.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current situation of teaching occupational medicine (OM) in academic programs and medical schools in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive survey was conducted and schools were identified through the main directories of medical schools. For the analysis of information descriptive and inferential statistics were used. RESULTS: A total of 75 medical schools were identified. In 39 (52 percent) the subject is mandatory, with a predominance in public schools (p< 0.02). Among the schools that offer the subject, only 15 (38 percent) have professors specialized in OM. CONCLUSIONS: Disparity in teaching basic aspects of OM in medical schools explains the little development and social and professional recognition of the specialty; it also highlights serious problems for public health, derived from the lack of prevention of risks in work environments.