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CUBAN PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE - abstracts National Human Development and Equity in Cuba* ABSTRACT: This study updates the 1999 Human Development and Equity Index nationwide and province by province comparing current statistics with those from the 1999 study. There are eight relevant dimensions (economic, individual consumption, education, health status, access to basic services and fuel, housing, and civic participation ;each dimension is represented by an indicator to assess changes in that dimension. The latest Index indicators are generally higher than those in the previous edition. The new statistics indicate that the gap between the provinces has closed ,is practically the same, or in all cases very small ,for all the indicators except in the case of ‘small businesses’ per capita) . The volume of per capita investment presents the greatest difference between the provinces. The figure for the City of Havana is nearly seven times greater than that for Pinar del Río; other indicators show a relatively small disparity. The difference in terms of human development is greatest between the City of Havana and Guantánamo. Index variations in Guantánamo are three times greater than the City of Havana. The close uniformity seen in reaching the desired goals in human development and the Index show that global development among the provinces is closely associated with the correlation of attaining partial development. Listed in descending order in the current Index are: The City of Havana, Cienfuegos, and the provinces of Havana, Ciego de Avila, Matanzas, Sancti Spíritus, Villa Clara, Las Tunas, Pinar del Río, Camagüey, Holguín, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo and Granma. Key Words: HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, EQUITY, ECONOMIC INDICATORS, SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION. *This summary is from a chapter in Investigación sobre ciencia, tecnología y desarrollo humano en Cuba 2003. La Habana: CIEM; 2004 Participatory Observation of Food Distribution Dixis Figueroa Pedraza OBJECTIVES: To apply and evaluate the methodology in the Rapid Participatory Evaluation of specific conditions in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, to measure and improve food distribution to the people and draft a guide that will adapt this methodology to the specific conditions of Havana neighborhoods. METHODS: The research used qualitative information from the Rapid Participatory Appraisal methodology, adapting it to the specific conditions of the community and our goals. RESULTS: Priorities included food and nutritional issues and improved distribution. A methodological guide was proposed taking into account the conditions of the communities studied that would ensure their food and nutritional needs. From a methodological point of view, the primary difficulties lie in developing the ability to carry out semi-structured surveys among key informants and focus groups and in creating the action plan. CONCLUSIONS: The Rapid Participatory Evaluation method proved useful in compiling information about problems concerning the community’s health needs in order to improve the food and nutritional needs of the community. Such methodological guides can serve as a logical working model in applying measures to supervise and improve ensuring the community's food and nutritional needs. Health and Quality of Life for the Elderly ABSTRACT: This paper stresses the importance of expanding our knowledge of health and quality of life for the elderly. Organized by subheads, it intends to make the consolidation of information more accessible. It provides an analysis of the concept of quality of life and its evolution; its evaluation prior to and after arriving at old age, its relationship to ethics and results from research on this topic and from measuring the quality of life of this population. It concludes that assessment of the quality of life is an important multidimensional and multidisciplinary concept emerging from a combination of objective and subjective factors. It should be evaluated on the presence of material and spiritual conditions necessary for psychobiological and sociohistoric development. Technical criteria for each area and time period determine personal satisfaction for the standard of living, which obviously reflects positively or negatively on health. Key Words: GERONTOLOGY, AGING, ELDERLY, QUALITY OF LIFE, PSYCHOLOGY Social Participation of the National Institute ABSTRACT: The National Institute for Angiology and Vascular Surgery conducted a program in the Cerro community to promote good health aimed specifically at the prevention and promotion of a more integrated approach to health and to avoid peripheral vascular complications with changes in the lifestyle and quality of life there. To achieve the desired contemporary public health goals, it is necessary to move beyond the traditional focus on treatment and rehabilitation and focus on a more integral concept that relies on close collaboration with other social sectors, to work on improving both the environment and individual behaviors to prevent illnesses, and achieve a better quality of life through multidisciplinary and intersectional activities. Preliminary results confirm that primary care is ideal in the prevention and early detection of peripheral vascular complications. There is a close familial relationship between the local nursing personnel and the elderly, their families and the community, facilitating group support and experience sharing within the same socioeconomic and cultural environment. This improves the quality of care which the patient feels as he is able to control risks factors and complications, and thus improve his quality of life. Involving the family group in educational programs offers support to the elderly and makes the family aware of the risks of vascular illnesses, making preventative care and early diagnosis within the community easier. Key Words: PROMOTING HEALTH, QUALITY OF LIFE, EDUCATING THE ELDERLY Construction of a Synthetic Indicator to Measure Gender Differences in Middle and Late Adolescence ABSTRACT: A study was conducted to identify the variables marking gender differences in adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 in Cuba and construct a synthetic indicator capable of measuring differences between regions. Three family doctor offices were chosen with high, medium and low socioeconomic levels in the municipalities of Playa, Marianao and La Lisa, respectively. A total of 210 people were surveyed, 105 of each sex. The variables were identified through a nominal group, with a discriminative factorial analysis used as a quantitative complement. The variables that best express gender differences were: toxic habits, health, use of contraceptives, academic results, time spent in individual study, exercise, sports participation, beliefs about who should do housework and participation in household chores. An indicator was constructed that demonstrated gender-based differences in values for specific territories in relation to the best value (ie most gender equality). Correlation was found between indicator results and characteristics of the regions studied. The highest value on the Gender Equality Index corresponded to the region with the highest socioeconomic level, underscoring the validity of the indicator since, like other international studies, our research affirms the association between living conditions and degree of gender equality.
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