Person: Cabieses, Báltica
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Publication The legal path for priority setting in Chile: a critical analysis to improve health planning and stewardship(2024) Cabieses, Báltica; Espinoza, Manuel; Goic, Carolina; Andrade, AlejandroHealth systems have committed their path to universal health coverage using health planning to accomplish their goals of efficiency, equity and sustainability. Chile, a high-income country with a public-private mix health system, has made significant progress through several successive health policies implemented in the last 20 years which have been consistent with this approach. However, in the last 5 years, the national congress has produced several disease-specific laws, which have been mainly promoted by the civil society. These laws indicate the actions the health authority must perform to tackle the needs of the affected population, which ultimately determine the priorities of the health system. We argue that this legal pattern has become an alternative path to priority-setting, as opposed to health planning. We claim this “legal path” is a mechanism used by civil society in a context where the health authority fails to implement a robust and legitimate prioritization process. Although these laws have brought benefits to patients suffering the corresponding conditions, we highlight this approach does not guarantee improvements in equity, efficiency and health system performance. Instead, we advocate for taking back the control of the priority-setting based on health planning, through a new institutionalization of health technology assessment and quality of carePublication Barriers and facilitators to access sexual and reproductive health services among young migrants in Tarapacá, Chile: a qualitative study(2024) Obach, Alexandra; Blukacz, Alice; Sadler, Michelle; Carreño Calderón, Alejandra; Cabieses, Báltica; Carolina DíazBackground: Chile has become a destination country for immigrants from Latin America, including youth. Guaranteeing access and use of sexual and reproductive health services for young migrants is crucial because of their overlapping experiences of transitioning to a new country and to adulthood. However, the existing evidence shows barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare among young migrant populations. In this context, the main objective of this article is to identify the barriers and facilitators that young migrants experience to access sexual and reproductive healthcare in the Tarapacá region of Chile. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the Tarapacá region of Chile. Semi-structured interviews with 25 young migrants from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador, as well as 10 health workers, were carried out. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Universidad del Desarrollo (#2019-22). Results: Young migrants face barriers linked to structural shortcomings within the healthcare system, which may be similar to those faced by the local population. Barriers are also derived from reductionist sexual and reproductive health approaches, which prioritise the prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV, with a predominantly heteronormative focus. The prevailing narratives from the health system are those of risk and lack of control and self-care among young people, and they are exacerbated in the case of migrants. Young migrants, especially from the Caribbean, are stereotyped as over-sexualised and liberal in comparison to the local population and believed to be engaging in riskier sexual behaviours that should be kept under check. This may translate into experiences of discrimination and mistreatment when receiving care. Facilitators include good-quality information and community-level interventions. Conclusions: This study shows a limited approach to the sexual and reproductive health of young migrants in Chile, severely hampering their reproductive and sexual rights. Policies and initiatives must work towards removing structural barriers, changing narratives, and empowering young migrants regarding their sexual and reproductive health.Publication Intersectionality, racism, and mental health of migrants arriving at borders in Latin America: a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with key informants of the cases of Ecuador and Chile(2025) Rocha-Jiménez, Teresita; Torres, Irene; Cabieses, Báltica; López-Cevallos, Daniel F.; Mercado-Órdenes, MercedesBackground Migration is a social determinant of health, as human mobility is associated with the health outcomes of those who move. Social sciences research on migration and health needs to transition from an individual approach to models that reveal how place, processes of racialization, and structural elements impact immigrant health. We aim to describe, from the key informant's perspective in depth, the case of intersectionality, racism, and gender and related perceived effects on Venezuelan migrants' mental health at two relevant Latin American borders. Methods The present study is a multisite observational cross-sectional qualitative project on two selected borders, the northern borders of Chile (Antofagasta, Iquique, Arica) and Ecuador (Tulcán, Nueva Loja). In-depth semi-structured interviews with key informants were collected in (n = 30) Chile from May to December 2022 and in Ecuador (n = 30) from October to December 2022. 22 participants were men, and 38 were women, and in-depth interviews were analysed using an inductive thematic approach. Findings We found structural axes (i.e., socioeconomic, migration status, gender) of power that intersect in migrants' and refugees’ conditions and experiences in their access to health and mental health care. Interpretation We proposed the notions of intersectionality and racism to deliberately connect complex and dynamic concepts relevant to migrant and refugee health research, such as the racism faced by historically racialized populations based on their phenotypes, social class, and/or nationality and socioeconomic and gender inequalities.Publication Therapeutic trajectories of families with rare diseases in Chile from the perspectives of patients, carers, and healthcare workers: a qualitative study(2025) Cabieses, Báltica; Obach, Alexandra; Roberts, Antonia; Repetto, GabrielaBackground Rare diseases are conditions that have a low prevalence in the population and a high disease burden and are often chronic and progressive. International evidence concerning the experience of people and families living with rare diseases is scarce, leading to late and erroneous diagnoses, as well as non-specific treatments. This study explored the therapeutic trajectories of people and families living with rare diseases within Chile’s public and private healthcare systems from the perspective of patients, caregivers, and medical teams, including the initial symptoms, first consultation, testing, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was conducted through multiple case studies. Sixty participants were interviewed in person and/or virtually: patients (n = 16), caregivers (n = 22), healthcare workers (n = 20), and two patient organisation leaders. The material was analysed using thematic analysis. The project was approved by the Scientific Ethics Committee of Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo. Results After similar initial symptoms and first consultation, three main types of trajectories were identified: (i) the path taken by those who reach a diagnosis for a disease that has specific treatment available; (ii) the journey of those who reach a diagnosis for their health condition, but their disease does not have a specific treatment available; and (iii) the trajectory of those who have not reached a diagnosis and receive symptomatic treatments for symptoms. Conclusions The therapeutic trajectories of patients with rare symptoms are similar in terms of initial symptoms and first consultation. However, their paths diverge at the diagnostic stage, with diverse experiences related to these journeys, largely based on having a diagnosis and whether there is a specific treatment. Rare conditions in Chile requires further attention and urgent action that considers those who live with them and their families.Publication Emergency preparedness and response sensitive of migrant populations in Chile: post-pandemic perspectives(2024) Blukacz, Alice; Cabieses, Báltica; Obach, Alexandra; Carreño Calderón, Alejandra; Mezones, EdwardOn August 31, 2023, the Chilean government ended the health alert for COVID-19. This milestone invites us to reflect on lessons learned in emergency preparedness and response regarding migrant populations in the country. In this context, three perspectives are presented. The first focuses on avoiding pointing to individual responsibility for non-compliance with prevention measures, as this approach ignores structural and historical inequities. Emergency recommendations should be constructed considering a collective approach and diverse sociocultural and political contexts. The second perspective calls for considering and addressing migration as a social determinant of health. During the pandemic, changes in the governance of migration around the world made migration processes more precarious, with risks to the physical and mental health of migrants, which needs better planning and evidence-based decision-making in future pandemics. The third perspective focuses on promoting intercultural health, as effective communication of contagion risks and preventive measures were hampered among migrant populations with diverse worldviews and interpretations of health and disease processes. Responding to the needs of historically marginalized communities requires establishing ways of life that respect diversity in narratives and everyday practices. Governments and health systems must incorporate migration into their emergency preparedness and response strategies, creating the conditions for optimal compliance.Publication Unmet needs and new challenges in young women's sexual and reproductive health and rights: a qualitative study in Chile's Metropolitan Region(2025) Obach, Alexandra; Sadler, Michelle; Robledo, Consuelo; Wright, Ciara; Cabieses, BálticaIn Chile, despite important advances in access to contraception and a steady reduction in unplanned pregnancy, longstanding barriers for young people to access sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights - rooted in a conservative and religious background - have been highlighted by recent socio-political movements, including the feminist student wave of 2018 and the social uprising of 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic further strained access, leading to the suspension of many in-person services. In this context, we conducted a qualitative study between 2020 and 2023 to explore young women's perceptions of sexuality and SRH, their interactions with the formal healthcare system, and the diverse resources they engage with to access support and care. 23 in-depth interviews were carried out with heterosexual and non-heterosexual women aged 18-25 in Chile's Metropolitan Region. The findings reveal a mismatch between young women's holistic understanding of sexuality - which includes emotional, biological, and political dimensions - and the healthcare system's reductionist, heteronormative, and risk-based approach, which became more visible after these societal upheavals. As a result, young women may use biomedical SRH services strategically for prescriptions and testing, while seeking more comprehensive support outside the formal system through virtual platforms, health professionals giving online support, and civil society organisations. The study concludes that systemic changes in the health system are needed to bridge these divides and uphold the sexual and reproductive rights of young women in Chile, especially those who identify as non-heterosexual.Publication Desigualdades en salud en Chile post COVID-19: adscripción y acceso efectivo según sexo y condición migrante(2025) Nuñez, Marilaura; Delgado, Iris; Matute, María Isabel; Cabieses, Báltica; Munoz Venturelli, PaulaIntroducción: En 2022, tras la pandemia de COVID-19, aproximadamente el 93% de los países de la Región de las Américas continuaron reportando interrupciones en los servicios esenciales de salud, con peores resultados en los grupos sociales vulnerables. El presente estudio busca describir las barreras de acceso a la atención médica en Chile, desagregadas por sexo y condición de migrante internacional. Métodos: Estudio transversal que analizó los resultados de la encuesta CASEN 2022 a personas ≥18 años. Se calculó la adscripción, el acceso efectivo y las barreras de salud según la condición de migrante internacional y el sexo. Se realizaron modelos de regresión logística múltiple ajustando por edad, ruralidad, nivel educativo, ocupación y quintil de ingresos. El modelo se expresó como Odds Ratio ajustado (ORadj) con un intervalo de confianza del 95% en STATA v.18.5. Resultados: En Chile, en el año 2022, un total de 14.767.688 personas participaron en este estudio, con una edad media de 45,4 años (DE: 17,8), de las cuales el 51,2% eran mujeres y el 9,27% migrantes. En cuanto al seguro de salud, el 3,11% de la población no estaba afiliada al sistema de salud, siendo los hombres (ORadj: 0,6; IC 95%: 0,54-0,68) y los inmigrantes (ORadj: 10,3; 8,78-12,15) los grupos más afectados. En cuanto al acceso efectivo, el 17,4% tenía necesidades de salud, con predominio del sexo femenino (ORadj: 1,3; IC 95%: 1,21-1,32). Sin embargo, de quienes tenían necesidades y las expresaron, el 39,2% expresó necesidades no satisfechas, con mayor probabilidad de mostrarlo en mujeres (ORadj: 1,2; IC 95%: 1,10-1,27). Conclusiones: En Chile, la cobertura del sistema de salud sigue siendo un desafío para los hombres y la población migrante. Observamos con preocupación los altos porcentajes de necesidades de salud insatisfechas, especialmente entre las mujeres. La intersección del sexo y la migración internacional revela una doble vulnerabilidad en el acceso a la atención médica que justifica un estudio más profundo.Publication Exploring the characteristics of cancer-centred civil society organisations in Chile: A qualitative study(2025) Roberts, Antonia; Vezzani, Francisca; Cabieses, Báltica; Obach, Alexandra; Campaña, Carla; Espinoza, ManuelBackground: In Chile, civil society organisations in health have been historically active in population health and specifically in cancer; they have had an important role in addressing patients' and families' necessities. Although they occupy a central role, there is no clarity about who they are, how they are organised, the goals that guide their performance and how they materialize social participation in health. Based on that, this study aimed to explore the characteristics of civil society organisations that work in cancer in Chile and to identify the networks they build with other actors to achieve their goals. Materials and methods: Qualitative case study using semi-structured online interviews with organisation representatives, politicians, decision-makers and academics related to cancer in Chile. Content analysis was performed, admitting emerging categories from the participants' narratives. Results: Three main profiles of organisations were identified: (i) Long-established organisations focused on influencing public policy and decision-making in cancer, (ii) Growing organisations focused on informing and supporting families and patients, (iii) Newly established organisations focused on patient well-being, such as sports activities. Relationships between groups and other actors involve perceived benefits like the growth of the organisations and funding for activities. However, perceived barriers and inequities are also identified, mainly lack of financial resources, competition between organisations and insufficient information. Discussion: The objectives of civil society organisations in cancer are diverse and reflect multiple ways of practising social participation in health. Tensions generate unequal participation and missed opportunities to promote public health in cancer in Chile. The study highlights the importance of recognising cancer social organisations as essential actors in public health. It is crucial to involve them in formulating and implementing comprehensive responses to maximise the opportunities for progress in this field.Publication Mental health and the healthy immigrant effect in Chile: a comparative cross-sectional study with international migrants and locals(2025) Blukacz, Alice; Oyarte, Marcela; Cabieses, Báltica; Madrid, Paula; Obach, AlexandraIntroduction: The question of whether international migrants appear to be in better health than the locals, and whether this "healthy immigrant effect" declines over time is a highly relevant one, especially with regards to mental health. Based on a community-based survey conducted in Santiago, Chile, this study compares the mental health outcomes of international migrants versus local populations and examines differences within the international migrant group of respondents. Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Data was collected with international migrants and Chilean participants in 2021-2022 through a structured questionnaire. The study examined self-reported stress and mood disorders in relation to demographic, socioeconomic, health, and migration-related factors. Descriptive analyses were conducted for all variables overall and stratified by perceived stress, mood disorders, and migration status. Associations were assessed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, with Cramer's V used to evaluate effect size. Multiple imputation (m = 5) addressed missing data using the mice package in R, followed by generalised logistic regression models fitted across imputed datasets and combined using Rubin's rules; stepwise selection based on AIC was used for variable reduction, and models were run for the full sample and separately for the migrant population. Results: The sample included 1,656 international migrants and 1,664 locals. Being a migrant was negatively associated with reporting stress and mood disorders in all analyses. Among migrants, the main risk factors for stress were perceiving a high number of migrants in the neighbourhood and having experienced abuse as a migrant and for mood disorders the main risk factor was reporting having experienced abuse as a migrant as well as a longer stay in Chile. Discussion: We found a healthy immigrant effect for mental health among international migrants in Chile, which declined over time in the case of mood disorders. Chilean participants reported very high levels of mental health issues, consistent with existing studies. However, results for international migrants highlight both risk and protective factors linked to migration processes, which are unique to them, warranting a specific approach to their mental health needs.