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The report collects the average daily correctional population broken down by region, institution and levels of custody. In addition, it is grouped into summary and sentenced; female and young adults (16 to 21 years old).
Collection of quantifiable data on the services offered to injured and employers, and which are included in the forms established by the Planning Office, which include the operational activities carried out in the areas of Insurance and Finance, Claims and Compensation and Medical Services in dispensaries and Industrial Hospital.
It presents retail gasoline sales prices, as reported by each gasoline wholesaler, in compliance with Price Regulation No. 45 and Order 2004-005 of the Department of Consumer Affairs. The prices are broken down by type of gasoline: regular, premium and diesel.
It contains the Puerto Rico Manufacturing - Purchasing Managers' Index (PRM-PMI) and its component indices: New Orders, Production, Employment, Supplier Deliveries, Inventories. In addition, it includes indices on customer Inventories, Prices paid for company inputs, the Reserve of uncompleted orders, and new Orders for export. These indices are derived from information collected electronically from the largest manufacturing companies in Puerto Rico. The estimate is based on a dissemination index methodology, similar to that used in other countries and other states of the United States for similar indices. This Survey is the result of a collaboration with the Puerto Rico Industrial Association.
These indicators provide the total production and sales of cement in Puerto Rico. These totals are measured in 94 lb bags.
The Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Service Office (PRITS) will prepare a quarterly report, which must be filed both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate of Puerto Rico, in which it will disclose the results of its efforts and investigations, which will be published on the main pages of PRITS and the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute. PRITS must adopt policies and standards regarding the content and format of these reports.
Puerto Rico employment and unemployment statistics, which come from the Worker Group Survey of the Department of Labor and Human Resources; and the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Current Employment Statistics. It includes the labor force, the unemployment rate, and wage employment by industrial sector.
It has a brief introduction to the program that produces the information and an analytical summary of the data contained in the publication.
It presents statistics on travelers and visitors to Puerto Rico, including the expenditure made in Puerto Rico, age, sex, education, purpose of the trip, and others. This information comes from the Traveler's Survey, which is carried out on travelers at airports and tourist piers.
After the Decennial Census, the Population Estimates Program of the U.S. Census Bureau You produce population estimates every year of the decade for the United States, its states, its counties, cities and towns, as well as for Puerto Rico and its municipalities. In addition, the demographic components of population change (births, deaths and migration) are also published by age group and sex
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol collect data for all commercial shipments of goods between the United States (including Puerto Rico) and foreign countries. In addition, data is collected for all commercial shipments of goods between Puerto Rico and the United States (including to the U.S. Virgin Islands). The U.S. Census Bureau uses this information for statistical purposes. For these purposes, it prepares detailed statistics on the foreign trade of goods in the economy of the United States and Puerto Rico, which it puts up for sale. The Government of Puerto Rico, through the Institute of Statistics, obtains this information, and based on this information it prepares a file with all the data on Puerto Rico's exports, and another with the imports. This is made available to the public free of charge, through a variety of means, including summary tables and a web interface to tabulate data as required by the user. Finally, through its open data platform, the Institute makes these databases available to all users. In some cases, the data has been available since 2002, and a project is currently under way to extend the database to 1992. For previous posts, visit: Selected Foreign Trade Statistics of the Planning Board.
Explanatory note: Every year, the census reviews data for the last 3 years and is published in the month of July. For example, in July 2022, revised data for 2019, 2020 and 2021 were released.
Describe the population of eligible and insured beneficiaries of the Government Health Plan (MI Salud). It is distributed by regions and municipalities of Puerto Rico and gender.
It includes a monthly report and a tabulated database in total and by agency of the following variables:
The statistics presented in this report come from the Register of Occupied Positions and Related Information, created under Act No. 103-2006, known as the Puerto Rico Government Tax Reform Act of 2006. Every government entity is required to certify this information to the Comptroller's Office on a monthly basis. In those cases where the entity has not fulfilled its duty to certify its figures in a timely manner, the Statistics Institute makes a simple statistical attribution to the missing data to complete the statistics. Specifically, for positions held and for people reported to the State Insurance Fund, the last figure reported by the government entity is used. As of the seventh month without reporting, the figures are not counted and these agencies are identified in table 4 of the report. All figures are preliminary and are subject to revision.
In the Caribbean, cancer accounts for one-fifth of all deaths and its incidence is increasing [1]. People diagnosed with cancer in this region face unique challenges in prevention and control efforts [2]. Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States (USA). In the Caribbean Sea, it has a history of environmental and social neglect and a disproportionate impact of extreme weather events driven by climate change [3]. It is home to nearly 3.2 million Hispanics/Latinos [4]. From 2000 to 2022, 320,076 cases of cancer were diagnosed: in men, the age-adjusted incidence rate increased from 348.3 to 377.6 per 100,000; in women, from 252.9 to 314.5 per 100,000 [5]. Although overall cancer mortality in Puerto Rico decreased from 2016 to 2020, its incidence has increased annually [6].
Among women, significant increases were observed in the incidence of breast cancer (Annual Percentage Change [APC] = 1.7%), body and uterus (APC = 4.6%), thyroid (APC = 9.0%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (APC = 2.1%), pancreas (APC = 3.1%), leukemia (APC = 2.7%) and ovary (APC = 0.8%). Among men, significant increases were seen in prostate (CPA = 1.7%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (CPA = 1.8%), liver and bile ducts (CPA = 1.9%), kidney and renal pelvis (CPA = 4.3%), leukemia (CPA = 2.2%) and pancreas (CPA = 2.2%). Municipalities in the southern, northern and central regions of Puerto Rico have the highest cancer incidence rates [6].
Although cancer risk is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, environment, medical history, and lifestyle [7], previous studies have highlighted a disproportionate burden of environmental pollution on black and Hispanic/Latino populations [8—12]. Therefore, identifying environmental risk factors in Puerto Rico is a public health priority, as they have been associated with genitourinary, digestive, gastrointestinal, gynecological, hematological/blood and breast cancers.
Aedes aegypti is the primary urban vector for several important arboviruses, including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika viruses. Traditional dengue virus (DENV) surveillance relies on passive reporting of human cases, which often underestimates trans mission due to asymptomatic or unreported infections. This study evaluated the utility of monitoring DENV in Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to improve detection of local dengue trans mission and inform vector control strategies during the 2024 dengue epidemic in Puerto Rico. Mosquito surveillance was conducted in 15 neighborhoods within the San Juan metropolitan area where confirmed dengue cases had been recently reported. Adult female Ae. aegypti were collected weekly using Autocidal Gravid Ovitraps (AGO traps) placed within a 200 m radius of index cases. Pools of 1—20 mosquitoes were tested for DENV RNA and serotype using RT-PCR. Surveillance continued for up to 91 days in study areas, depending on virus detection. A total of 29,354 female Ae. aegypti were collected, of which 29,211 females were pooled (1—20 specimens per pool) into 3878 pools and analyzed. DENV was detected in 49 pools across 11 neighborhoods, with serotypes DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3 identified. Multiple serotypes were sometimes detected in mosquitoes from the same neighborhood. Minimum infection rates and vector indices were higher during the epidemic than in previous inter-epidemic periods, and mosquito densities exceeded thresh olds considered protective against outbreaks. Entomo-virological surveillance detected a greater variety and evenness of serotypes than passive human surveillance. These findings suggest that entomo-virological surveillance can complement passive case surveillance, providing a more comprehensive detection of DENV circulation. Integrating mosquito-based and human surveillance can improve outbreak detection, guide vector control, and aid in reducing dengue burden in affected communities.
Health professionals faced a challenge with the onset and rapid spread of COVID-19. Initial studies that evaluated the psychological impact of COVID-19 on the general population identified high levels of anxiety and sleep disorders. The main objective of this project was to analyze the psychological impact of COVID-19 on doctors in Puerto Rico. An anonymous and electronic cross-sectional study aimed at doctors in Puerto Rico was conducted between February and April 2021. The electronic survey included sociodemographic data and four self-assessment tools (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Perceived Stress Scale-10, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and COVID-19 Organizational Support) to measure anxiety, perceived stress, sleep disturbances and organizational support during the pandemic. A total of 145 doctors completed the survey, with women predominating at 53.5%, and the majority practiced in the metropolitan area of San Juan (50.3%). 26.9% reported mild anxiety symptoms, while 33.8% had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms. Moderate to high perceived stress was detected in 69.9% of the participants, with women reporting significantly higher levels of anxiety (8.84 ± 5.99; p = 0.037) and stress (19.0 ± 6.94, p = 0.001). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index revealed that 67.9% of doctors had overall scores that corresponded to poor sleep quality. The evaluation of perceived organizational support reflected a high perception of work support (65.7%), but a low perception of personal support (43.4%) and risk support (30.3%). The correlation analysis showed a negative relationship for work and personal support, but a positive relationship for risk support, all of which were statistically significant. COVID-19 has left a lasting psychological imprint on health professionals in Puerto Rico, one year after the start of the pandemic. Our data support the importance of organizational support and its link to the development of anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to implement strategies to identify those who are at risk of suffering from psychological disorders and to provide effective support to medical professionals during health emergencies, ensuring their well-being and optimal care for patients.
Islands are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events and food insecurity, and face additional challenges due to their limited land areas and economies, their isolation, colonial legacies and high dependence on food imports. Local farmers play a crucial role in producing food for island communities such as Puerto Rico, which can guarantee food security when importing becomes difficult. However, in disaster settings, farmers themselves may be affected by food insecurity and unable to supply domestic markets. This study examines the food security of Puerto Rican farmers' homes after Hurricane Maria in 2017, from a socio-ecological perspective. Data from a survey applied to 405 farmers eight months after the hurricane hit were analyzed, together with biophysical data related to its impacts (winds, rains and landslides). Overall, 69% of farmers experienced at least one month of food insecurity after Maria, and 38% reported persistent insecurity (three months or more). A multinomial logistic regression model suggests that biophysical impacts, but especially social factors such as age and restricted access to external sources of support, are linked to persistent food insecurity. This indicates that the biophysical effects of the hurricane interact with existing infrastructure and social resources, affecting farmers' vulnerability and the food environment in different ways. Therefore, strengthening adaptive capacity in various areas can help farmers and vulnerable populations to better face disruptions caused by disasters and mitigate food insecurity.
The incidence of skin cancer has been increasing among Hispanics in the United States, who are often diagnosed with larger lesions and in more advanced stages of the disease. Adopting behaviors that reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lower the risk of developing skin cancer. In this study, we describe skin cancer prevention behaviors and psychosocial variables in Hispanic participants recruited for a skin cancer prevention trial. Self-reported Hispanic participants were selected from eight primary care clinics in Tampa, Florida, and Ponce, Puerto Rico, who were part of a randomized controlled trial. Data were collected on demographics, sun-related behaviors, and psychosocial variables before providing intervention materials. To compare initial psychosocial behaviors and variables between groups defined by geographical location and language preference, multivariate regression models were used. Participants reported low levels of intentional outdoor tanning, as well as exposure to the sun on weekdays and weekends, and virtually zero levels of indoor tanning. However, only a minority frequently or always practiced sun protection behaviors, and approximately 30% had suffered sunburn in the last year. There were low levels of recent concern and distress about skin cancer, modest levels of risk perception and severity, and high levels of response efficacy and self-efficacy. When comparing groups by location and language preference, Tampa residents who prefer English (hereinafter referred to as Tampeños) had the highest proportion of sunburns (35.9%) and tended to show riskier behaviors, although they also adopted more protective behaviors than Spanish-speaking Tampeños or Puerto Ricans. Spanish-speaking Puerto Ricans expressed greater recent concern about skin cancer, greater comparative risk perception, and greater response efficiency compared to Anglophone or Spanish-speaking Tampeños. Tampeños with a Spanish linguistic preference exhibited the highest levels of familism and recent concern for skin cancer. Our results reflect previous findings about the low adoption of sun protection behaviors among Hispanics in the United States, which highlights the need for culturally appropriate and translated awareness campaigns for this population group. Since Hispanics in Tampa and Puerto Rico reported moderate levels of perception about risk and severity, as well as high levels of response efficacy and self-efficacy, interventions based on the Motivation for Protection Theory could be especially effective in promoting skin cancer prevention in this population subgroup.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted all areas of society. The socio-emotional effects of isolation, financial instability, and educational and employment uncertainty are expected to impact the mental health of parents and children, a phenomenon not yet explored in the Puerto Rican context. To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on families in Puerto Rico, we used a correlational and cross-sectional research design that addressed the following aspects: (a) Adverse experiences (EA) related to the pandemic reported by parents; (b) Parental stress; (c) Parental psychopathology; (d) Children's mental health. Our hypothesis stated that AEs exert direct and indirect effects on children's mental health, mediated by mental health and parental stress. One hundred and thirty-five parents with children between 4 and 18 years old completed an anonymous online survey between March and May 2022. The results reveal that AEDs linked to COVID-19 have significant direct and indirect effects on children's mental health, mediated by parental stress and psychopathology. Moderate to large effect sizes were observed in associations between childhood mental health and AD, mediated by parental stress and psychopathology. Children's mental health symptoms intensify as parental stress and psychopathology increase in the context of COVID-19 related ADs.
Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, faces numerous challenges that negatively affect public health, including poverty, a fragile health system, insufficient infrastructure, a debt crisis and vulnerability to natural disasters linked to climate change. The impact of these factors on the measure of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRVC) has not been comprehensively evaluated. Only two studies have addressed CVRS, the most recent being in 2011, prior to recent events that could influence public health. The present study aimed to evaluate CVRS and associated sociodemographic and health risk factors in adults living in Puerto Rico in 2019. Prevalences and 95% confidence intervals were used to describe CVRS and its relationship with sociodemographic and health variables in adults who answered the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey (n = 4,944) that year. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to identify the variables most associated with each of the four central CVRS questions (CVRS-4), expressed as odds of prevalence ratios adjusted for possible confounding factors. Through an exhaustive multivariable analysis, we identified significant risk factors: an increase in the number of chronic conditions, older age and low income, all associated with poor health-related quality of life in Puerto Rican adults. In particular, our findings indicate that people with a greater number of chronic conditions are more likely to report poor quality of life in all four dimensions evaluated. For each additional chronic condition, the chances of reporting: regular or poor general health increased 2.24 times (POR: 2.24, 95% CI: 2.08—2.41), physical impairment 1.93 times (POR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.78—2.08), mental deterioration 1.90 times (POR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.78—2.02) and limitation in activities 1.27 times (POR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.13—1.42). Aging was associated with all domains of poor CVRS, except in the mental health setting, where was higher among the young population (POR: 4.76, 95% CI: 2.4—9.1). This study reveals that the prevalence of poor CVRS has not improved compared to the only previous study conducted in the last decade in Puerto Rico. We also show that poor CVRS is related to the coexistence of multiple chronic conditions in adults in Puerto Rico, possibly a consequence of the deterioration of health services following natural disasters and the island's socioeconomic crisis. The research highlights the need for focused interventions and continuous monitoring of population CVRS to address vulnerable subgroups, especially those with chronic diseases, the elderly and low income, in order to reduce health inequalities in Puerto Rico.
Water quality regulations involve a significant commitment of resources by both governments and private entities. It is essential to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of these regulations to ensure that they meet the expected impact. In this study, nutrient data were analyzed as indicators of primary productivity, together with dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and pH as response variables, to evaluate historical trends in water quality in 55 stations in Puerto Rico. The stations were categorized as affected and unaffected according to their historical average concentration of total phosphorus (TF). The average concentrations of FT and total nitrogen (NT) were significantly higher in the affected seasons compared to the unaffected ones. In contrast, the average DO concentrations and the average pH values were significantly lower in the affected seasons. A generalized additive model with mixed effects was used to analyze temporal trends. In the affected seasons, a significant decrease in FT and NT concentrations was observed over time, accompanied by significant increases in DO and pH concentrations. The unaffected stations showed a marginal and statistically insignificant downward trend. The notable nutrient reductions observed in the affected seasons appear to be related to the closure of several major wastewater treatment plants (PTAR) on the island. The conversion of abandoned agricultural land into secondary forests over the past few decades has caused small but significant decreases in NT (not FT) in receiving streams. We conclude that the Clean Water Act has promoted improvements in water quality in Puerto Rico by promoting the modernization of health infrastructure and the regulation of specific sources of pollution.
To describe asthma control and environmental exposures at home among asthmatic adults and children in Puerto Rico, a cross-sectional analysis was performed using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Asthma Monitoring Survey from 2014 to 2016, which included 931 adults and 177 children with active asthma in Puerto Rico. These data were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma in Puerto Rico and to explore possible associations with domestic exposure to cockroaches, smoke and mold. Asthma control was classified according to day and night symptoms, activity limitation, and use of short-acting beta agonists. Prevalences and prevalence ratios adjusted for sample weighting were calculated. It was estimated that 53% of adults and 29% of children with asthma in Puerto Rico have uncontrolled asthma. Among asthmatic adults, in the last 30 days, 29% experienced mold and 50% saw cockroaches in the home; in addition, in the previous week, 12% reported the presence of tobacco smoke in their home. Adults with uncontrolled asthma were 1.4 times more likely to have observed mold in their homes compared to those with controlled asthma, adjusting for age, sex, education, and income (prevalence ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.4 [1.1, 1.8]). Similarly, children with uncontrolled asthma were more likely to be exposed to mold at home compared to children with controlled asthma (adjusted PR [95% CI]: 3.0 [1.3, 7.1]). Uncontrolled asthma is common in adults and children with asthma in Puerto Rico. These findings suggest possible differences in household exposure to mold depending on asthma control status.
The impact of consecutive natural events on educational outcomes was analyzed using the case study of Puerto Rico. It explains how interruptions in school service linked to Hurricane Maria and the earthquake sequence of 2020 affected academic performance, especially in vulnerable populations. The data comes from a variety of databases and includes individual student information. Empirical analyses include the difference in differences (DD) method, the Heckman—Copula estimate, Propensity Score Pairing, Cox and Weibull duration regressions, and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. Our findings suggest that students in severely affected areas, or whose school was permanently closed after the hurricane, are more likely to decrease their academic performance and, in certain cases, to drop out of school after the disaster. It concludes with public policy recommendations to strengthen the capacity to respond to school interruptions caused by hurricanes, floods or earthquakes.
Like many island communities with limited resources, most municipalities in Puerto Rico lack adequate medical services. However, there is little information on variations in hospital capacity and regional disparities in the availability of hospital services in Puerto Rico, especially after the multiple public health emergencies that the island has faced in recent years (for example, hurricanes, earthquakes and COVID-19). This study describes trends in hospital capacity and utilization in Puerto Rico and its health regions from 2010 to 2020. We analyzed the Area Health Resources Archive (AHRF) 2021—22 and grouped the data according to seven health regions, which correspond to clusters of municipalities defined by the Puerto Rico Department of Health. The ten-year estimates of hospital utilization were adjusted according to the population size of each region. During the last five years, there have been decreases in the number of hospitals, hospital beds and surgeries, which represents a change compared to the previous five years. Over the course of the decade analyzed, population-adjusted measures of hospital utilization in Puerto Rico decreased, despite multiple catastrophes that, theoretically, would have increased the need for health services. We also detected variations in hospital capacity and utilization between health regions, indicating that the exchange rate was not uniform across the island. The capacity of the Puerto Rican hospital system has shrunk over the past decade, which could make it difficult to respond to new recurrent health emergencies, especially in specific regions.
Caesarean section is a major surgical intervention that involves high costs and adverse outcomes, such as surgical complications, compared to vaginal delivery (1—3). The C-section rate in Puerto Rico increased from just over 30% in the early and mid-1990s to more than 40% in the early 2000s (4.5). During this period, C-section rates in Puerto Rico were between 40% and 70% higher than those in the continental United States and up to 78% higher than those reported in Hispanic women from the same territory (4.5). This report describes trends in the C-section rate in Puerto Rico from 2010 to 2022 and analyzes changes by maternal age, gestational age and municipality between 2018 and 2022.
In 2021, approximately 75,000 people died from violence-related injuries in the United States. This report summarizes data from the CDC's National Violent Death Information System (NVDRS), corresponding to violent deaths that occurred in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico during 2021. The results are broken down by sex, age group, race and ethnicity, method of injury, type of place where the injury occurred, circumstances of the event and other selected characteristics. This report incorporates new variables on incidents and circumstances, including specific information on child victims. In addition, it adopts the revised race and ethnicity categories from the U.S. Census. Department of State, which are now considering the possibility of identifying people of more than one race, as well as the categories of native Hawaiian islanders or other Pacific Islanders, using updated denominators for calculating rates in these populations. The NVDRS collects information on violent deaths from death certificates, records from forensics and medical examiners, and reports from law enforcement agencies. The data presented here correspond to violent deaths that occurred in 2021. Information was included from 48 states (excluding Florida and Hawaii), the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Forty-six states provided full statewide data, while two states provided partial data for certain localities (31 California counties, representing 64% of its population, and 13 Texas counties, comprising 63% of its population). In addition, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico reported data corresponding to their respective jurisdictions. NVDRS integrates information on each violent death and links those related deaths (for example, multiple homicides, homicide followed by suicide, or multiple suicides) into a single incident. In 2021, NVDRS collected information on 68,866 fatal incidents involving 70,688 deaths that occurred in 48 states (46 with full coverage, 31 counties in California and 13 in Texas) and the District of Columbia. The deaths recorded in NVDRS represented 86.5% of all homicides, deaths due to legal intervention, suicides, accidental firearm injuries, and deaths of undetermined purpose in the United States during that year. Additionally, information was collected on 816 fatal incidents with 880 deaths in Puerto Rico, whose data were analyzed separately. Of the 70,688 deaths reported, the majority (58.2%) were suicides, followed by homicides (31.5%), deaths of undetermined intent that could be attributed to violence (8.2%), deaths due to legal intervention (1.3%) —that is, deaths caused by law enforcement officers or other persons legally authorized to use lethal force in the exercise of their functions, excluding legal executions— and finally, accidental deaths caused by firearms that accounted for less than 1.0%. The term “legal intervention” is a classification included in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, and does not imply the lawfulness or legality of the circumstances in which a law enforcement officer caused death.
Cardiometabolic diseases are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide and are increasing in prevalence in rapidly aging populations. The socioeconomic position (PSE) of the neighborhood and the composition of the household have become increasingly important as determinants of cardiometabolic health, although their analysis in Puerto Rico has been scarce. This study explored the association between neighborhood PSE, forms of living together and the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions in older adults living on the island, using longitudinal data from the Puerto Rican Elderly Health Conditions Project (Oleadas I 2002/03 and II 2006/07), linked to census information from 2000 at the neighborhood level. The sample included non-institutionalized adults aged 60 years or older who stayed in the same residence during both periods (N = 2,769). Multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were applied to analyze the relationship between neighborhood PSE and the prevalence and incidence of cardiometabolic diseases. The results indicate that living in a socioeconomically favored neighborhood was positively associated with the presence of at least one cardiometabolic condition at the beginning, but not with the incidence of such conditions during follow-up. Living without a partner was negatively associated with the presence of cardiometabolic diseases compared to living accompanied by a partner. Similar findings were observed regarding the incidence of these conditions. The composition of the household significantly modified the relationship between neighborhood PSE and cardiometabolic health. In contrast to living with a partner, residing only in a socioeconomically privileged neighborhood was associated with a lower risk of reporting a condition. In addition, living with children in a favorable socioeconomic environment correlated with a reduced risk of developing a cardiometabolic condition compared to living with a partner. The structure of the household proves to be a more determining factor for cardiometabolic health than the socioeconomic position of the neighborhood. It is imperative to design social programs and services that consider family composition to identify Puerto Rican older adults at potential risk of underdiagnosed chronic conditions, especially in the face of economic, demographic, environmental and health crises that threaten to aggravate social inequalities.
Although the Hispanic population is growing rapidly, Latino students earn fewer degrees in STEM than their peers. Therefore, it is essential to implement strategies that increase retention and graduation rates in STEM for Hispanic students. There is little research on how collaborative multi-campus CUREs combined with additional academic support influence on low-income Hispanic students, and none that focuses exclusively on Puerto Rican students in STEM. Puerto Rico (PR), with a 99% Hispanic population, must be included in the educational research literature. This study examined the impact of the Research for Improved Student Experiences (RISE) program on STEM on two campuses of the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. The program incorporated collaborative multi-campus CUREs, academic advising and peer tutoring, using a quasi-experimental design. The evaluation included psychosocial metrics such as self-efficacy, scientific identity and sense of belonging in a pre/post test design. These findings were triangulated with the differences between the experimental group and the control in retention, approval rate, and grades. The results revealed statistically significant improvements in all metrics. The findings of this study support the effectiveness of collaborative multi-campus CUREs, academic counseling, and peer-to-peer tutoring as valuable strategies for improving outcomes for low-income Hispanic students in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico (PR) is a territory of the United States (USA). Department of State) with a history marked by colonial violence, poverty and government corruption. As a result of these sociopolitical factors and natural disasters (for example, hurricanes and earthquakes), there has been a significant increase in the migration of residents of PR to the continental United States. Local media and professional health organizations focus their attention on the impact that this medical migration has on the health system in PR, such as the shortage of healthcare personnel and the long waiting times for critical care. According to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of PR, between 365 and 500 doctors have been migrating annually since 2014, a situation that represents a crisis in access to health services. However, there are few studies that address strategies to mitigate this medical migration to the American mainland. This article presents the recommendations provided by Puerto Rican doctors (PRPs), both migrants and non-migrants, to counteract such migration. It is based on qualitative data from an NIH-funded mixed-methods study (1R01MD014188) that explores the factors that motivate or deter migration between migrant (n = 26) and non-migrant (n = 24) PRPs. The interviews were analyzed according to the guidelines of the thematic analysis. The results highlight the following thematic lines: 1) strategies for retaining early-stage resident doctors who remain in PR; 2) recommendations addressed to the local government regarding future health policies; and 3) initiatives in the work environment of health institutions to mitigate medical migration. The findings suggest the need for multisectoral efforts to curb medical migration in PR.
This study examined how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to food insecurity in Puerto Rican households with children with disabilities, compared to households with children without disabilities.
Background Craniomaxillofacial trauma (CMF) represents a significant problem in the United States, with estimated costs amounting to nearly one billion dollars annually. Facial fractures occur based on factors such as facial structure, the direction and intensity of the impact, and the mechanism of injury. The most common facial fractures include the nose, the orbits, the zygomatic complex, the mandible, the maxilla, and the frontal bone. In addition, demographic, social, cultural and environmental factors can influence specific trauma mechanisms, such as falls and traffic accidents, generating different rates of CMF injuries among populations. In general, CMF trauma carries a significant potential for morbidity and mortality. This study aims to provide the first approximation of the prevalence of CMF trauma in Puerto Rico. MethodsThis retrospective study includes patients aged 0 to 100 years who presented CMF trauma between 2018 and 2022 in the only trauma center in Puerto Rico. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including the mechanism of injury, affected craniofacial structures, treatment and outcomes. Data frequencies were documented and statistical analysis was performed using one-factor ANOVA and T-tests. Results 1,102 patients with CMF lesions were included, of whom 83.1% were men and 16.4% women, with a mean age of 40.67 years. The most common mechanisms were non-automobile traffic accidents (23.6%), motor vehicle accidents (22.9%), hits (18.4%), falls (15.9%) and firearm injuries (10.4%). 32.7% of patients had cranial fractures in the following regions: temporal (16.2%), frontal (10.6%), parietal (7.8%) and occipital (5.3%). Facial fractures affected 70% of patients, distributed in: middle face, including maxilla, nose, zygoma and orbits (61.8%); lower side, including mandible (17.7%); and upper side, including frontal bone (9%). Approximately 19.8% of patients with CMF fractures required surgical management. The mortality rate was 11.8%. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) were significantly worse in patients with cranial (p < 0.001) and/or facial (p < 0.001) fractures compared to those who suffered CMF trauma without fractures. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize CMF trauma in Puerto Rico. The majority of affected patients were adult men. Common etiologies of injury align with those reported in the literature, including traffic accidents, falls, and firearm injuries. Facial fractures were more prevalent than cranial fractures in our cohort. Patients with highly serious injuries were more likely to be operated surgically. By establishing the epidemiological landscape of CMF trauma in Puerto Rico, public and clinical health efforts can be implemented to improve patient outcomes.
Understanding the interactions between viruses is crucial for evaluating the transmission and severity of diseases. Positive interactions indicate simultaneous circulation, while negative interactions reflect a reduction in the transmission of one virus when another is predominant. This study analyzes the relationships between seven respiratory viruses using a Bayesian approach that considers seasonality and long-term trends.
This is a descriptive study that uses data from health service claims for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) from public and private insurers operating in Puerto Rico during 2013, with the objective of estimating the prevalence of comorbidities in this population. Descriptive analyses were performed according to sociodemographic variables and type of service, using frequencies and percentages for categorical data, and averages (+/- DE) or medians (RIC) for continuous variables. Chi-square, Fisher's exact or independent sample t-tests were used for comparisons. A total of 3,100,636 complaints were identified for 485,866 adult patients with T2DM. 48% of the studied population was over 65 years old. The majority were women (57%) and had private insurance (77%). The Metropolitan Area (17%) and Caguas (16%) regions reported the highest number of people with T2DM. The estimated global prevalence of T2DM was 17.4%. The number of complaints per patient ranged from 1 to 339, with an average of 6.3 claims (DE±9.99) and a median of 3 (Q1 1 - Q3 8). Of the total number of complaints, the majority (74%) were related to the diagnosis of diabetes (59%) and related to outpatient services (88%). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (48%), hyperlipidemia (41%), neuropathy (21%), kidney disease (15%) and retinopathy (13%). There was evidence of a high prevalence and co-prevalence of comorbidities, as well as an intense use of health services, especially in older adults with T2DM. Since most comorbidities are the consequence of conditions associated with diabetes, this analysis highlights the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management to avoid preventable burdens for both the patient and the healthcare system.
The purpose of this study is to provide knowledge about the use of nursing homes in the post-acute phase and quality indicators among Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico, compared to the continental United States (USA). UU.). Medicare data from 2015 to 2017 were used to identify new registrations to skilled nursing (SNF) facilities using the Minimum Data Set and the analysis of Medicare providers and reviews. **Context and participants: ** post-acute care patients admitted to SNF in Puerto Rico and the United States UU. Our final cohort included 4,732,222 Medicare beneficiaries under traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage programs, admitted to an SNF (N=15,197) after an acute hospitalization. Demographic, clinical, and facility-level characteristics were compared between patients in Puerto Rico and the United States. UU. In addition, two quality indicators were described: a) 30-day hospital readmission rates; and b) successful discharge from the center to the community. Medicare patients in Puerto Rico showed better physical and cognitive conditions than patients in the United States. UU. However, Puerto Ricans were more likely to be admitted to lower-quality housing than their U.S. counterparts (2.5 vs. 3.4). Finally, the rate of successful discharges to the community was higher in Puerto Rico (17.6, 95% CI 13.0 - 22.3), although they also had higher rates of hospital readmission after 30 days compared to patients in the United States. UU. (11.2, 95% CI, 6.2 — 16.3). These differences were maintained when comparing Puerto Ricans with only Hispanics in the United States. UU. SNFs both in the U.S. The U.S. and Puerto Rico now face financial penalties for high readmission rates. Currently, Medicare does not measure readmission rates for patients under Medicare Advantage, despite the fact that in some states, including Puerto Rico, there is a high proportion of beneficiaries in this program. Given the continued increase in enrollment in Medicare Advantage, our results highlight the importance of evaluating the performance of these patients and analyzing the disparities in the quality of post-acute care between Puerto Rico and the United States. UU. Medicare beneficiaries in Puerto Rico were admitted to lower-quality skilled nursing homes and had 30-day readmission rates that were more than eight percentage points higher than patients in the continental United States.
The combined effects of decreased fertility and increased longevity have accelerated population aging in various regions of the world. Unlike other countries, Puerto Rico faces unprecedented levels of working-age migration. The full impact of this high migration on Puerto Rican demographics is not yet fully understood. Contextualizing Puerto Rico's aging process at the international level is useful for identifying the role that migration plays in accelerating the aging of its society. Using estimates from the World Population Prospects 2019, we compared the accelerated aging pattern observed in Puerto Rico with the trajectories of six countries with the largest population of people over 65 in the world, Europe and the Caribbean, from 1960 to 2020. Until 2010, the aging process in Puerto Rico was comparable to that of these countries. However, after 2010, the percentage of the population over 65 in Puerto Rico nearly doubled, from 11% to 21%. This marked increase is not observed in any of the countries compared. We conclude that the rapid aging of Puerto Rico, which evolves from a linear to an exponential trend, is due to increasing levels of migration, mainly concentrated in the working-age population.
A study was conducted to evaluate mental health status and access to essential resources in a sample of teachers affected by earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic in southwestern Puerto Rico.
Our objective was to determine the relationship between socioeconomic and psychological factors and comprehensive cardiovascular health (CVH), defined according to Life's Essential 8 (LE8) of the American Heart Association, in young adults in Puerto Rico. 2,156 young people between 18 and 29 years of age enrolled in the PR-OUTLOOK study participated. The analysis included survey data, laboratory tests and physical measurements collected between September 2020 and November 2023. The socioeconomic indicators evaluated included food insecurity, housing instability, economic insecurity and the subjective perception of social status. The psychological factors analyzed included symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and general perceived stress. The LE8 scores were calculated and classified as suboptimal CVH (poor/intermediate range) versus ideal. Using logistic regression models, the associations between each socioeconomic and psychological factor and suboptimal CVH were estimated; in addition, a dominance analysis determined the relative relevance of each variable. The average age of the participants was 22.6 years (SD = 3.1), 60.9% were women, approximately one third (34.2%) had secondary education or lower, and more than a third had public insurance or no health insurance (38.4%). Those who reported socioeconomic adversities (high food insecurity, housing instability, economic insecurity, and low subjective perception of social status) and high psychological symptoms (anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and perceived stress) had lower CVH scores. However, in the adjusted analysis, only low subjective perception of social status (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.13—1.69), as well as high anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.25—2.13) and depression (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03—1.65) were highlighted as the main contributors to suboptimal versus ideal CVH. Conclusion: Initiatives to preserve and improve cardiovascular health in Puerto Rican youth should focus on these factors.
Examine how intergenerational support varies according to parents' living conditions and whether there are gender differences in the support received in Puerto Rico. The data come from the Puerto Rico Health Conditions and Older Persons Project 2006-2007, a longitudinal study representative of adults aged 60 and over in Puerto Rico (n = 2,288). The association between the parents' type of living together (living alone, with a spouse/partner only, with children) and the receipt of functional support (help with errands, housework and transportation) and health (assistance during illness) by children, as well as the moderation exercised by the parents' gender in this relationship, was evaluated. Intergenerational co-residence was associated with greater chances of receiving functional and health support compared to those living alone. Women were more likely than men to receive both types of support. The gender of parents significantly moderated the relationship between living together and receiving health support: men who lived with their partners were less likely to receive healthcare from their children than women in similar situations. These associations were maintained by restricting the analysis to people with disabilities. Our findings indicate that parents' reception of support from children depends both on their living condition and on their gender, even when their functional health is compromised. These results are discussed based on the heterogeneous influence of living conditions on the support needs of older adults, and suggestions are offered for public policies and future research in the context of accelerated aging in Puerto Rico.
Although the overall incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been steadily decreasing in the United States, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of CRC cases among individuals younger than 50 years of age (early-onset CRC). CRC is the second and leading cause of cancer death in the United States and among Hispanic men and women living in Puerto Rico (PRH), respectively. We report the incidence rates of CRC from 2000 to 2021 among PRHs and compare them with data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and Final Results (SEER) Program.
This study aimed to describe the development of the Therapist's Perceived Knowledge Scale on Gender Identity Diversity and to preliminary validate this scale by describing its psychometric properties. This research instrument was built based on existing literature and recommendations for instrument development. Initially, a 36-item scale was designed to assess openness and perceived knowledge about gender identity diversity in therapy. The content validation process involved 12 expert judges, leading to a refined 25-item scale. 57 Puerto Rican trans and non-binary people participated and completed the scale. The exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-dimensional structure, supporting a single factor called “perceived knowledge about gender identity diversity in therapy.” The final scale demonstrated excellent reliability (α = 0.978; Sα = 0.980; Ω = 0.979), indicating a strong internal consistency. This validated scale mainly helps to evaluate the perceptions of trans and non-binary Hispanic people about the knowledge that their therapists have about the diversity of gender identity.
To evaluate the impact of hurricanes Irma and María on the incidence of diabetes in Puerto Rico. Mortality increased substantially after hurricanes, but morbidity was not evaluated. We recruited 364 participants from the San Juan Longitudinal Study of Overweight Adults (SOALS) aged 40 to 65 who completed a three-year follow-up and who were free of diabetes. We conducted additional questionnaires between 1.7 and 2.5 years after the hurricanes. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting glucose and insulin were evaluated at all three visits. We compared the incidence of diabetes between visits prior to hurricanes and between visits that covered the hurricane period using the Generalized Estimated Equation Model (GEE), adjusting for repeated measures within the person, age and body mass index (BMI). The incidence of diabetes was significantly higher in the period covered by the hurricanes than in the period before them (multivariate GEE model: IRR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4—3.1). There was a significantly greater increase in the period covered by the hurricanes compared to the period prior to the Evaluation of the Homeostatic Insulin Resistance Model (HOMA-IR) (median: 0.3 IUU/ml vs. 0.2 IUU/ml). HbA1c levels increased by 0.4% in the period covered by the hurricanes. The increases in the incidence of diabetes, HOMA-IR and HbA1c were greater in the period covered by the hurricanes compared to the previous period. The increase in the incidence of diabetes remains significant after adjusting for age and BMI.
In the 6 months after Hurricane Maria, the number of people who died as a result of the hurricane was much higher than was initially estimated from death certificates. The interruption of health services and displacement led to the exacerbation of pre-existing chronic diseases. The objectives of this study were (1) to estimate excess deaths in Puerto Rico in the 6 months after María, (2) to identify the geographical areas that experienced a higher risk of mortality from chronic diseases after María, and (3) to identify the characteristics of community-level vulnerability associated with the fact that some communities had a higher risk of increased mortality from chronic diseases after María. Methods: Death records were obtained from the Demographic Registry of the Puerto Rico Department of Health. Mortality risks per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated for categories of chronic diseases and all-cause mortality during the 6 months following María and the same months of the previous year. A geospatial analysis using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic was used to determine if the clusters of mortality due to risk of death 6 months after Hurricane Maria, by census tracts, were statistically significant. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the association between social vulnerability at the level of the census tract and classification as a higher or sustained risk of mortality in the 6 months following Hurricane Maria, compared to the mortality risk of the previous year. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated to measure associations between social vulnerability and mortality risk.Results: In the 6 months after María, there were increases in the risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's, diabetes, sepsis, chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension and all-cause mortality. When examining the community characteristics associated with vulnerability to disasters, neighborhoods with a higher proportion of people over 65, a higher proportion of housing in multifamily structures and a higher proportion of households without vehicles, compared to other neighborhoods in Puerto Rico, were more likely to maintain a high risk of mortality before and after María or to have an increased risk of being a hotbed of mortality from chronic diseases after María.
After two years of persistent inflation and uncertainty on different fronts, such as progress in debt restructuring, the disbursement of federal funds for reconstruction, and the future trajectory of interest rates, some observers argue that Puerto Rico's economy is normalizing and that, even without federal funds, the economy is strong enough to sustain robust growth. However, I am skeptical of this statement. The decreasing rate of inflation continued during 2023, with annual growth in general inflation standing at 3.4%, a notable decrease compared to 6.1% recorded in 2022. Parallel to this trend, the labor market showed resistance, with a net creation of 26,200 jobs and keeping the unemployment rate at an all-time low of 6.0%. In addition, the annual growth in the average weekly earnings of all workers (5.8%) exceeded the inflation rate (3.4%) in 2023, marking a change from 2022. These positive changes may favorably impact Puerto Rico's economy in the short term. Although better purchasing power and a possible reduction by the Federal Reserve (i.e., the Fed) in the federal funds rate sometime in the second half of 2024 could support consumer spending and economic growth, a more detailed analysis of several factors raises questions. For example, inflation on the island, particularly for certain foods and services (for example, cereals and bakery products, recreational services, and out-of-home accommodation), still substantially exceeds the average of 1.8% between 1984 and 2019. In any case, a lower inflation rate should not be confused with lower price levels. In addition, the reduction in the federal funds rate will not necessarily alleviate local credit conditions, since loan pricing is more likely to be guided by long-term interest rates, which in turn are influenced by factors outside the Fed's control, including inflation expectations, the federal government deficit and the appetite of foreign central banks for U.S. Treasury bonds. Structural problems such as labor shortages, an aging population, lower productivity and the transition to a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 will keep prices and interest rates high. Nobel Laureate in economics Michael Spence stated in *The Next Phase of Our Inflation Journey* (2024) that “with structural changes that have diminished supply-side capacity to respond to demand-side pressures, higher real interest rates will be necessary to keep demand - and, therefore, inflationary forces - under control.” This would entail a higher cost of capital, which, in our case, will continue to limit private investment. Expensive loans, such as residential mortgages, will also restrict housing affordability in the local market. Finally, geopolitical risks (i.e., the Israel-Hamas war, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the Houthis' attacks on international vessels using the Red Sea route), upward adjustments in local commercial, industrial and residential electricity rates, higher tolls on highways, as well as rising food prices and the volatility of gasoline prices could reverse the trend towards lower inflation observed in the last two years.
Given the widespread problems of obesity and diabetes both in Puerto Rico and in the United States as a whole, there is an urgent need to investigate the complex interaction between BMI, pre-gestational and gestational maternal diabetes, and its possible impact on the occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHD) during neonatal development. Using the Comprehensive Congenital Defects Surveillance System in Puerto Rico, we performed a focused analysis on newborns diagnosed with CHD between 2016 and 2020. Our evaluation covered a variety of variables, including maternal age, gestational age, BMI, pre-gestational diabetes, gestational diabetes, hypertension, history of abortion, and the presence of preeclampsia. A cohort of 673 patients was included in the study. The average maternal age was 26 years, with a range of 22 to 32 years. The average gestational age was 39 weeks, with a mean range of 38 to 39 weeks. Of the 673 patients, 274 (41%) mothers gave birth to newborns diagnosed with CHD. Within this group, 22 cases were linked to pre-gestational diabetes, while 202 were not; 20 cases were associated with gestational diabetes, compared to 200 without this condition; and 148 cases had an overweight or obese BMI, while 126 showed a normal BMI.
Objectives: The Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) seeks to identify dengue epidemics with high specificity as soon as possible. Design: Development and prospective application of an early warning system for dengue epidemics using routine historical surveillance data. An intercept-only weekly negative binomial regression model was adjusted using historical data from probable and confirmed cases of dengue. A range of threshold definitions was explored using three percentiles estimated by the model of weekly counts of dengue cases. Environment: Dengue is endemic in Puerto Rico with an irregular occurrence of major epidemics that have a substantial impact on health burden and health systems. Data on probable and confirmed cases of dengue fever are routinely collected at all hospitals and private clinics.Participants: A total of 86,282 confirmed or probable cases of dengue virus were reported from January 1, 1986 to June 30, 2024, with an annual average of 2,212 cases (median: 1,533; range: 40-10,356) .Main and secondary outcome measures: The model was retrospectively adjusted to mimic the real-time detection of epidemics and evaluated based on the sensitivity and specificity of the detection of epidemics.Results: The 75th percentile threshold was the one that best aligned with historical epidemic classifications, balancing false alarms and missed detections. This model provides a robust method for defining thresholds, considering biased data, using all historical data and improving traditional methods such as endemic channels. Conclusions: In March 2024, the PRDH declared a public health emergency due to an early and off-season increase in cases that exceeded the epidemic alert threshold developed in this study. This real-time application highlights the value of these thresholds to support the detection of dengue epidemics and the public health response. Integrating thresholds with other tools and strategies can improve epidemic preparation and management.
This cross-sectional study examines the quality of life related to mental and physical health in U.S. territories. Department of State compared to 50 U.S. states UU.
The year-on-year changes in economic growth on the islands of the Caribbean Antilles demonstrate sensitivity to weather conditions. Daily surpluses of wind and rain caused by temporary storms are negatively related to gross domestic product (GDP). The field regression of the GDP time series from 1971 to 2022 for Puerto Rico and the neighboring islands of the Antilles reveals links with sea temperature in the eastern Pacific. In the composite analysis, an inverted zonal atmospheric circulation emerges over the equatorial Atlantic. Alternating approximately every 7 years, it modulates weather events and economic prosperity in the Caribbean. A multivariate algorithm is developed to predict changes in the annual GDP growth rate. The most influential predictor is precipitable water in the equatorial Atlantic one year earlier. The reduction in humidity superimposed by westerly winds on a global bottleneck at 5° S—5° N, 20—40° W tends to suppress Caribbean storms, leading to economic prosperity in the following year. Statistical methods and strategies for risk reduction are presented.
Objective: This preliminary study aimed to examine the smoking rate among Puerto Rican cancer survivors and identify correlations with demographic, clinical, and psychological factors. Methods: We performed a secondary analysis using baseline data from 384 cancer survivors in Puerto Rico, collected between January 2018 and March 2023. Participants were recruited through community support groups and hospital settings. Data were analyzed on sociodemographic characteristics, type of cancer, treatments, psychological distress (evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety) and behaviors related to smoking. The significant associations with smoking were then examined using a logistic regression model, adjusted for all significant correlations. Results: 7.5% of the sample reported smoking in the last 6 months, with a median consumption of six cigarettes per day. Depression was the only significant factor correlated with smoking, with participants who smoked reporting higher levels of depression. Other variables, such as age, gender, type of cancer and treatments, showed no significant correlation with smoking behavior. In the logistic regression model, high depressive symptoms were significantly associated with a greater likelihood of smoking, with people who reported such symptoms 3.03 times more likely to smoke (95% CI [1.39, 6.63], P = .005). Other variables, such as age, gender, type of cancer, and treatments, showed no significant correlation with smoking behavior. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms are associated with smoking among Puerto Rican cancer survivors. This finding highlights the critical need to integrate mental health screening and support into smoking cessation programs adapted to this population.
Puerto Rico is aging faster than almost any other country, with 2020 estimates placing the proportion of adults over 65 as the tenth highest in the world. Unlike most places, aging in Puerto Rico is driven both by (a) the culmination of prolonged trends in fertility and mortality, and by (b) the high levels of emigration of working-age adults, which contribute directly (leaving young people) and indirectly (reducing births) to the rate of population aging. This article provides an overview of the main issues related to population aging in Puerto Rico. Policymakers and government leaders must plan for the unconventional aging of Puerto Rico's population, which will aggravate traditional concerns about the sustainability of government services and long-term economic prospects. Concerns also arise related to the reduction of social support networks and their impact on the dynamics of care and the implications for health. Puerto Rico's unique history and its political relationship with the United States present challenges and benefits for its aging population. Research on aging in Puerto Rico and public health policies must be adapted to the needs of the country's aging society.
Presents a study on the impact of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in Puerto Rico and its benefits on society.
An effective and widely used vaccine could reduce the burden of dengue virus (DENV) worldwide. DENV is endemic in Puerto Rico, where the CYD-TDV dengue vaccine is currently being considered as a control measure. The CYD-TDV vaccine has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials in vaccinated people who had a previous infection with the dengue virus. However, in vaccinated people who had no previous infection with the dengue virus, the vaccine posed a modestly high risk of hospitalization and serious illness. Therefore, the WHO recommended a screening strategy prior to vaccination and vaccination of HIV-positive people. To estimate the cost-effectiveness and benefits of this intervention (i.e., screening and vaccination of HIV-positive people) in Puerto Rico, we simulated 10 years of intervention in 9-year-old children using an agent-based model. Across the population, we found that 5.5% (4.6%-6.3%) of hospitalizations for dengue fever could be avoided. However, we also found that there could be 0.057 (0.045—0.073) additional hospitalizations per 1,000 people in Puerto Rico due to DENV-naïve children who were vaccinated after a false-positive result in the previous exposure test. The ratio between avoided hospitalizations among all those vaccinated and additional hospitalizations among those vaccinated naïve to DENV was estimated to be 19 (13—24). With a base vaccination cost of 382 USD, we found an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 122,000 USD per Quality Adjusted Years of Life (QALY) earned. Our estimates can provide information for considering the introduction of the CYD-TDV vaccine in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico (PR) has faced environmental and public health challenges that could have significantly affected access to cancer screening. Using administrative data from claims from the Medicaid population in PR, this study evaluated trends in colorectal and breast cancer detection from 2016 to 2021, the impact of disasters on detection, and the absolute deficit in detection due to the pandemic. The monthly claim rates were analyzed using Poisson regression. Significant reductions were seen in the use of screening for breast and colorectal cancer. The colorectal cancer detection rate in 2017 was 77% lower one month after hurricanes Irma and Maria [Adjusted RR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.25] compared to the same period in 2016. Breast cancer detection fell 50% in November 2017 compared to November 2016 [Adjusted RR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.54]. Prospectively, only a recovery has been observed in use for the detection of breast cancer. The results revealed that the use of cancer screening decreased substantially after environmental disasters and the pandemic. These findings have potential serious long-term implications for cancer health disparities and mortality in PR.
Within disaster-affected communities, resident exposures and post-disaster mental health outcomes can vary widely. However, few studies have explored the relationship between these various disaster-related exposures and post-traumatic growth (CPT) in a Puerto Rican context.
The purpose of the Economic Cycle Indicators Report is to: Evaluate the current economic situation: It uses the Index of Coincident Indicators (IIC) to measure the present state of economic activity.Provide a short-term economic forecast: Use the Index of Advanced Indicators (IIA) to anticipate future economic trends.Identify key economic risks: The document highlights potential threats to economic dynamism, consumption and investment.Analyze contributing factors: The report details the performance of various economic variables, such as employment, manufacturing, construction and retail sales, and their impact on general indices.
This report, based on a convenience sample of 777 entrepreneurs (9% more than in 2023) and 102 support organizations (21% more than the previous year), representing 148 business support resources —70% of the business ecosystem—, offers a diverse and valuable view of the ecosystem from the perspective of those who live it.
The purpose of the Economic Cycle Indicators Report is to: Evaluate the current economic situation: It uses the Index of Coincident Indicators (IIC) to measure the present state of economic activity.Provide a short-term economic forecast: Use the Index of Advanced Indicators (IIA) to anticipate future economic trends.Identify key economic risks: The document highlights potential threats to economic dynamism, consumption and investment.Analyze contributing factors: The report details the performance of various economic variables, such as employment, manufacturing, construction and retail sales, and their impact on general indices.
It provides the most up-to-date data that is generally collected every 10 years during the census, to measure the change in the socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the population and on the characteristics of housing over the years.
It presents a study that reports on the Puerto Rican population in the United States, their lifestyle, the reasons why they emigrated and the reasons why they would return to the island.
Chronic kidney disease promotes health conditions such as heart problems, anemia, low levels of calcium, high levels of potassium and phosphorus, loss of appetite and depression (CDC, 2024b). In turn, there are risk factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease (NFK, 2023). The most common factors are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, adults over 60, family history, tobacco use and/or consumption, glomerular diseases, infections, and cancer (NFK, 2023).
This report presents the profile of the 2023 class, which corresponds to the study of the characteristics of public and private school students who indicated that they were candidates for graduation in Puerto Rico at the end of the 2023 academic year. It should be noted that other educational sectors such as homeschoolers and other programs are not included in this report. For students who repeated the tests within the period from June 2022 to February 2023, the result corresponding to the highest score obtained in each PAA test is reported. In addition, the examinees (n = 29 055) are described in terms of their performance and their academic profile based on the answers to the “Questionnaire for Postsecondary Guidance” (COP).
Residents of U.S. Territories—American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—are not equally represented in critical federal data collections in comparison to the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Federal statistical products are essential to meeting the needs of people in the territories, from education to health care to emergency preparedness. Policymakers, researchers, and others cannot fully understand the social, environmental, and economic challenges residents of U.S. territories face without timely and accurate data. The missing statistical information about U.S. territories is a racial justice and equity issue. The vast majority of the 3.6 million people in U.S. territories are people of color. Inequality in data collection programs reflects and sometimes deepens discrimination against these communities of color.
The discovery of the findings of the main research related to shopping habits in Puerto Rico takes place on the morning of Thursday, June 19, at the Convention Center, as part of the MIDA Conference & Food Show 2025.We are faced with a consumer who is not limited to buying products, the current consumer buys solutions and we must be able to understand the dynamics of their behavior, understanding that relationship between product personalization — brands — and consumers. Consumer Radiography has a sample of 1,350 people house-to-house and an online survey of 250 consumers. All of this reveals the changes in habits and routines that consumers establish through the products and services they buy, as well as the patterns that define that frequency, time and quantity of these purchases.
Puerto Rico's Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) provided monthly benefits to nearly 1.5 million people in 2021. Changes to this program have far-reaching consequences for families and the economy. Over the past four years, there has been increased attention to the inclusion of Puerto Rico in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest federal nutrition program in place in the United States, Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands. U.S. and Guam. The movement to include Puerto Rico in SNAP has recently gained momentum, as the issue of equity for U.S. territories has become more relevant in the public conversation. Although bills have been introduced in Congress for a transition from PAN to SNAP, their approach varies. As Congress contemplates the 2023 Farm Bill, the implications of a transition become a necessary focus to advocate for language and alternatives that consider gaps in benefits. This study aims to present information that can inform and enrich this debate. Next, we compared the PAN, the federal block subsidy for nutrition assistance in Puerto Rico, with SNAP. The description of the PAN is based on the regulations applicable to the federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022. These rules are established in Program Regulations No. 8684 of December 28, 2015 of the Administration for Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF) of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Program operations and any changes to program standards are submitted annually to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the state's annual plan of operations. The most recent state plan at the time of writing this document corresponds to FFY 2022. The SNAP rules are obtained from various documents on the FNS-SNAP website and from government reports related to SNAP budgets and regulations.
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Report of the United Group of Automobile Importers (GUIA) which presents data on sales of new cars up to January 2025.
It presents a study on planning in the process of contraction towards an economy and a smaller population.
ManpowerGroup Puerto Rico's latest Employment Expectations Survey reveals a Seasonally Adjusted Net Employment Trend of 12%, reflecting a decrease of 1 percentage point compared to the previous quarter and 21 percentage points compared to the first quarter of 2024. In addition, 44% of companies in Puerto Rico report having achieved gender equality, an increase from 36% the previous year. The sectors with the highest demand for hiring include Manufacturing Technologies, Information, Transportation, Logistics, Automotive and Manufacturing.
In Fiscal Year 2023, the Department of Finance failed to meet the collection goals set out in the Fiscal Plan by nearly $300 million. So far in Fiscal 2024, collections have improved, but the fiscal future could be complicated due to the unintended effects of the change from arbitration to foreign corporations (fixed 4%) to Law 52 and the reduction of Medicaid funding starting in FY 2028. In addition, the need to replace the inventory tax with an alternative that is less distorting for the economy is recognized. An ongoing initiative that, with some adjustments, could become an important source of revenue is taxes on sports betting. In this article, we will examine trends in the United States, where sports betting is an industry that has grown in triple digits, in 2022 it represented $93 billion and generated $1.5 billion in revenues for states. We will also explore the reality of sports betting in Puerto Rico and the revenue projections under various scenarios.
Cultural consumption and participation represent a universal human right and, at the same time, a critical stage in the value chain that contributes to the sustainability of creative production. In general terms, it represents the moment when the connection between the cultural product and the audiences is achieved, which materializes in some form of economic, social, educational or cultural impact. Public policies have a great responsibility to promote access and participation in cultural life, something that requires understanding audiences and their social and cultural dynamics. In Puerto Rico, the topic of cultural consumption was practically absent from research and public discussion until 2013 when the Commission for Cultural Development (CODECU) was created, whose objective was to design recommendations for cultural policy. As part of this effort, it was understood that it was important to contribute to the future by organizing a cultural information system that would support decision-making. As a starting point, the Study of the Cultural Ecosystem in Puerto Rico was published, which integrated an analysis of the economic impact of cultural activity, a study of cultural agents (entities and individuals) and a survey of cultural consumption. This research exercise served to validate that cultural policies should be designed for the entire value chain, from talent training to cultural consumption. The first survey of consumption and cultural participation included in this report made it possible to understand the relative consumption of certain cultural, individual and collective activities. It served to establish a basis from which to continue studies and understand trends, as well as challenges and opportunities to ensure cultural participation. They also highlight a poorly thought out challenge for Puerto Rico: diversity in cultural consumption according to geographical regions. Despite being a country with a small geographical area, there was preliminary evidence of a high concentration of cultural consumption in the metropolitan area, something quite common in cities and linked to the concentration of cultural infrastructure, the purchasing power of the population and the cost challenges associated with the geographical displacement of cultural activities. Despite these first findings, and the subsequent carrying out of two additional surveys that were carried out in 2020 and 2021, and which made it possible to collect consumption levels before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, no subsequent research was conducted with these databases to test some hypotheses and identify trends that impact public policy decision-making. For this reason, the present study on barriers to cultural consumption seeks to provide the cultural ecosystem in Puerto Rico with some conclusions about elements that public policy and cultural management must address in order to advance cultural consumption and participation as a universal human right.
It presents a comprehensive view of the role of developers of business ecosystems and the collective impact. It interactively explores who undertakes, the tools and projects developed, the gaps they face and the collective impact of the entrepreneurial community.
It presents a study that reports on the local banking sector and the financial sector. It highlights in detail its history in Puerto Rico and the importance of these sectors for Puerto Rico's socioeconomy.
She presents research that suggests that reading proficiently at the end of third grade is a key indicator of future academic success.
Report on the number of doctors and surgeons in the different medical specialties practicing in Puerto Rico. This report seeks to document how the number of doctors has changed in recent years, in the face of growing concern about the lack of doctors and health professionals.
The presentation explores opportunities for economic cooperation between Caribbean and Latin American countries. Through the analysis of Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica, the region's common challenges are highlighted and strategies are proposed to strengthen trade, infrastructure and innovation.
This report, prepared by Open Spaces (EA), analyzes the effects of the 15% Global Minimum Tax (IMG) in Puerto Rico, evaluating both the opportunities and the risks it presents. The digitalization and globalization of the economy have allowed multinationals to transfer profits to low-tax jurisdictions, resulting in the loss of significant tax revenues worldwide. This situation has led more than 140 jurisdictions to cooperate to implement an IMG that guarantees more equitable and sufficient taxation to finance essential public services. The OECD and the G-20 have developed the inclusive BEPS framework, with 147 economies committed to reforming international taxation through two pillars. Pillar I seeks to reassign tax rights on the profits of large multinationals to the markets where they sell. Pillar II, which includes the Global Minimum Tax (IMG) and the Subject to Taxation Clause (CSI), establishes a minimum tax of 15% for multinationals with consolidated annual revenues exceeding 750 million euros. This report focuses on Pillar II and its implications for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has historically used its limited contributory autonomy to attract investment through tax incentives and tax decrees. On the other hand, the federal government has led contributory policies such as the defunct Section 936. The removal of this section resulted in a decline in investment and employment on the island. In response, laws such as Act 154 of 2010 and Act 52 of 2022 were enacted to stabilize local tax policy. The implementation of the IMG in Puerto Rico could significantly increase tax revenues in the short term, but it also presents long-term risks if the island does not adapt its economic model to mitigate these impacts.
It highlights some of the main needs of children and youth to set priorities in resource allocation and design programs with a wider reach. It promotes informed decision-making and policies concerning children and youth. It facilitates the creation of welfare standards for municipalities and the state. It encourages debate on the situation of children and youth in Puerto Rico and helps to raise public awareness. It promotes the participation of all sectors, generating a sense of shared responsibility in the search for better conditions for all. It allows us to evaluate the long-term impact of programs and public policies. It makes it possible to compare Puerto Rico with the 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia and the 78 municipalities of the Puerto Rican archipelago.
It presents a study that measures the impact of COVID-19 on cultural consumption in Puerto Rico with the findings of the 2nd Survey of Consumption and Cultural Participation in Puerto Rico conducted in December 2020.
It presents a culturally valid and effective method for racially and ethnically categorizing Puerto Ricans.
It presents information on reported incidents of domestic violence, victims and offenders. Key words: Police, type of crime, type of weapon, place of occurrence, area of occurrence.
Review of the User's Handbook on Datum Transformations Involving WGS 84 published in 2003. It contains transformation constants and formulas that relate local or regional geodetic data to WGS-84 (World Geodetic System 1984).
It presents statistics on this type of violence, its sources of data and its definition.
Studies conducted on food security suggest that the percentage of food insecurity in Puerto Rico fluctuates between 30% and 50%. As estimated by the Food Insecurity Index of the Puerto Rico Socioeconomic Survey of Families with Minors (eSEFAM), 64% of households reported having at least one difficulty eating during the past 12 months, while 10% of households with children experienced extreme food insecurity. These data imply that there is a segment of families with minors and headed by people of working age who experience food insecurity. In Puerto Rico, it is estimated that less than 15% of the food consumed is produced and we have a poverty rate of 40% for the population and 54% of child poverty. In Puerto Rico, there are four federal programs aimed at supplementing food needs. The government of Puerto Rico has no programs funded by the state to reduce food insecurity, nor has it taken concerted action to ensure food for families. An important factor in the problem of food insecurity is poverty and the solution is to support the economic mobility of families with policies that increase income.
Food insecurity in Puerto Rico is one of the most profound manifestations of inequality, a crisis that hits women, our children, older adults and people living in poverty the hardest. The dependence on imported food, together with the scarcity of accessible markets and the high prices of fresh products, place our population in an alarming situation of vulnerability. This report not only seeks to point out the flaws and challenges in the food system, but also to make recommendations that invite a structural transformation in the food policy of our archipelago
It presents the diagnosis of what happened in cultural consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, with four instances during this new reality (before the pandemic, starting at the close of March 2020, the first months of 2021 and starting in May when the reopening began).
A 3-phase study that analyzes the possibility of establishing a Tourism Satellite Account for Puerto Rico, which measures the impact of tourism on the economy.
Provides guides for the collection and presentation of data on travel time
First part of the study commissioned by the Puerto Rican Senate to describe the current status of the Puerto Rican public system (K-12). The methodology used is described and the findings are presented.
It presents the breakdown of the answers provided in this survey. Some of the issues are satisfaction with the behavior of various sectors of society, and factors or groups that are involved in the formation of values.
It presents the results of a study of substance disorders and treatment needs conducted during 2008.
It presents statistical data on the results of traffic safety performance measures.
Revised and updated document from research conducted by ATSDR on environmental data from Vieques. It contains information on environmental exposure through air, water, soil, seafood, and foods grown in the Vieques area. It also presents data on biomonitoring in human beings and data on health outcomes. In turn, it establishes conclusions, and presents recommendations for environmental and public health agencies as well as for scientific researchers.
The Five U.S. Territories. UU. —Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands UU. (USVI), American Samoa, CNMI and Guam—obtain loans through financial markets. Puerto Rico, in particular, has accumulated large amounts of debt and began defaulting on debt payments in 2015. In 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria caused widespread damage and destruction in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This put additional financial pressure on their already restricted economies. In June 2016, Congress approved and signed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). This law contains a provision for the GAO to review the public debt of each of the five territories every two years. The GAO issued the first report on public debt in the territories in October 2017, reporting on trends in public debt between fiscal years 2005 and 2015. In this report, for each territory of the United States. In the United States, the GAO updates (1) trends in public debt, its composition and driving factors; (2) trends in revenues and composition, and the general financial condition; and (3) what is known about the capacity to pay public debt. The GAO analyzed the single audit reports of the territories for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, as available; reviewed relevant documentation and analysis; and interviewed officials from territorial governments, federal agencies, credit rating agencies and experts in the field. Commenting on a draft of this report, the governments of Puerto Rico and Guam expressed concerns about some aspects of their debt analysis. The GAO maintains that its analysis is correct, as discussed in the report.
The Working Group on the Status of Puerto Rico (Working Group) was created by President Clinton in 2000. The sole objective of the Working Group at that time was to examine proposals for Puerto Rico's future status and a process by which Puerto Ricans could choose a status option. President Bush continued the Working Group's exclusive focus on the issue of political status. The Bush Administration Working Group issued reports in 2005 and 2007. On October 30, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order 13517, which instructed the Working Group to maintain its focus on the issue of status, but added to its responsibilities the request for advice and recommendations on policies that promote job creation, education, health care, clean energy and economic development on the Island. The current Working Group was convened in December 2009 with members from all Cabinet agencies. He organized two public hearings in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and in Washington, D.C., to hear directly from a wide variety of voices on issues of status and economic development.
Article from Current Issues in Economics and Finance from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York about the economy of Puerto Rico and the statistical challenges faced by this country.
This report uses updated economic models to relate cognitive skills, as measured by PISA and other international instruments, to economic growth in those member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The results indicate that relatively small improvements in the skills of a country's workforce can have an enormous impact on the well-being of its communities.
Analysis of the economic impact of the Jones Act on commercial shipping in Alaska (which mainly requires the use of vessels built and registered in the United States).
It defines the most important indicators for the analysis of the telecommunications sector. Its objective is to contribute to the standardization of statistics to improve analysis and comparisons between telecommunications operators, between countries, and within them.
Update to the 1996 Special Data Dissemination Standard. It provides guidelines for countries that have or seek access to capital markets, to disseminate statistical data, so that those who participate in financial markets have the necessary information to evaluate the economic situation of each country.
Update to the 1996 Special Data Dissemination Standard. It provides guidelines for countries that have or seek access to capital markets, to disseminate statistical data, so that those who participate in financial markets have the necessary information to evaluate the economic situation of each country.
Article from Current Issues in Economics and Finance from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York about the economy of Puerto Rico and the statistical challenges faced by this country.
Description of the content of the mathematics tests of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, 2003 & 2005), in public schools in Puerto Rico. Keywords: Validation analysis, Title I federal funds, assessment in mathematics
Economic Indicators. Interactive Reports. Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico. Description: Graphical visualizations of several important economic indicators for Puerto Rico. Objective: Present the time series of economic indicators. Main Variables.…
Statistics Institute publishes new section on economic indicators. Announcements. IEPR. 24 December 2025. PRESS RELEASE. Statistics Institute publishes new section on economic indicators.…
Economic Indicators. Statistics Results. Labels. Domestic Violence. Child Abuse. Femicides. Population. Cost of living. Foreign Trade. Economic Indicators. Categories. Entities. Subscribe.…
Description: It provides data on homeless counts, licensed care centers, censuses, socio-economic indicators, funds delegated to projects and population by municipalities and regions.…
Economic Summary Magazine. Data Set. Junta de Planificación (JP).…
Coincident economic activity index. Data Set. Banco de Desarrollo Económico para Puerto Rico (BDE).…
Finally, the report presents economic indicators used to determine Adequate Annual Progress. Objective: Present and compare current levels of student academic performance and annual goals in Spanish, mathematics, science and English. Main Variables.…
Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRIS), offered a presentation at a recent meeting of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).…
Economic Indicators. Explore more. About Us. Your door to Puerto Rico's statistics.…
Supplementary Reports: agosto 2025: Datos suplemento aranceles 2025. noviembre 2021: COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on the PMI and the Manufacturing Sector. junio 2017: Additional Puerto Rico Manufacturing Sub-Indexes Available. enero 2014: PMI Begins to Correlate with Economic…
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