saberes emergentes, es meritorio nutrirnos con nuevo conocimiento, pero fundamentado para nuestra profesin, en el proyecto tico poltico profesional (PEPP).Para entender y explicar estos cambios,

The population of Puerto Rico (PR) has changed significantly in recent years. During the 2017-2021 period, four out of ten households in fifty municipalities had one or more people aged 65 or older. This project consists of a secondary analysis of data collected from the “Alzheimer Dementia Screening in Puerto Rican Elderly Sample” study by Rodríguez-Gómez, et al., (2019). The purpose of the study is to present the inequalities experienced by older adults in multiple aspects of public health. Pearson’s product moment correlations were performed to evaluate the relationship between the participants’ residential area and a positive diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and the relationship between the person’s income and a positive diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. No significant correlation was found (p<.05) between income and cardiovascular diseases or residential area and cardiovascular diseases, but there was a significant correlation (p<.05) between income and residential area. It is recommended to conduct studies that explore the use of Medicare services in PR, such as: how many beneficiaries use Medicare Part D, how many providers accept Medicare coverage, and the region of the island where these providers and beneficiaries are concentrated. A study exploring beneficiaries’ satisfaction with services received by Medicare plans and providers is also recommended.

The present study pays special attention to the sexuality of older people and the role of professional interventions in pursuit of achieving an old age full of rights. This study investigates the way in which sexuality in old age is understood and addressed by professionals who are working with the elderly population. The objective was to know the perception and assessment of sexuality in old age of professionals in the town of Navarro, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the year 2022. For this, a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory, in which eight semi-directed interviews with professionals in the gerontological field were analyzed. The characteristics and meanings assigned to sexuality in old age, prejudices and stereotypes, and the orientation of professional intervention were explored. The main findings show that sexuality in old age is defined mainly taking into account the emotional aspect, mentioning the importance of falling in love and company. On the other hand, it is identified that professionals recognize that sexuality is relevant in old age, however they tend to reproduce stereotypes and prejudices that, ultimately, guide professional interventions. The reproduction of an asexual old age and the acceptance of the exercise of sexuality only linked to love and heterosexual couple relationships stand out.

The professional image is a reflective process involving critical analysis and collective awareness, focused on a commitment to the people and human rights. Despite the daily efforts of social work professionals, we face significant challenges due to precarious working conditions, marginalization, and a lack of state recognition. This article stems from findings in the research titled Image of Social Work and the College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico: Perspectives of the General Public and Active Licensed Professionals. This study was conducted in collaboration with the College of Social Work Professionals of Puerto Rico (CPTSPR) using the Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology. The Steering Committee, composed of five members from chapter boards and committees, collaborated in project conceptualization, data collection and analysis, and discussion of action strategies. Two questionnaires were conducted, one directed at the public (718 participants) and the other at professionals (33 participants). Both explored the image of the profession, its professionals, and the CPTSPR, as well as the sources of information that underpin this image construction. This paper focuses on the results of the public survey. In summary, the public has a positive image of the profession and its professionals, although the majority are unaware of the CPTSPR.

In this article, part of the findings from the research: “Social Determinants of Health: The Case of HIV in Puerto Rico” will be presented. The research aimed to understand the social determinants of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and its implications for policies that address the disease. The Determinación Social de la Salud (a concept similar to Social Determinant of Health, but not the same) was used as the conceptual framework to address the political, social, and economic dimensions of HIV. A case study was used as qualitative research design. Information was gathered through documents reviews and ten interviews, which included people diagnosed with HIV and key informants. The qualitative analysis method proposed by Harry Wolcott was used for data analysis. The findings reveal a lack of attention to the structural processes that determine the health of people diagnosed with HIV. This includes determinants resulting from the privatization of health; health services as a market product; the colonial relationships between Puerto Rico and the United States; and the experiences of discrimination and stigma that affect the participation of people diagnosed with HIV in political decisionmaking scenarios. It is necessary to formulate local HIV policy from a broader conceptual analysis that considers the structural aspects determining the health of people diagnosed with HIV