Dominican Republic Research Articles

Road traffic injuries and fatalities in Dominican Republic, 2017-2021: a neglected epidemic

Background: Road traffic injuries and fatalities are a major public health concern in the Dominican Republic. Despite efforts to improve road safety, the number of deaths and injuries remains high. This study aims to analyze the epidemiology of road traffic fatalities and injuries in the country from 2017 to 2021. Methods: Data on road traffic injuries and fatalities were collected from the National Police Department, the Ministry of Health, and hospitals across the country. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, including age, sex, and type of vehicle involved in the crash. Results: During the study period, there were 513,629 road traffic injuries and 14,692 fatalities in the Dominican Republic. The majority of those involved in crashes were males aged between 20-39 years old. Motorcycles were the most common type of vehicle involved in crashes. There was a significant reduction in the number of injuries and deaths in 2020, likely due to mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Road traffic injuries and fatalities in the Dominican Republic are a neglected epidemic that requires immediate attention. Improving road safety measures, targeting high-risk groups, and implementing safer pedestrian infrastructure are essential to reducing the number of injuries and deaths on the country's roads.

Translating Blackness through youth language learning in the Dominican Republic

AbstractThis article presents findings from a six‐month Language and Social Justice course collaboratively designed with multilingual educators in the Dominican Republic. Teaching and learning processes with Dominican and Haitian youth (ages 18–24) illustrate how opportunities to learn about English and Kreyòl from a transnational perspective can disrupt dominant discourses about youth's relationships with themselves and each other. By intentionally focusing on counternarratives to notions that Dominican youth reject their Blackness and that Dominican and Haitian youth interact in tension rather than solidarity, this study highlights how youth “translate blackness” (García Peña, 2022) through language learning. Drawing from transnational literacy frameworks that engage the cultural and linguistic repertoires of Black youth in relationship with one another (Skerrett & Omogun, 2020; Smith, 2023) and from Black‐centered language pedagogies (Anya, 2017; Clemons, 2021b), I describe how youth negotiate meanings and orientations to Blackness through language and literacy practices.

Augmented reality about Tropical Cyclones in the Dominican Republic: evaluation of learning and cognitive load

Abstract Introduction The Dominican Republic, due to its nature as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), faces several challenges in the face of extreme weather phenomena such as hurricanes. Therefore, integrating technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) in teaching these topics in class can influence student motivation and improve learning. Aim This article has three objectives: 1) to evaluate the learning results of the participating students using the pre-test and post-test methodology; 2) to find out the cognitive load it produces in the participating students and 3) to analyze the relationships between the different types of cognitive load. Methodology It has a quantitative approach, with a quasi-experimental design using the pre-test-post-test technique. It was carried out between May and July 2024 and consists of a non-probabilistic sample (N = 45). In addition, the student’s cognitive load was measured when interacting with the AR object, in its three types: internal, external, and relevant. Results When comparing the results of the pre-test and post-test, we obtained average values of 3.84 with a high level of variability and 4.75, with less dispersion in the answers. On the other hand, the cognitive load instrument shows high levels of internal consistency with 0.93 for the total instrument. The strongest correlation, 0.93, was obtained between external cognitive load and mental effort invested. Conclusions The hypothesis has been tested: participating students have better learning outcomes about hurricanes (tropical cyclones) after interacting with the learning object in AR format.

Sustainable development in the Caribbean: a comparative analysis of Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica

Climate scientists are warning policymakers across the globe that climate change, biodiversity loss and declining ocean health are leading to the collapse of critical ecosystems. Together with the United Nations (UN), they are calling on nations to immediately transition their economies in a sustainable direction. Moreover, in the eyes of scientists as well as the UN, shifting to sustainable development will invariably lead to improvements in social development and human health. Focusing on the Caribbean, which comprises one of 36 global hotspots, this study hypothesizes that higher levels of intentional economic/regulatory policy development, will showcase stronger sustainability results across the SDGs that deal with climate change, ocean health and biodiversity loss (SDGs 13–15). Utilizing Cuba, the Dominican Republic (DR) and Jamaica as test cases, this study employs the process-tracing method to analyze major national planning documents to assess each nation’s approach towards sustainability, in response to major UN initiatives during the MDG and SDG-eras. Afterwards, various quantitative assessment instruments are utilized to measure the sustainability progress of each nation. Overall, there is modest evidence that Cuba deployed the highest levels of regulation and enjoyed the greatest sustainability gains and scores, relatively to DR and Jamaica. As far as the DR, with low levels of regulation, and Jamaica, with moderate levels, the picture was mixed with recent data suggesting that Jamaica may be beginning to outgain the DR. As such, the results of this study give modest support to those who believe strong levels of state intervention are necessary to achieve sustainable development.

Rediscovery of Murex asperrimus Lamarck, 1822

The large Caribbean muricid originally named Murex asperrimus Lamarck, 1822 (non Gmelin, 1791), and illustrated by Kiener (1881), like many mollusks named in that era, was only given the general locality of “West Indes” in its description. The actual locality of this large and impressive taxon was never published, and it became a lost taxon. Since it was obscure, and specimens were not commonly known it has been unceremoniously synonymized with Phyllonotus pomum (Gmelin, 1791) (see Abbott, 1974). Recently, five specimens of this lost taxon were live collected in the Dominican Republic, ranging in length from 73.8 to 87.0 mm. This taxonomic note removes the taxon from synonymy, elevates it to full species level as Phyllonotus asperrimus (Lamarck, 1822), and fixes its type locality as the Dominican Republic

Rescue and Translocation of Hispaniola Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) in Pueblo Viejo, Cotuí Mining Concession Area.

Translocation of species is a common practice used in endangered species management and conservation plans, which can have the purpose of establishing new populations which are at risk of being wiped out, increase a species chance of survival or recovery, and to preserve genetic diversity. The present study details the rescue and relocation process of Hispaniola Hutia (Plagiodontia aedium) in the municipality of Cotuí, Dominican Republic. Data are presented for eight individuals, belonging to two different families, detailing capture methods, handling, reintroduction method, and behavior, as well as data on post-release monitoring for both families. It was found that the most efficient capture method was active capture by hand (6/8). The family groups were heterogeneous, although both families had in common the presence of a single adult male. The average weight of the individuals was 1.19 kg. Blood tests were carried out on the animals before being taken to the holding pens and compared with the values of other rodents, showing that hematic values for P. aedium were like those of another hutia species, Cynomys ludovicianus. During the period animals were held in pens before reintroduction, hutias showed trophic preferences for Clusia rosea and Guarea guidonea. The only supplementary food they consumed was Daucus carota. A fight was observed between members of different families during the acclimation period in the holding pen, between a subadult male and another dominant one, evidencing territorial behavior. Post-release monitoring of the families showed that the selection of habitat for relocation, based on the characterization of active burrows in the area, was successful in one of the two families relocated. One of the families abandoned the selected area for translocation during the monitoring. It is important to note that accurate population data of the targeted population, such as abundance and density, are necessary to guarantee the survival of the translocated animals in the new environment. The reintroduction method used in this study may serve as a baseline for future translocation projects for the species.

Factors associated with quality of life and functional capacity in patients with diabetic foot in the Dominican Republic

Factors associated with quality of life and functional capacity in patients with diabetic foot in the Dominican Republic

Fear of Relapse Scale: Spanish version and psychometric characteristics in a sample of patients with Relapsing-Remitting multiple sclerosis

IntroductionRelapses are a hallmark of multiple sclerosis, being a characteristic feature of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The occurrence of a relapse constitutes a source of significant discomfort that impacts all domains of daily life of patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). In this study we first explored the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Fear of Relapse Scale (FoR) in a sample of patients with RRMS. Besides, we explored the relationship between the Fear of Relapse Scale with fatigue and cognitive perceived deficits in our PwMS sample. MethodsAn online cross-sectional survey was conducted on 173 MS patients from 12 Spanish-speaking countries (Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Spain, Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and El Salvador). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to assess the factor structure of the scale. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the effects of health self-perception, fatigue, and perceived cognitive deficits over fear of relapse. ResultsThe three-factor model in the CFA yielded a good model fit (χ2/df = 2.25, P < .001, RMSEA = .078, CFI = .91). McDonalds’ Omega of the FoR (Spanish version) was .91. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between FoR and health self-perception, and a positive correlation between FoR, fatigue, and perceived cognitive deficits. Finally, level of fatigue was a predictor of fear of relapse. ConclusionsThe Spanish version of the Fear of Relapse Scale is a valid and reliable instrument to explore the experience of fear of relapse in patients with RRMS.

Toward an understanding of tax amnesty take-up: Evidence from a natural field experiment

Governments often use partial forgiveness policy to induce debt repayments and increase the disclosure of hidden debts. While ubiquitous, much remains unknown about how well these amnesties work, for whom, and why. We partnered with the Dominican Republic Tax Authority to design a natural field experiment to understand whether, and what types of, nudges can increase amnesty take-up and repayment. Our field experiment, which covers 125,452 taxpayers collectively owing 5.5% of GDP in known debt, tests the impact of messages from the tax authority during an amnesty that highlight deterrence laws, beliefs about future amnesties, and tax morale messages for debt payment and disclosure. Importantly, we find large short-run effects—our most effective treatment increased payments of known debt by 25% and hidden debt by 48%—that are only slightly undone by reductions in subsequent tax payments.

Afro-Latin American Pharmacogenetics of CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 in Dominicans: A Study from the RIBEF-CEIBA Consortium

Background/Objectives: Research on pharmacogenetic variability in response to prescribed drugs and across ethnic groups is essential for personalized medicine, particularly in admixed and unstudied populations. For the first time, this study examines CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 alleles and genotypes in 197 healthy volunteers from the Dominican Republic, as part of the RIBEF-CEIBA collaborative network. Methods: The analysis focuses on the participants’ tri-hybrid genomic ancestry, with CYP alleles determined by real-time PCR and molecular ancestry inferred using 90 AIMs. Linear regression was used to associate ancestry components with CYP frequencies. Results: The average ancestry was 23.8% European, 42.6% Native American, and 33.6% African, the latter being higher than in most Latin American populations. Native American ancestry was also higher than expected. Predicted phenotype frequencies based on genotypes were 4.2% poor metabolizers (gPMs) and 3.6% ultrarapid metabolizers (gUMs) for CYP2D6, as well as 3% gPMs, 22.8% rapid metabolizers (gRMs), and 1.5% gUMs for CYP2C19. No gPM individuals were observed for CYP2C9. Certain alleles associated with decreased CYP2D6 activity (*17 and *29) and increased CYP2C19 activity (*17 and gUMs) were positively linked with African ancestry and negatively with Native American ancestry. Rare CYP2C9 alleles (*5 and *6) with clinical relevance were additionally found. Conclusions: These findings build on previous results from the RIBEF-CEIBA collaborative network, demonstrating differences in allele frequencies of CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 in relation to genomic ancestry. In summary, ethnicity must be considered in the development of pharmacogenetic guidelines for clinical application, research, and regulation to avoid widening the biotechnology gap and to allow Personalized Medicine to reach the entire world population.

Labor income gap by gender in the Dominican Republic: An analysis of its evolution in the period 2000–2021

The labor income gap between men and women in Latin America remains a barrier to achieving gender equality and sustainable development. In the Dominican Republic, this gap is particularly prevalent in the informal sector, among self employed workers, and in regions with higher female labor participation. Despite women often having a better job profile than men, the gap persists, pointing to the presence of gender biases. This paper aims to analyze the gender-based labor income gap in the Dominican Republic from 2000 to 2021, using data from the National Labor Force Surveys conducted by the National Statistics Office (ONE) and harmonized by the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB). Two models are employed for this analysis: the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition and the Ñopo decomposition. The primary contribution of this paper lies in its long-term analysis of the gap, which provides insight into how it has evolved over time. The findings reveal a significant and statistically substantial labor income gap that cannot be explained by factors such as work experience or economic sector, suggesting that the causes are likely normative or discriminatory. The gap is most pronounced in the informal sector, among self-employed workers, and in regions with higher female labor participation. Although the analysis spans two decades, no clear trend of increase or decrease in the gap was observed. However, the unexplained portion of the gap has widened considerably, indicating a need for further investigation to understand and address this disparity.

The Mexican Embassy and the battle over asylum in Trujillo’s Dominican Republic, l946–1954

ABSTRACT Between 1945 and 1954, a series of conflictive asylum cases unfolded in the Mexican Embassy in Santo Domingo. An examination of Foreign Ministry records from the era reveals a complex situation, in which different players sought to harness diplomatic asylum for their own purposes. Dominican asylum seekers, Mexican representatives and the Trujillo dictatorship all struggled to define the parameters of a practice that was integral to the region’s politics. This article details two particularly challenging cases that confronted Mexican officials during this period, that of Dominican labor leader Mauricio Báez and his four brothers and a second case involving Tomás Reyes Cerda, who spent nineteen months confined to the Mexican Embassy. The two cases highlight the competing interests that drove the Mexican and Dominican governments: as Mexico defended an open and generous application of asylum that was key to its international image, the Trujillo regime was determined to stop an exodus of Dominicans who could undermine its own reputation abroad. Their decade-long struggle over the intricacies of diplomatic asylum not only shaped Latin American international law, but it also raised questions about the unfettered right of states to persecute their own citizens.

Beyond disability. Are culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students overrepresented in the Spanish special education system? An intersectional data-based approach / Más allá de la discapacidad. ¿El alumnado con diversidad cultural y lingüística (DCL) está sobrerrepresentado en el sistema español de educación especial? Un enfoque interseccional basado en datos

In this paper, we use the concept of intersectionality to explore the situation of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students attending special education units or schools in Spain from 2009 to 2019. Using the general Spanish student population as our reference group, we calculate the relative risk index for CLD students in special education. In addition to revealing clear equity gaps, the results also indicate that gender intensifies both oppression and nationality effects, pointing to the existence of a mutable structure of inequality that has a stronger effect on male students from non-European countries, particularly Pakistan and the Dominican Republic. We conclude that educational trends, which remained unchanged during the years comprising the study period, reveal the historicity of educational inequality, confirming its structural, multifaceted and intersectional nature. As a possible means of overcoming the barriers faced by foreign students, we propose a reorganization of the conceptual framework of inclusion from an intersectional perspective.

Diversity of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Associated with Bromeliaceae Plants in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

Diversity of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Associated with Bromeliaceae Plants in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic

Comparing the Dietary Habits and the Food Choices Between Italian and Dominican Adult Populations: Focus on Fruit and Vegetable Intakes and Their Association with Skin Carotenoid Levels.

The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables (FVs), which is considered as an important contributor to the beneficial effects of the MD pattern. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the food choices, evaluated by dietary habit questionnaires, of a sample of 995 adults, including 601 and 394 participants from Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic, respectively. In addition, we focused on their FV consumption, assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire, and on its association with skin carotenoid levels as measured by the Veggie Meter®. We found that a significantly higher percentage of Italians had five meals/day and breakfast compared to Dominicans (five meals/day: 43 vs. 25, p < 0.05; breakfast: 89 vs. 79, p < 0.05), whereas a lower percentage of participants from Italy consumed snacks between the two meals compared to the Dominican Republic population (47 vs. 70, p < 0.005). Most of the participants from both populations had breakfast at home. However, 59.3% of Italians and 27.5% of Dominicans (p = 0.005) had breakfast between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., whereas 5.8% and 27.5% (p = 0.001) had breakfast after 9:00 a.m., respectively. Milk/yogurt and eggs were the most consumed foods for breakfast in Italy and the Dominican Republic, respectively. Regarding the main meals, most of the Italians and Dominicans had a first course for lunch and a second course for dinner. Of note, we observed that approximately half of the Italians ate FVs in their main meals and had a higher carotenoid score than the Dominicans. Interestingly, in the multiple linear regression analysis, we found that the carotenoid score was positively associated with sex (β = 0.078; p = 0.009), age (β = 0.008; p = 0.001), vegetable consumption (β = 0.12; p = 0.041) and the perception of a healthy diet (β = 0.12; p = 0.001) in the Dominic Republic population, while the carotenoid score was directly associated with sex (β = 54.97; p < 0.0001) and both vegetable (β = 25.42; p = 0.0008) and fruit (β = 38.61; p < 0.0001) consumption in the Italian sample. Our findings confirm the need to promote nutrition-based interventions to encourage FV intake, particularly in non-Mediterranean countries.

Identity-based rivalry: A common identity across competitors leads to rivalry perceptions and better performance

Researchers in psychology and management have recently examined what leads competitors to perceive that they are in a rivalry (e.g., repeated competitions) and what the consequences of rivalry are (e.g., better performance). Other researchers have long focused on the importance of social identity for how people evaluate themselves and others. In two studies, we connect and extend this past work by examining whether having the same identity as an opponent (specifically, gender or nationality) produces rivalry effects. In an online experiment, we found that sport competitors are more likely to perceive their same-gender opponents as rivals than their different-gender opponents (and this was especially the case for men). These stronger rivalry perceptions were predicted by competitors’ greater similarity, greater frequency of past competitions, and greater competitiveness with their same-gender opponents. Then, in an analysis of data from Major League Baseball (MLB), we found that batters from the Dominican Republic and the United States hit better when a same-nationality catcher was behind the plate. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of identity-based rivalry.

Queer Narratives and Colonial Injustice: Tropical Landscape in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

This paper explores the intersection of colonialism, masculinity, and queerness in Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Through a decolonial lens, it examines how Díaz critiques the lingering effects of colonialism and dictatorship on Dominican identity, particularly through the ‘fukú’ curse—a symbol of intergenerational trauma. The paper argues that the queering of heterosexuality in the novel challenges rigid gender norms, where Oscar’s nonconformity and Yunior’s conflicted hypermasculinity expose the limitations of Dominican masculinity shaped by colonial rule. Set against the backdrop of the Dominican Republic’s tropical landscapes and violent history, Oscar’s and Yunior’s narratives highlight the broader struggle between individual authenticity and societal conformity. Díaz’s use of magical realism and transcultural storytelling amplifies this decolonial critique, revealing how colonial legacies continue to shape gender and identity in the post-colonial world. By analyzing the characters’ resistance to heteronormative pressures and their individual journeys, the paper situates The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao as a significant exploration of queering as a form of decolonial resistance, reconsidering the lasting impact of colonial oppression on cultural and gender identities.

Más allá del partido: empresarios, tecnócratas y agentes políticos en los gabinetes ministeriales dominicanos

Objective/context: This study analyzes the partisan connections of individuals who attain ministerial positions in the Dominican Republic, identifying the influence of political parties, economic elites, and technical profiles in the formation of presidential cabinets. Methodology: Following the typology proposed by Camerlo and Castaldo, we categorize the partisan profiles of the governments of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) from 2016 to 2020, and the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) from 2020 to 2024. This aims to characterize their internal variation in scenarios of low formal institutionalization that are not captured by traditional dichotomous classifications. Conclusions: The heterogeneity in the influence of party leadership illustrates how Dominican parties diverge from the party government model. The predominance of non-partisan profiles in the core planning ministries, along with the presence of politician- businessmen in the rest of the portfolios, highlights the risk of political capture in this country. Originality: These results call into question the influence of the party as the center of power in dominant presidentialism.

Understanding Emotional Outbursts: A Cross-Cultural Study in Latin American Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

One of the behavioral problems strongly associated with emotional dysregulation (ED) in ASD is emotional outbursts (EOs) characterized by a pattern of challenging behavior that varies across individuals and across time. Cultural factors can modulate the expression of EOs. This study aimed to characterize the profile of emotional outbursts (EOs) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across various countries in Latin America and to identify clinical, emotional, and contextual factors that contribute to the onset and frequency of EOs within this diverse sample. A cross-sectional and cross-cultural study was conducted between 2023 and 2024 comprising samples from five countries in the Latin American Network for Autism-REAL: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic. We studied 689 children with ASD (age x = 8.7 ± 2.6 years) using the Emotional Outburst Questionnaire (EOQ). We identified different types of EO among children with ASD in our sample. The most frequent was the 'behavioral indicators of emotion' (52.0%) followed by 'increased motor activity' (28.3%), 'non-speech vocalizations', (27.6%), 'mild verbal aggression' (23.8%), and 'avoidance' (21.5%). Children in a bad mood or having a bad day or experiencing irritability were the most significant factors that increased the likelihood of EOs. Our results revealed that irritability is an important trigger for EOs and should not be disregarded or underestimated when monitoring the mental health of children with ASD.

Marco legal y programas de protección en América Latina y el Caribe: desafíos y oportunidades en la protección de los derechos de las personas adultas mayores

Introduction. This article provides a review of laws, regulations, and protection programs aimed at individuals over 60 years old in seven Latin American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, it examines the national and international regulations and agreements in which each of these countries participates. The main laws and protection programs for older adults in each mentioned countryare highlighted, with a focus on the aspects they address, particularly in terms of labor rights, access to healthcare, and housing. Method. documentary review of current national and international laws and conventions was conducted in each participating country. This analysis was carried out with a qualitative approach, aiming to identify areas for improvement and potential legal gaps in the protectionof the rights of older persons in these countries. Additionally, an examination was made on how these regulations address aspects related to economic security, healthcare, social participation, combating abuse and discrimination, labor rights, and access to housing. Results. The countries guarantee fundamental rights for older adults, including health, social security, housing, food, and social and culturalparticipation. However, disparities are observed in the presence of regulations and programs in specific areas. Conclusions. While the studied countries are signatories to the most important international conventions on the rights of older persons, and despite their progress in developing laws and regulations for their compliance, thisdoes not guarantee effective implementation. Therefore, further studies are needed to delve into the implementation aspect to identify possible gaps and challenges.