Mapping public health training in Latin America: perspectives for training institutions/Mapeo de la formación en salud pública en América Latina: perspectivas para las instituciones formadoras/Mapeamento da formacao em saude publica na America Latina: perspectivas para as instituicoes formadoras

Methods. An internet search was conducted to identify public health training courses and programs offered by Latin American institutions. The following data were collected: name, country, and province/state of the training institution; course name; type of institution; educational level; modality; accreditation; year first offered; periodicity; and contact information. The programs and curricula on offer were analyzed by training level using descriptive content analysis, and the main competencies developed were identified. Results. The mapping identified 2 296 public health training opportunities in all Latin American subregions, distributed across 29 of the Region's 33 countries; these were fairly heterogeneous, both conceptually and programmatically, with uneven geographical distribution within and between countries. In the analysis of curricula and programmatic contents, a need for greater linkage with essential public health functions was detected. Conclusions. It is necessary to adapt the competencies and skills developed by the courses and programs to the demands of users of the regional health services, programs, and systems in order to achieve programs aimed at tackling the socio-environmental determinants of health and the production and reproduction of inequalities. Keywords Professional training; public health; education, public health profesional; Latin America. Objetivo. Cartografiar los cursos y programas de formacion en salud publica ofrecidos en America Latina e identificar estrategias formativas y competencias desarrolladas en la formacion regional de salubristas. Metodos. Se realizo una busqueda en internet para identificar cursos y programas de formacion en salud publica ofrecidos por instituciones latinoamericanas. Se recopilaron los siguientes datos: nombre, pais y provincia de la institucion formadora; nombre del curso; caracteristica de la institucion; nivel formativo; modalidad; acreditacion; ano de la primera oferta; regularidad; y datos de contacto. Luego se analizaron los programas y curriculos de las ofertas por nivel formativo a traves de tecnica de analisis de contenido descriptiva y se identificaron las principales competencias desarrolladas. Resultados. El mapeo permitio identificar de 2 296 ofertas formativas en salud publica en todas las subregiones de America Latina, distribuidas en 29 de los 33 paises de la Region. Las ofertas identificadas se presentaban bastante heterogeneas, tanto desde el punto de vista conceptual co