Characterization of the external exposome and its contribution to the clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children: The PROMESA cohort study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution contains a mixture of different pollutants from multiple sources. However, the interaction of these pollutants with other environmental exposures, as well as their harmful effects on children under five in tropical countries, is not well known. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize the external exposome (ambient and indoor exposures) and its contribution to clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study will be conducted on children under five (n = 500) with a one-year follow-up. Enrolled children will be followed monthly (phone call) and at months 6 and 12 (in person) post-enrolment with upper and lower Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) examinations, asthma development, asthma control, and genotoxic damage. The asthma diagnosis will be pediatric pulmonologist-based and a standardized protocol will be used. Exposure, effect, and susceptibility biomarkers will be measured on buccal cells samples. For environmental exposures PM2.5 will be sampled, and questionnaires, geographic information, dispersion models and Land Use Regression models for PM2.5 and NO2 will be used. Different statistical methods that include Bayesian and machine learning techniques will be used for the ambient and indoor exposures-and outcomes. This study was approved by the ethics committee at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. EXPECTED STUDY OUTCOMES/FINDINGS: To estimate i) The toxic effect of particulate matter transcending the approach based on pollutant concentration levels; ii) The risk of developing an upper and lower ARI, based on different exposure windows; iii) A baseline of early biological damage in children under five, and describe its progression after a one-year follow-up; and iv) How physical and chemical PM2.5 characteristics influence toxicity and children's health.

Maternidades contemporáneas: tribus digitales e interacciones con las instituciones de salud / Maternidades contemporâneas: tribos digitais e interações com as instituições de saúde / Contemporary motherhoods: digital tribes and interactions with health institutions

En la contemporaneidad, las madres encuentran en las redes sociales virtuales posibilidades para contrastar y cuestionar las prácticas institucionalizadas de los profesionales de salud. Este artículo tiene como propósito entender las percepciones de madres colombianas participantes de una red virtual sobre maternidad, respecto a sus relaciones con los programas de salud enfocados en el embarazo, parto, maternidad y crianza. El análisis se realizó a través de la teoría fundamentada, a partir de un (1) grupo focal y 17 entrevistas en profundidad a mujeres integrantes del grupo y profesionales de la salud. Se encontraron grandes frustraciones frente a los programas y profesionales, falta de apoyo y conocimientos para afrontar la llegada del nuevo bebé. Se concluye la urgencia de que los programas incorporen las necesidades percibidas por las mujeres para un mayor apoyo frente a la salud física y mental. (AU)

Na contemporaneidade, as mães encontram nas redes sociais virtuais possibilidades de contrastar e questionar as práticas institucionalizadas dos profissionais da saúde. O objetivo de este artigo foi compreender as percepções de mães colombianas participantes de uma rede digital de maternidade, sobre suas relações com programas de saúde focados na gravidez, parto, maternidade e criação dos filhos. A análise foi realizada usando a Teoria Fundamentada em Dados obtidos de um grupo focal e 17 entrevistas em profundidade com mulheres integrantes do grupo e profissionais da saúde. Grandes frustrações foram encontradas frente aos programas e profissionais, falta de apoio e conhecimentos para enfrentar a chegada do novo bebê. Conclui-se na urgência que os programas incorporem as necessidades percebidas pelas mulheres, para dar um maior apoio frente à saúde física e mental. (AU)

In contemporary times, mothers find in virtual social networks possibilities to contrast and question the institutionalized practices of health professionals. This study presents partial results on understanding the perceptions of Colombian mothers who participate in a digital network on motherhood, regarding their relationships with health programs focused on pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood, and parenting. Using a grounded theory method, one focus group and 17 interviews were conducted with women members of the group and health professionals. Mothers reported frustration perceptions in their relationships with the health professionals regarding inexistent support and insufficient knowledge before and after giving birth. As a conclusion, it is crucial that the programs may incorporate the needs for increased support over physical and mental health, as perceived by women. (AU)