Drug dealing and drug using behaviors among people who inject drugs in Colombia: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: People who inject drugs (PWID) are highly exposed to drug-dealing networks. In Colombia, a recent dramatic increase in drug consumption has been reported. However, involvement of PWID in drug dealing, their demographics, and drug using behaviors has not been studied. METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 1,099 PWID recruited by Respondent Driven-Sampling in five Colombian cities was conducted in 2014. Correlates of demographic characteristics, drug dealing, and injection behaviors were examined by multivariate analysis, and a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: Drug-dealing PWID were predominantly male (86%) with a mean age of 26 years. 56% of participants-of whom 64% had low familial socioeconomic status-had been involved in drug dealing in the previous six months. Compared to non-drug-dealing PWID, drug-dealing PWID reported higher daily injection rate (AOR: 1.3), higher odds of injection equipment confiscation by the police (AOR: 1.4), and were less likely to pay for the drugs they injected (AOR: 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Involvement of Colombian PWID in drug dealing was higher than previously reported, and drug-dealing PWID presented sociodemographic vulnerabilities and risky injection practices. Addressing these findings may lead to effective policy design and implementation, decreased drug-dealing involvement, harm reduction, and consumption prevention.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus in young people who inject drugs in four Colombian cities: A cross-sectional study using Respondent Driven Sampling.

BACKGROUND: Colombia has a growing population of young people who inject drugs (PWID). Despite the previously reported association of injection drug use with hepatitis c virus (HCV) in other countries, studies on HCV prevalence in PWID in Colombia are lacking. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence, demographics, and correlations of risky injection behaviours in HCV seropositive PWID in four Colombian cities (Armenia, Bogotá, Cúcuta and Pereira). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out between January and June of 2014 that included 918 PWID from four Colombian cities, recruited by Respondent Driven Sampling. A survey was administered to each participant, and blood samples were collected. Binary logistic regression and multivariate analyses for each city were conducted. RESULTS: Average participant age was 26 years (SD 6.5). Of all participants, 27.3% of PWID were HCV seropositive, of which 52% were 25 years old or younger. In Pereira, increased risk of HCV infection was found for PWID that: had a history of injection drug use of 5 years or more (AOR: 3.0, CI: 1.7-7.8); were between 25 and 28 years of age (AOR: 5.2, CI: 1.0-26.3); had higher injection frequency (AOR: 2.5, CI: 1.4-4.2), and daily use of gifted, sold, or rented needles or syringes (AOR: 4.5, CI: 1.0-7.1). Additionally, in Cucuta, being HIV seropositive appeared to be greatly associated with risk of HCV seropositivity (AOR: 16.9, CI: 3.5-81.5). CONCLUSION: Although prevalence of HCV in PWID in Colombia is lower than that reported for other countries, the described demographic characteristics and diverse risky injection behaviors on each city, in the context of a young PWID population with a short injection drug use history, should be taken into account in order to guide efforts towards preventing and reducing risk of HCV infection in PWID in Colombia.

[Social, demographic, family and economic factors related to adolescent pregnancy in the urban area of Briceño, 2012]. / Factores sociales, demográficos, familiares y económicos relacionados con el embarazo en adolescentes,área urbana, Briceño, 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between the social, demographic, economic and family with pregnancy in adolescents 13 to 19 years in urban areas in the municipality of Briceño, 2012, for the purpose of obtaining information for the formulation of public health policies sexual and reproductive health. Methods: Cross sectional study, conducted in the urban area of Antioquia Briceño, between April and May 2012. A survey was conducted to gather information on factors: social, demographic, economic and family. Implemented a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The adolescents who were 193 survey respondents. Factors associated by multivariate analysis with increased risk of teenage pregnancy were age (OR: 8.33 CI, 1.82 to 38.14), socioeconomic status (OR: 12.52 CI, 1.58 to 98, 91), occupation (OR: 7.60 CI 3.0 to 19.27), living with a partner (OR: 17.47 CI, 3.63 to 83.94), early initiation of sex (OR: 1.95 CI, 0.69 to 5.5), the number of sexual partners (OR: 1.70 CI, 0.74 to 3.86), the father's education level (OR: 3.05 CI 1.01 to 9.22), the fact of having been raped (OR: 3.66 CI, 1.12 to 11.96) and family income (OR: 3.98 CI, 1,45-10, 92). CONCLUSIONS: The study found that age, socioeconomic status, occupation, living with the couple, early initiation of sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, the educational level of the father, having been raped and the family income were associated with teenage pregnancy in the urban area of Briceño.

Factores sociales, demográficos, familiares y económicos relacionados con el embarazo en adolescentes,área urbana, Briceño, 2012 / Social, demographic, family and economic factors related to adolescent pregnancy in the urban area of Briceño, 2012

Objetivo Establecer la relación entre los factores sociales, demográficos, familiares y económicos con el embarazo en adolescentes de 13 a 19 años delárea urbana en el municipio de Briceño, 2012, con el propósito de obtener información para la formulación de políticas públicas en salud sexual y reproductiva. Métodos Estudio Cross sectional, realizado en elárea urbana del municipio de Briceño, Antioquia, entre Abril y Mayo de 2012. Se aplicó una encuesta dirigida a buscar información sobre factores: sociales, demográficos, familiares y económicos. Se implementó un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados Las adolescentes que respondieron las encuestas fueron 193. Los factores asociados mediante el análisis multivariado con mayor riesgo de embarazo adolescente Fueron: la edad (OR: 8,33 IC; 1,82-38,14), el estrato socioeconómico (OR: 12,52 IC; 1,58-98,91), la ocupación (OR: 7,60 IC: 3,0-19,27), la convivencia con la pareja (OR: 17,47 IC; 3,63-83,94), el inicio temprano de las relaciones sexuales (OR: 1,95 IC; 0,69-5,5), el número de compañeros sexuales (OR: 1,70 IC; 0,74-3,86), el nivel de escolaridad del padre (OR: 3,05 IC: 1,01-9,22), el hecho de haber sido violada (OR: 3,66 IC; 1,12-11,96) y los ingresos económicos familiares (OR: 3,98 IC; 1,45-10,92). Conclusiones El estudio encontró que la edad, el estrato socioeconómico, la ocupación, la convivencia con la pareja, el inicio temprano de las relaciones sexuales, el número de compañeros sexuales, el nivel de escolaridad del padre, haber sido violada y los ingresos económicos familiares estaban asociados con el embarazo en adolescentes en elárea urbana del municipio de Briceño.

Objective To establish the relationship between the social, demographic, economic and family with pregnancy in adolescents 13 to 19 years in urban areas in the municipality of Briceño, 2012, for the purpose of obtaining information for the formulation of public health policies sexual and reproductive health. Methods Cross sectional study, conducted in the urban area of Antioquia Briceño, between April and May 2012. A survey was conducted to gather information on factors: social, demographic, economic and family. Implemented a logistic regression model. Results The adolescents who were 193 survey respondents. Factors associated by multivariate analysis with increased risk of teenage pregnancy were age (OR: 8.33 CI, 1.82 to 38.14), socioeconomic status (OR: 12.52 CI, 1.58 to 98, 91), occupation (OR: 7.60 CI 3.0 to 19.27), living with a partner (OR: 17.47 CI, 3.63 to 83.94), early initiation of sex (OR: 1.95 CI, 0.69 to 5.5), the number of sexual partners (OR: 1.70 CI, 0.74 to 3.86), the father's education level (OR: 3.05 CI 1.01 to 9.22), the fact of having been raped (OR: 3.66 CI, 1.12 to 11.96) and family income (OR: 3.98 CI, 1,45-10, 92). Conclusions The study found that age, socioeconomic status, occupation, living with the couple, early initiation of sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, the educational level of the father, having been raped and the family income were associated with teenage pregnancy in the urban area of Briceño.

Comparación entre la corrección con mallas sintéticas vía vaginal del prolapso genital versus técnicas vaginales tradicionales. Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia 2006-2007 / Vaginal synthetic mesh management for pelvic organ prolapse compared to traditional techniques used at the Clinica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia, 2006-2007

Objetivo: comparar las técnicas de corrección de fallas del sostén del piso pélvico que utilizan mallas, con las técnicas tradicionales.Métodos: cohortes de pacientes intervenidas en la Clínica Universitaria Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia. Una cohorte utilizó mallas sintéticas y la otra técnica tradicional. Se evaluaron las complicaciones tempranas y tardías, y la recurrencia de defectos de la pared anterior y recidiva del prolapso de cúpula. La evaluación la realizó un ginecólogo que no intervino las pacientes y desconocía la técnica empleada. El seguimiento fue hecho a los 6 y 12 meses de la cirugía. Se compararon los dos grupos mediante el riesgo relativo y los intervalos de confianza. Se solicitó consentimiento informado.Resultados: no hubo recaídas en las cirugías del compartimiento posterior y se observó tendencia a menor falla en las cirugías de la región apical usando mallas. A los seis meses de seguimiento se encontró un riesgo relativo = 0,26, IC 95 por ciento = 0,10 - 0,69, p = 0,001 a favor de la técnica con malla en la reparación del compartimiento anterior y al año se confirmó esta técnica como protectora de la recaída (RR = 0,32, IC 95 por ciento = 0,12 - 0,81, p = 0,004).Discusión: el reto del cirujano pélvico es el control del compartimiento anterior. Los defectos paravaginales casi nunca son contemplados en las técnicas de corrección tradicional, estos son objeto primordial en el manejo integral con mallas para disminuir la recurrencia. En la cohorte intervenida con mallas se busca la neoformación de tejidos, ubicando el material sintético en los reparos anatómicos para rescatar el mecanismo funcional de la continencia. La revisión sistemática de Cochrane (2007) coincide con los resultados, privilegiando la corrección del compartimiento anterior con material sintético y confirmando la menor tasa de recaídas.