Women's reluctance for pregnancy: Experiences and perceptions of Zika virus in Medellin, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore how being infected with the Zika virus during pregnancy was experienced by affected women, and how it influenced their family relationships and future family planning. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study, including 19 semistructured interviews with women of reproductive age and confirmed Zika infection during 2015-2018 in Medellin, Colombia. Purposeful sampling was applied, and participants were identified through National Public Health Surveillance System records. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using content analysis with inductive and deductive approaches. RESULTS: Of 19 women interviewed, eight women identified the pregnancy as unexpected and two women had undergone permanent sterilization. Women had mixed views about decision-making related to family planning, and not having an abortion in a future pregnancy was influenced by religious beliefs. Women knew about vector-borne transmission but were not well informed about sexual transmission of the virus. Women desired better support and guidance to ease concerns about Zika virus. CONCLUSION: All interviewed women expressed a need for more information about Zika virus and continuous support, specifically after delivery, from healthcare professionals. Communication strategies to enhance culturally sensitive messages and for accurate perception of information are recommended during Zika outbreaks.

Factores asociados a la vulnerabilidad cognitiva de los adultos mayores en tres ciudades de Colombia / Factors Associated with the Cognitive Vulnerability of Older Adults in Three Colombian Cities / Fatores associados à vulnerabilidade cognitiva dos idosos em três cidades da Colômbia

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar los factores asociados a la vulnerabilidad cognitiva de los adultos mayores en tres ciudades de Colombia en el año 2016. Materiales y método: se condujo un estudio cuantitativo, transversal analítico, con fuente de información primaria, encuestando a 1514 adultos mayores residentes en la zona urbana de Barranquilla, Medellín y Pasto, empleando muestreo probabilístico bietápico. La condición cognitiva se evaluó con el Mini Examen Cognoscitivo modificado. Se realizaron análisis univariados, bivariados y multivariados, cálculos estadísticos y epidemiológicos, intervalos de confianza y pruebas estadísticas menores del 5%. Resultados: el riesgo de deterioro cognitivo se presentó en un 5,1% en Medellín, un 2,7% en Pasto y un 1,7% en Barranquilla, predominantemente en hombres, con edades entre los 75 y 89 años, sin pareja y con bajos niveles de escolaridad. El 100% de quienes tenían deterioro cognitivo refieren no realizar actividad física, el 13% reportaron depresión y el 7,7% soporte social escaso. Conclusiones: los factores asociados a la vulnerabilidad cognitiva de los adultos mayores incluyen características demográficas, sociales y de estilos de vida. Es importante considerar estos resultados en las políticas de salud para la población de adultos mayores con el fin de reorientar la atención en la prevención de la vulnerabilidad cognitiva.

ABSTRACT Objective: Identify the factors associated with the cognitive vulnerability of older adults in three Colombian cities during 2016. Materials and methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted with a primary source of information by surveying 1514 older adults living in the urban areas of Barranquilla, Medellín and Pasto. Two-stage probabilistic sampling was used. The cognitive condition of the adults in the sample was evaluated with the modified Mini Cognitive Exam. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyzes, statistical and epidemiological calculations, confidence intervals and statistical tests of less than 5% were performed. Results: The risk of cognitive deterioration was found in 5.1% of the sample in Medellín, 2.7% in Pasto and 1.7% in Barranquilla, predominantly among men between 75 and 89 years of age who are without a partner and have low levels of schooling. One hundred percent (100%) of those with cognitive impairment reported having no physical activity, 13% reported depression, and 7.7% indicated social support was scarce. Conclusions: The factors associated with cognitive vulnerability among older adults include demographic, social and lifestyle characteristics. It is important to consider these results when drafting health policies for the elderly population to redirect attention to the prevention of cognitive vulnerability.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar os fatores associados à vulnerabilidade cognitiva dos idosos em três cidades da Colômbia em 2016. Materiais e método: estudo quantitativo, transversal analítico, com fonte de informação primária, que entrevistou 1514 idosos residentes na zona urbana de Barranquilla, Medellín e Pasto, empregando amostra probabilística bietápica. A condição cognitiva foi avaliada com o Miniexame Cognoscitivo Modificado. Foram realizadas análises univariadas, bivariadas e multivariadas, cálculos estatísticos e epidemiológicos, intervalos de confiabilidade e testes estatísticos menores de 5 %. Resultados: o risco de deterioração cognitiva foi apresentado em 5,1 % em Medellín; 2,7 % em Pasto e 1,7 % em Barranquilla, predominantemente em homens, com faixa etária entre 75 e 89 anos, sem companheiro(a) e com baixo nível de escolaridade. 100 % dos que apresentaram deterioração cognitiva referem não realizar atividade física; 13 % relataram depressão e 7,7 %, apoio social escasso. Conclusão: os fatores associados à vulnerabilidade cognitiva dos idosos incluem características demográficas, sociais e de estilos de vida. É importante considerar os resultados nas políticas de saúde para a população de idosos a fim de reorientar a atenção na prevenção da vulnerabilidade cognitiva.

[Risky sexual behavior regarding HIV in a college population]. / Las prácticas sexuales de riesgo al VIH en población universitaria.

OBJECTIVE: The study addressed risky sexual behavior regarding HIV infection in students attending Fundación Universitaria Luis Amigó (FUNLAM) in Medellin during the last six months. METHOD: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a representative sample of 680 students who were surveyed using a questionnaire containing 65 qualitative and quantitative questions in line with sociodemographic variables and risky sexual behavior regarding HIV infection. RESULTS: For each man who had had sexual contact during the past six months there were 0.50 women [PR 0.50: 0.32-0.76 CI] and regarding age there were 0.43 less than or equal to 20 year old students for each college student aged over 20 years old [PR 0.43: 0.29-0.64 CI]. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing psychology students to engineering students [PR 0.32: 0.15-0.69 CI] and when comparing tenth semester students to first, second and fourth semester students [PR 0.11: 0.01-0.88 CI; PR 0.07: 0.00-0.53 CI; PR 0.11: 0.14-0.86 CI, respectively]. CONCLUSION: Sexual practice during the last six months was related to gender and age rather than other demographic variables showing the need to work with young people of both sexes, not just college students, for designing public health prevention and promotion action aimed at minimizing the risk of sexually transmitted HIV infection.

Las prácticas sexuales de riesgo al VIH en población universitaria / Risky sexual behavior regarding HIV in a college population

Objetivo El estudio buscó determinar las prácticas sexuales de riesgo para la infección por VIH que realizaron los estudiantes de la Fundación Universitaria Luis Amigó (Funlam) de la ciudad de Medellín en los últimos seis meses. Método Estudio descriptivo trasversal; con una muestra representativa de 680 estudiantes; se aplicó una encuesta con 65 preguntas cualitativas y cuantitativas, formuladas en coherencia con variables sociodemográficas y prácticas sexuales de riesgo a la infección por VIH. Resultados Por cada un hombre que tuvo prácticas sexuales en los últimos seis meses hubo 0,50 mujeres, [RP 0.50; IC 0,32-0,76]; en cuanto a la edad, por cada universitario mayor de 20 años hay 0,43 menores o iguales a 20 [RP 0,43; IC 0, 29-0,64]; los estudiantes de Psicología presentan diferencias estadística significativas en relación con estudiantes de Ingeniería, [RP 0,32; IC 0,15-0,69]; asimismo, los estudiantes del décimo semestre en comparación con los del primero, segundo y cuarto, [RP 0,11; IC 0,01-0,88], [RP 0,07; IC 0,00-0,53], [RP 0,11; IC 0,14-0,86], respectivamente. Conclusión La realización de prácticas sexuales en los últimos seis meses, depende del sexo o la edad más que por otras variables sociodemográficas, lo cual evidencia la necesidad de hacer un trabajo con poblaciones jóvenes de ambos sexos, no solo universitarios para que desde la salud pública se diseñen acciones que vayan en la dirección de la prevención y la promoción para minimizar los riesgos de infección al VIH por vía sexual.

Objective The study addressed risky sexual behavior regarding HIV infection in students attending Fundación Universitaria Luis Amigó (FUNLAM) in Medellin during the last six months. Method This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a representative sample of 680 students who were surveyed using a questionnaire containing 65 qualitative and quantitative questions in line with sociodemographic variables and risky sexual behavior regarding HIV infection. Results For each man who had had sexual contact during the past six months there were 0.50 women [PR 0.50: 0.32-0.76 CI] and regarding age there were 0.43 less than or equal to 20 year old students for each college student aged over 20 years old [PR 0.43: 0.29-0.64 CI]. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing psychology students to engineering students [PR 0.32: 0.15-0.69 CI] and when comparing tenth semester students to first, second and fourth semester students [PR 0.11: 0.01-0.88CI; PR 0.07: 0.00-0.53 CI; PR 0.11: 0.14-0.86 CI, respectively]. Conclusion Sexual practice during the last six months was related to gender and age rather than other demographic variables showing the need to work with young people of both sexes, not just college students, for designing public health prevention and promotion action aimed at minimizing the risk of sexually transmitted HIV infection.