Perfil cognitivo y prevalencia de depresión, desesperanza y riesgo suicida en jóvenes vinculados al primer nivel de formación en una escuela militar colombiana

This study evaluated the incidence levels Hopelessness, Depression and Suicide Risk in a youth group linked to the process of forming a Colombian military school. A total of 114 subjects participated, regular military freshman, which representing an entire contingent particular; all male, aged between 17 and 22 years, from households in the Caribbean region ( 41%) and the center of the country (12 % ), without any relevant medical or mental diagnosis. The results indicate linear and directly promotional relationships between all variables with significant quantities in relation to depression-hopelessness (rs= 0,295; ρ= 0,01) and depression-suicide risk (rs= 0,478; ρ= 0,01) the latter being the highest report.Este estudio evaluó la incidencia de los niveles de Desesperanza, Depresión y Riesgo Suicida en un grupo de jóvenes vinculados al proceso de formación de una escuela militar colombiana. En total participaron 114 sujetos, militares regulares de primer año (MR-1A), que representan la totalidad de un contingente particular; todos ellos hombres, con edades entre los 17 y los 22 años, provenientes de hogares ubicados en la región Caribe (41%) y el centro del país (12%), sin ningún tipo de diagnóstico médico o mental relevante. Los resultados indican relaciones lineales y directamente promocionales entre todas las variables, con magnitudes significativas en lo referente a las relaciones depresión-desesperanza (rs= 0,295; ρ= 0,01) y depresión-riesgo suicida (rs= 0,478; ρ= 0,01), siendo esta ultima el reporte más elevado

Psychometric properties of the Colombian version of the HIV attitudes scale for adolescents

The HIV Attitudes Scale (HIV-AS) evaluates attitudes towards different aspects of HIV. In view of the lack of scales measuring this construct in Colombia, this study sought to validate the HIV-AS test for adolescents from Colombia. A total of 867 Colombian students, aged between 14 and 19 years (M = 15.97 years; SD = 1.37) were evaluated. Participants responded to the HIV-AS test and a set of scales used to assess external validity. Content validity analyses reflected good adequacy indices for the items. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure and reliability indices were satisfactory. The structural equation model showed good levels of fit. Most of the items presented a discrimination index above 0.30 and contributed to the reliability of the scale, except for item 9, which was eliminated. Concurrent validity showed significant correlations among the HIV-AS and other similar constructs. A reliable measurement of attitudes toward HIV allows for an improved assessment of the risk associated with exposure to sexually transmitted infections in adolescent populations

Estado del arte del proyecto

La investigación procura identificar el lugar que tienen los trastornos del ánimo y el suicidio, proponiendo el diseño y validación de la subescala para la medición de riesgo suicida en adolescentes, agregada a la escala multidimensional de trastornos afectivos para adolescentes (EMTA-A1), basada en el paradigma empírico analítico. El objetivo de la escala es cuantificar y diagnosticar la sintomatología de dichos trastornos. Se inicia con una revisión del estado del arte y realización del marco conceptual de la temática para recopilar antecedentes científicos y disciplinares; la búsqueda se realiza en base de datos, artículos en línea, libros de fuentes primarias y secundarias. Seguidamente, se explora inventarios, pruebas, y entrevistas clínicas de corte objetivo que se relacionan directamente en la construcción de la escala de los trastornos afectivos. El marco teórico también dará cuenta de la caracterización de los trastornos tanto en su sintomatología clínica y clasificación según el DSM-V, como en su prevalencia y etiopatogenia. En el marco metodológico adelantara la aplicación de la prueba con una muestra intencional piloto y muestra definitiva a partir de la cual se estimarán los niveles asociados con la confiabilidad y consistencia interna, así como los ajustes derivados de la misma

From Spain to Colombia: adaptation process of competences for adolescents with a healthy sexuality program (COMPAS)

In Latin America, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in youth are two main public health problems. Colombia accounts for one of the highest prevalence rate of HIV and STIs in this population; however, a national standardized sex education program for adolescents is still not available. Competences for adolescents with a Healthy Sexuality (COMPAS for its acronym in Spanish) - a school-based sexual health promotion intervention for Spanish adolescents - was adapted for Colombian youth. We hypothesized that COMPAS key elements would be translated and its effectiveness would be retained. This research describes the adaptation process that resulted in an adapted version for youth in Colombi

Sexual risk among Colombian adolescents: knowledge, attitudes, normative beliefs, perceived control, intention, and sexual behavior

Background: Colombia has one of the highest rates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pregnancies - both of which are influenced by lack of condom use -, among adolescent population in Latin America; however, the mechanisms underlying the inconsistent use of condoms in this population are poorly understood. This descriptive and cross-sectional study’s purpose was to examine sexual behavior and its precursors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and considering gender-based differences. Another objective was to study the mediating effect of intention in the relationship between behavior precursors and condom use based on the TPB. Methods: We recruited 1100 adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years old (M = 15.94, SD = 1.30, 54.4% female) from Bogotá and Barranquilla, two of the cities with highest adolescent birth rates among adolescents in Colombia. Sociodemographic variables, knowledge on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS-related attitudes, including attitudes toward the use of condoms, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and sexual behavior were assessed using self-reports. All analyses were run using SPSS v25. The indirect effect of intention to explain the relationship between precursors and the use of condoms during sexual intercourse was estimated using the PROCESS v3 macro. Results: Descriptive analyses suggest a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies associated to inconsistent condom use, medium-low level of knowledge about sexual health, low normative beliefs regarding peers’ condom use, and a certain perceived difficulty for using condoms. Condoms are used 71% of the times they have sex, but only 22% of the participants use them consistently; girls use condoms more consistently than boys. Sexual risk characteristics differed significantly by gender. Mediation analyses indicated that condom use intention mediates the relationship between behavioral precursors and frequency of condom use, according to the TPB. Conclusions: Findings provide a better understanding of sexual risk and highlight important implications for the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. There is a need of designing and implementing protocolized sexual health promotion programs in schools with the aim of reducing sexual risk behaviors in Colombian adolescents

Adaptation of an effective school-based sexual health promotion program for youth in Colombia

Rationale: Given the disproportionate impact of HIV and STIs among youth in Latin America, there is a compelling need for effective sex education programs. In particular, Colombia lacks a nationally standardized youth sex education program, despite the fact that 15 to 24-year-olds accounted for the highest incidence and prevalence rates of HIV and STIs in the nation. In an attempt to fill this void, our team adapted COMPAS, a Spanish school-based sexual health promotion intervention, for Colombian adolescents. Objective: This study describes the adaptation process that resulted in a modified version of COMPAS for youth in Colombia. Method: We employed a systematic cultural adaptation process utilizing a mixed methods approach, including intervention adaptation sessions with 100 young adolescents aged 15–19. The process included six steps: 1) consulting international researchers and community stakeholders; 2) capturing the lived experiences of a diverse sample of colombian youth; 3) identifying priorities and areas in need of improvement; 4) integrating the social cognitive theory, information-motivation-behavioral skills model, and an ecological framework for colombian youth; 5) adapting intervention content, activities, and materials; and 6) quantitative evaluation of COMPAS by Colombian youth. Results: The adapted intervention incorporates elements common to effective youth sex education interventions, including: a solid theoretical foundation, sexual communication skills and social support for protection, and guidance on how to utilize available cultural- and linguistic-appropriate services. In addition, the adapted intervention incorporates cultural and linguistic appropriate content, including an emphasis on tackling machismo to promote risk reduction behaviors. Conclusions: The systematic adaptation approach to sexual health intervention for youth can be employed by researchers and community stakeholders in low-resource settings for the promotion of health wellness, linkage to care, and STI and unplanned pregnancy prevention for youth

Prevalencia de Depresión Desesperanza y Riesgo Suicida en Jóvenes Vinculados al Primer Nivel de Formación en una Escuela Militar

This study evaluated the incidence levels Hopelessness, Depression and Suicide Risk in a youth group linked to the process of forming a Colombian military school. A total of 114 subjects participated, regular military freshman, which representing an entire contingent particular; all male, aged between 17 and 22 years, from households in the Caribbean region ( 41%) and the center of the country (12 % ), without any relevant medical or mental diagnosis. The results indicate linear and directly promotional relationships between all variables with significant quantities in relation to depression-hopelessness (rs= 0,295; ρ= 0,01) and depression-suicide risk (rs= 0,478; ρ= 0,01) the latter being the highest report.Este estudio evaluó la incidencia de los niveles de Desesperanza, Depresión y Riesgo Suicida en un grupo de jóvenes vinculados al proceso de formación de una escuela militar colombiana. En total participaron 114 sujetos, militares regulares de primer año (MR-1A), que representan la totalidad de un contingente particular; todos ellos hombres, con edades entre los 17 y los 22 años, provenientes de hogares ubicados en la región Caribe (41%) y el centro del país (12%), sin ningún tipo de diagnóstico médico o mental relevante. Los resultados indican relaciones lineales y directamente promocionales entre todas las variables, con magnitudes significativas en lo referente a las relaciones depresión-desesperanza (rs= 0,295; ρ= 0,01) y depresión-riesgo suicida (rs= 0,478; ρ= 0,01), siendo esta ultima el reporte más elevado.

Sexual risk among Colombian adolescents: knowledge, attitudes, normative beliefs, perceived control, intention, and sexual behavior

Abstract Background Colombia has one of the highest rates of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pregnancies - both of which are influenced by lack of condom use -, among adolescent population in Latin America; however, the mechanisms underlying the inconsistent use of condoms in this population are poorly understood. This descriptive and cross-sectional study’s purpose was to examine sexual behavior and its precursors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and considering gender-based differences. Another objective was to study the mediating effect of intention in the relationship between behavior precursors and condom use based on the TPB. Methods We recruited 1100 adolescents aged between 14 and 19 years old (M = 15.94, SD = 1.30, 54.4% female) from Bogotá and Barranquilla, two of the cities with highest adolescent birth rates among adolescents in Colombia. Sociodemographic variables, knowledge on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS-related attitudes, including attitudes toward the use of condoms, normative beliefs, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and sexual behavior were assessed using self-reports. All analyses were run using SPSS v25. The indirect effect of intention to explain the relationship between precursors and the use of condoms during sexual intercourse was estimated using the PROCESS v3 macro. Results Descriptive analyses suggest a high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies associated to inconsistent condom use, medium-low level of knowledge about sexual health, low normative beliefs regarding peers’ condom use, and a certain perceived difficulty for using condoms. Condoms are used 71% of the times they have sex, but only 22% of the participants use them consistently; girls use condoms more consistently than boys. Sexual risk characteristics differed significantly by gender. Mediation analyses indicated that condom use intention mediates the relationship between behavioral precursors and frequency of condom use, according to the TPB. Conclusions Findings provide a better understanding of sexual risk and highlight important implications for the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. There is a need of designing and implementing protocolized sexual health promotion programs in schools with the aim of reducing sexual risk behaviors in Colombian adolescents

Sexual risk in Colombian adolescents

Databases used in the analysis of sexual risks in adolescents in Colombia

Dataset COMPAS-Colombia (Focus Groups)

This database provides the quantitative evaluation of the project aimed at adapting COMPAS, a Spanish evidence-based sexual health promotion program, to adolescents in Colombi