Characteristics and monetary compensation of caregivers for patients with rheumatic conditions

Musculoskeletal disorders (MD) are highly prevalent conditions that affect quality of life. MD cause physical and psychological dependence. Usually, the care of a patient with MD is assumed by a caregiver. The aim of this study was to describe the sociodemographic characteristics and the monetary remuneration associated to the care of a patient with MD. A cross sectional study was carried out in order to estimate the monetary remuneration related to the health care of patients with MD. A survey was applied to caregivers of patients with MD. Demographic data was collected. We asked about the relationship with the patient, the time as a caregiver and all data related to the monetary compensation. Descriptive epidemiology was done. We reported monetary data in American Dollars (USD) using the average exchange rate for 2018. We surveyed 132 caregivers. Mean age was 52 years [standard deviation 19], 72% were women, 78% were taking care of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, 12% osteoarthrosis 2% lupus, and 2% osteoporosis. The remaining 6% were caregivers of patients with ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia and Sjogren syndrome. Regarding the time as a caregiver, 48% had less than a year, 16% between two and three years, 18% more than three years, 13% more than four years, and 5% were temporarily caregivers. In our study, 85% of caregivers were a family member, while 15% a nurse or a non-related person. Regarding the compensation, 97% did not receive any salary or payment for being caregiver, the remaining 3% received between 265 and 530 USD per month. Our study demonstrated that the care for patients with MD is mainly assumed by family members. Our results agree with other studies in chronic conditions where only a small proportion of caregivers is paid. Caregivers should be considered for the health system

Global compliance with hepatitis b vaccine birth dose and factors related to timely schedule. A literature review

Objectives: Identify global barriers for delivery of hepatitis B vaccine birth dose. Methods: A search for cross sectional studies published between January 2001 and December 2017 was conducted using the following Mesh terms: "Vaccination"[Mesh], "Mass Vaccination"[Mesh], "Hepatitis B"[Mesh], "Hepatitis B virus"[Mesh], "Hepatitis B Surface Antigens"[Mesh]. Databases consulted included: PUBMED, SCIELO, EMBASE and BIREME. To evaluate the quality of studies, we used an adapted version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cross sectional studies. Results: An initial list of 6,789 articles were generated by the combination of search terms. After reviewing titles and abstracts, they were reduced to 134 for full reading, and 22 studies were included in the barriers analysis. The region with more references was Western Pacific while eastern Mediterranean had the lowest. Being born outside of a health facility and weakness of outreach vaccination service seems to be the most important an cited factors related to underperformance of birth dose delivery. In developed countries, hospital policies on birth dose vaccination was the main factor associated to no vaccintion with the birth dose. Conclusions: New ways to deliver hepatitis B vaccines to neonates being born at home or outside health facilities should be envisaged and applied, if the goal of eliminating perinatal transmission of hepatitis B is to be achieved

Prevalence of parasite intestinal infections in a rural community of the Caribbean north of Colombia

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of protozoan and helminth infections in a rural town of the Caribbean coast of Colombia and to identify potential risk factors. Methods: The study was conducted in Santa Catalina, a town and municipality located in the Bolívar during 2014. Parasitological analyses were done using 0.85% saline solution and lugol staining. A questionnaire was applied to participants in order to identify possible risk factors for parasite infections. Results: Mean age of sample population (N = 685) was 29.8 SD 622.46 and 68% were females. There is no sewage access in this town. Most of them were infected by any protozoan species (80%) or soil-transmitted helminthes (71%). The most common protozoan found was Entamoeba coli (53%) followed by Giardia duodenalis (13%), Blastocistys hominis (4%) and E. histolytica 82%). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most prevalent helminth (63%) followed by Trichuris trichuria (36%), hookworms (2%), Taenia sp (2%) and Hymenolepys nana (2%). Frequency rates of protozoan and helminthic infections were significantly lower in those living in a house build made of bricks (versus wood or "bahereque") or with a floor material distinct from soil/earth. Drinking boiled water was associated only with lower rates of trichuriasis (aOR: 0.59 95%CI: 0.41-0.78), but not ascariasis. Almost half of of subjects (56%) reported to have received deworming treatment in the last year, but this was not associated with having any parasite infection. In a sub-group of 109 with available data, Ascaris infection was associated with lower hemoglobin levels (B=0.75, SE: 0.25, p = 0.003, adjusted by age and gender). Conclusions: The prevalence of protozoan and helminth infections in this town, representative of the rural area of the Caribbean coast of Colombia, is high. Indicators of poverty and lower hygienic conditions are positively associated with parasite infections

Knowledeges and experiences of pregnant women on prenatal care programs of a subsidized health care company from the Caribbean region of Colombia: a qualitative analysis

Objectives: Prenatal care programs have been conceived to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality risk. However, some pregnant women arrive late or do not attend the program, thus, health risks associated with pregnancy increases considerably. The objective of this study was to know pregnant women perceptions about a prenatal care program that include two components: health services and educational advice. Methods: A randomized sample of 33 women was chosen. Inclusion criteria considered women between 30 and 32 gestation weeks of pregnancy and living in the urban area. Data was collected using the focus group technique. For the analysis, we used the following protocol: Literal transcription of oral speech, information coding and integration, and data triangulation. Qualitative analysis with textual data was conducted with Quanteda package in R statistical software. Results: Important differences were found by geographic zones. In the city, pregnant women associate the program mainly with health services, while women living in town area associate the program with the educational component. Also, in the city the first contact with the program was by the prenatal care appointment, while in town was through the educational agents from the health care company. The program is valued in special form by women with high risk pregnancy and first-time mothers like a mechanism to guarantee their wellbeing and the baby’s. On the other hand, women that planned their pregnancy, began early prenatal check-ups than those who did not planned it. Conclusions: In the design of prenatal care programs sociocultural differences of communities to which they target as well as the perceptions, realities, and motivations of pregnant women must be considered. This would allow having better results in maternal and perinatal health and public health as a result of a more comprehensive intervention

Willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the population aged 80 years and older in Colombia 2021

Colombia diseñó y adoptó un plan de vacunación contra la COVID-19. El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la disposición para aceptar la vacunación contra esa enfermedad de personas de 80 y más anos. ˜ Métodos: Se realizó una encuesta telefónica a 11.721 personas de 80 y más anos, ˜ afiliadas a una aseguradora de salud, en la que se indagó sobre la intención a recibir la vacuna. Los respondientes fueron los afiliados o sus familiares o cuidadores. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue 85,0 anos ˜ (DE: 4,5), sin diferencias entre sexos; 3.344 participantes (28,5%) refirieron el antecedente de haberse realizado una prueba diagnóstica previa de COVID-19 y 73 resultaron positivos. La incidencia acumulada de infección por SARS-CoV-2 desde marzo de 2020 fue de 622,8 por 100.000 personas (IC95%: 491-778 por 100.000). Respecto a la actitud hacia la vacunación contra la COVID-19, uno de cada 4 respondientes se abstuvo de opinar o se manifestó neutro. Cuando el respondiente era un familiar, la aceptación de la vacuna era del 60,4% (IC95%: 59,5-61,3) con diferencias por sexo: entre los hombres era del 62,2% (IC95%: 60,8-63,6) y en mujeres del 59,2 (IC95%: 58,0-60,3), con p < 0,05. Cuando el respondiente fue el potencial receptor de la vacuna, la aceptación de la vacuna fue del 61,7% (IC95%: 59,4-64,0) y también difería por sexos: 70,2% en hombres (IC95%: 66,9-73,5) y 55,1% en mujeres (IC95%: 52,0-58,3), con p < 0,05

Prevalence and associated factors to suicide attempts in low-income adolescents from the Caribbean region of Colombia

Objectives to establish the prevalence and associated factors to suicide attempts (SA) in low-income adolescents from the Caribbean region of Colombia Methods A cross sectional study was conducted. Adolescents between 10-24 years of age residents in 21 municipalities in the Caribbean region of Colombia were randomly selected from the population affiliated to a subsidized-regime insurance company between 2014-2018. A previously constructed questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding sociodemographic variables and potential risk factors. A self-reported antecedent of suicide attempt was defined as a case. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to establish associated factors. Absolute and relative frequencies were reported. Relative frequencies were compared with the Chi2 test and continuous variables were compared with the t-test. A p value <0.050 was considered significan

PMU5 prevalence and associated factors to psychotic substance use in low-income adolescents from the caribbean region of Colombia

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors to psychotic substance use in low-income adolescents from the Caribbean region of Colombia Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted. Adolescents between 10-24 years of age residents in 21 municipalities were randomly selected from the population affiliated to a subsidized-regime insurance company between 2014-2018. A previously constructed questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding sociodemographic variables and potential risk factors. Prevalence of lifetime use of substance abuse was assessed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to establish associated factors. Absolute and relative frequencies were compared with the Chi2 test and continuous variables were compared with the t-test. A p value <0.050 was considered significan

Direct medical costs related to COVID-19 in Colombia

We studied 113 patients hospitalized by COVID-19, 51.3% men. On average, the hospital length of stay for COVID-19 hospitalized patient was 7,3 (± 6,2) days with a median cost of $1,688 (IQR 788-2,523). In women, the median direct medical cost of hospitalization was$1,328 (IQR $463-$2,098), while in men was 1.4 times greater. Being 60 years of age or older triggers hospitalization costs almost twice as high as those under this age ($1,813 vs.$2,994), and when the cost is compared by type of hospitalization, this difference is more than three times (ICU: 4,118; general ward: $1,312)