Revistas
Revista:
JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY
ISSN:
0090-4392
Año:
2022
Vol.:
50
N°:
2
Págs.:
896 - 915
Scientific literature has shown contextual factors that predict youth development, and family variables are the most important ones. In this study, we propose a model that explains the relation between family variables (relationship with parents and family activities) and Personal Positive Youth Development (assessed through Life satisfaction, Interiority, and Self-control), across different cultures. We recruited 2867 adolescents aged 12-18 years (52% female) from three countries: Spain, Mexico, and Peru. They completed an anonymous questionnaire. We run exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and structural equation modelling, testing for invariance across countries and sexes. In all subsamples, positive family relationships were associated with adolescents' Life Satisfaction. In addition, time invested on family activities was associated with Interiority and with Self-control. However, some differences across cultures and sex were found in the specific associations. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed regarding how to improve adolescent development through family life.
Revista:
EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT
ISSN:
0013-1644
Año:
2022
Vol.:
82
N°:
3
Págs.:
465-481
Anonymous questionnaires are frequently used in research with adolescents in order to obtain sincere answers about sensitive topics. Most longitudinal studies include self-generated identification codes (SGICs) to match information. Typical elements include a combination of letters and digits from personal data. However, these data may make the participant feel that their answers are not truly anonymous, and some studies using these types of SGICs have been perceived as not entirely anonymous by some participants. Furthermore, data protection laws could place limits on research carried out with these codes. The objective of our article is to test an SGIC with a higher degree of anonymity. We conducted two studies. In Study 1, we tested the perceived anonymity of this new SGIC code. Adolescents aged 12 to 18 years (N = 601) completed an anonymous questionnaire about lifestyles and risk behaviors, which also included the SGIC. Adolescents with and without risk behaviors were compared regarding whether or not they answered to the SGIC questions. We did not find any differences to suggest that participants felt identifiable. In Study 2, we assessed the efficiency of the new SGIC. At baseline, 123 students from two high schools (eighth grade) filled in questionnaires consisting of the new SGIC and their full names. Two years later, these same students (then in the 10th grade) were invited to fill in the same information again (116 students responded to this second call). A total of 97 students were present in both waves. The SGIC showed a moderate performance, with good enough indices of recall and precision. Evidence suggests that the new SGIC is a suitable tool for the anonymous matching of adolescents in follow-ups of school cohorts.
Revista:
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSN:
2296-2565
Año:
2021
Vol.:
9
Págs.:
644284
Background: Media outlets influence social attitudes toward health habits. The analysis of tweets has become a tool for health researchers.
Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of tweets about women's health and the interest generated among Twitter users.
Methods: We investigated tweets posted by 25 major U.S. media outlets about pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women's health between January 2009 and December 2019 as well as the retweets generated. In addition, we measured the sentiment analysis of these tweets as well as their potential dissemination.
Results: A total of 376 tweets were analyzed. Pre-menopausal women's health accounted for most of the tweets (75.3%). Contraception was the main focus of the tweets, while a very limited number were related to infertility (1.4%). With regard to medical content, the effectiveness of contraceptive methods was the most frequent topic (46.2%). However, tweets related to side effects achieved the highest retweet-to-tweet ratio (70.3). The analysis of sentiments showed negative perceptions on tubal ligation.
Conclusions: The U.S. media outlets analyzed are more interested in pre-menopausal than in post-menopausal women health and focused their content on contraception, while Twitter users showed greater interest in side effects.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSN:
1661-7827
Año:
2021
Vol.:
18
N°:
13
Págs.:
6824
Background: Several instruments have been developed to assess adolescent dating violence but only few have been validated in Spanish-speaking settings. Some instruments are too long and may not be feasible to include them in a multipurpose questionnaire. We developed an instrument to be used in the YourLife project, an international project about young people lifestyles.
Objective: We aimed to analyze the psychometric properties of this instrument in three Spanish-speaking countries (Chile, Ecuador, and Spain).
Method: We included 1049 participants, aged 13-18 years. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Associations between dating violence and variables expected to covariate with it (substance use, school peer aggression, justification of dating violence, and relationship power imbalance), were tested.
Results: Two different constructs (psychological and physical/sexual) for suffered and perpetrated violence were identified and confirmed in the three countries. The dating violence subscales had Cronbach's alpha scores higher than 0.85. The strongest associations between dating violence and variables related to it were found within the relationship power imbalance items, suggesting that these items may be useful to detect adolescent dating violence when a specific questionnaire cannot be implemented.
Conclusion: This instrument seems to be adequate to assess suffered and perpetrated adolescent dating violence within a multipurpose questionnaire among schooled adolescents.
Revista:
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
ISSN:
2045-2322
Año:
2021
Vol.:
11
N°:
1
Págs.:
5431
Retention is a key element in HIV prevention programs. In Sub-Saharan Africa most data on retention come from HIV clinical trials or people living with HIV attending HIV treatment and control programs. Data from observational cohorts are less frequent. Retention at 6-/12-month follow-up and its predictors were analyzed in OKAPI prospective cohort. From April 2016 to April 2018, 797 participants aged 15-59 years attending HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in Kinshasa were interviewed about HIV-related knowledge and behaviors at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Retention rates were 57% and 27% at 6- and 12-month follow up; 22% of participants attended both visits. Retention at 6-month was significantly associated with 12-month retention. Retention was associated with low economic status, being studying, daily/weekly Internet access, previous HIV tests and aiming to share HIV test with partner. Contrarily, perceiving a good health, living far from antiretroviral center, daily/weekly alcohol consumption and perceiving frequent HIV information were inversely associated with retention. In conclusion, a high attrition was found among people attending HIV testing participating in a prospective cohort in Kinshasa. Considering the low retention rates and the predictors found in this study, more HIV cohort studies in Kinshasa need to be evaluated to identify local factors and strategies that could improve retention if needed.
Revista:
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
ISSN:
1664-1078
Año:
2021
Vol.:
12
Págs.:
715032
Introduction: Religiosity and sexuality present numerous interconnections. Little is known regarding the specific causal pathways between each religiosity dimension and sexual behavior. The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the relationship between religiosity (measured through attendance at religious services, salience, and prayer) and sexual initiation in adolescents and (2) to establish the role of sexual permissiveness as mediator of the impact produced by religiosity in sexual initiation.Methods: This study analyzes data from an ongoing school-based international study examining what young people feel and think about relationships, love, and sexuality. An anonymous, self-administered online questionnaire was developed in Spanish. A total of 4,366 students, aged 14-18, completed the questionnaire. A final sample of 2,919 questionnaires was analyzed. Two unconditional logistic regression models were fit with religiosity variables and possible confounders as independent variables (with and without permissiveness, respectively). The dependent variable was sexual initiation. A final path analysis was performed to further understand the results.Results: Our study highlights that, in predominantly Catholic and Spanish-speaking countries, the fact of attending church and praying may greatly contribute to postponing sexual relations during adolescence, even independently of their attitudes on sexual permissiveness. Conversely, the effect of salience on sexual initiation seems to be fostered only through the mediation of sexual permissiveness. Our findings point to an indirect effect of the three religiosity dimensions (and in particular, religious salience) through permissive attitudes.Conclusion: Religiosity could be a relevant factor to explain sexual initiation during adolescence.
Revista:
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
ISSN:
0007-1145
Año:
2019
Vol.:
122
N°:
7
Págs.:
800 - 807
It is crucial to identify people at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to implement preventive interventions in order to address these pandemics. A simple score exclusively based on dietary components, the Dietary-Based Diabetes-Risk Score (DDS) showed a strong inverse association with incident T2DM. The objective was to assess the association between DDS and the risk of GDM in a cohort of Spanish university graduates. The 'Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra' project is a prospective and dynamic cohort which included data of 3455 women who notified pregnancies between 1999 and 2012. The diagnosis of GDM is self-reported and further confirmed by physicians. A validated 136-item semi-quantitative FFQ was used to assess pre-gestational dietary habits. The development of the DDS was aimed to quantify the association between the adherence to this a priori dietary score and T2DM incidence. The score exclusively included dietary components (nine food groups with reported inverse associations with T2DM incidence and three food groups which reported direct associations with T2DM). Three categories of adherence to the DDS were assessed: low (11-24), intermediate (25-39) and high (40-60). The upper category showed an independent inverse association with the risk of incident GDM compared with the lowest category (multivariate-adjusted OR 0 center dot 48; 95 % CI 0 center dot 24, 0 center dot 99; P for linear trend: 0 center dot 01). Several sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these results. These results reinforce the importance of pre-gestational dietary habits for reducing GDM and provide a brief tool to practically assess the relevant dietary habits in clinical practice.
Autores:
Ayerbe, L. (Autor de correspondencia); Perez-Pinar, M.; Lopez-del Burgo, C; et al.
Revista:
LINACRE QUARTERLY
ISSN:
0024-3639
Año:
2019
Vol.:
86
N°:
2 - 3
Págs.:
161 - 167
Background: Forty-four percent of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended. Induced abortion has drawn a lot of attention from clinicians and policy makers, and the care for women requesting it has been covered in many publications. However, abortion challenges the values of many women, is associated with negative emotions, and has its own medical complications. Women have the right to discuss their unintended pregnancy with a clinician and receive elaborate information about other options to deal with it. Continuing an unintended pregnancy, and receiving the necessary care and support for it, is also a reproductive right of women. However, the provision of medical information and support required for the continuation of an unintended pregnancy has hardly been approached in the medical literature. Objective: This review presents a clinical approach to unintentionally pregnant patients and describes the information and support that can be offered for the continuation of the unintended pregnancy. Discussion: Clinicians should approach patients with an unintended pregnancy with a sympathetic tone in order to provide the most support and present the most complete options. A complete clinical history can help frame the problem and identify concerns related to the pregnancy. Any underlying medical or obstetric problems can be discussed. A social history, that includes the personal support from the patient's partner, parents, and siblings, can be taken. Doctors should also be alert of possible cases of violence from the partner or child abuse in adolescent patients. Finally, the clinician can provide the first information regarding the social care available and refer the patients for further support. For women who continue an unintended pregnancy, clinicians should start antenatal care immediately. Conclusion: Unintentionally pregnant women deserve a supportive and complete response from their clinicians, who should inform about, and sometimes activate, all the resources available for the continuation of unintended pregnancy. Forty-four percent of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended. Induced abortion has drawn a lot of attention and the care for women requesting it has been covered in many publications. However, abortion challenges the values of many women, is associated with negative emotions, and has its own medical complications. Women have the right to discuss their unintended pregnancy with a clinician and receive elaborate information about other options to deal with it. Continuing an unintended pregnancy, and receiving the necessary care and support for it, is also a reproductive right of women. However, the provision of medical information and support required for the continuation of an unintended pregnancy has hardly been approached in the medical literature. This review presents a clinical approach to unintentionally pregnant patients and describes the information and support that can be offered for the continuation of the unintended pregnancy. Clinicians should approach patients with an unintended pregnancy with a sympathetic tone. A complete clinical history can help frame the problem and identify concerns related to the pregnancy. Any underlying medical or obstetric problems can be discussed. A social history, that includes the personal support from the patient's partner, parents, and siblings, can be taken. Doctors should also be alert of possible cases of violence from the partner or child abuse in adolescent patients. Finally, the clinician can provide the first information regarding the social care available and refer the patients for further support. For women who continue an unintended pregnancy, clinicians should start antenatal care immediately.
Revista:
PLOS ONE
ISSN:
1932-6203
Año:
2019
Vol.:
14
N°:
1
Págs.:
e0210398
BACKGROUND:
Sexually transmitted infections can be spread through oral and anal heterosexual sex. There are few data on these practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed the prevalence of heterosexual oral and anal sex among HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) attendees in Kinshasa and the associated sociodemographics, perceptions and behavioral factors.
METHODS:
OKAPI (Observational Kinshasa AIDS Prevention Initiative) prospective cohort study. It evaluates the VCT impact on HIV-related knowledge and behaviors at 6 and 12-month follow-up. Since April 2016 until April 2018, 797 persons aged 15-59 years were HIV tested and replied to a baseline interview, including information about anal and oral sex. Descriptive, bi- and multivariate analyses were performed using baseline data.
RESULTS:
Among 718 sexually active participants reporting heterosexual sex, 59% had had oral sex, 22% anal sex and 18% both practices. Among participants reporting "not" having had sex, 6% reported oral sex, 3% anal sex and 1% both. Oral sex was associated with a daily use of the Internet/mobile phone, perceiving low community HIV risk, reporting HIV-related behaviors (multiple partners, inconsistent condom use, anal, paid and forced sex) and having been pregnant. Being married-monogamous was inversely associated with oral sex. Anal sex was directly associated with having other risk sexual behaviors.
CONCLUSIONS:
Oral and anal sex were common among people reporting heterosexual sex in Kinshasa. Perceiving a low community HIV risk and having other sexual risk behaviors are associated with these practices, which are commonly not considered as risky despite their strong association with HIV/STIs. They need to be considered when designing preventive strategies in Kinshasa.
Revista:
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
ISSN:
0376-8716
Año:
2019
Vol.:
199
Págs.:
27-34
Introduction: Structured and unstructured leisure are known protective and risk factors, respectively, for alcohol consumption during adolescence. However, little is known about the interaction between the two leisure types and alcohol consumption.
Method: A cross-sectional study was performed among high-school students in El Salvador and Peru. Schooled adolescents, aged 13¿18 (N=5,640), completed a self-administered questionnaire about risk behaviors, including their leisure activities and whether they had consumed alcoholic beverages. They were classified into tertiles of the amount of time of both structured and unstructured activities. A non-conditional multivariate logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the association of both types of leisure with alcohol consumption. We also used a likelihood ratio test to assess the potential interaction of structured and unstructured leisure time in alcohol consumption.
Results: Alcohol consumption was much more frequent among adolescents in the highest tertile of unstructured leisure time compared to the lowest one, and less frequent among those from the highest tertile of structured leisure time compared to the lowest one. We did not find an interaction effect between structured and unstructured leisure time with regard to initiation of alcohol consumption.
Discussion: The study suggests that structured leisure is not enough to compensate for the possible harmful effect of unstructured leisure. Parents, educators and policy
Revista:
CLINICAL NUTRITION
ISSN:
0261-5614
Año:
2018
Vol.:
37
N°:
2
Págs.:
638 - 645
Background & aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence is increasing worldwide. To the best of our knowledge the specific evaluation of soft drink consumption as a risk factor for developing GDM has only been conducted in the Nurses' Health Study II. Objective: To investigate the incidence of GDM according to soft drink consumption in the SUN project. Design: The "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" (SUN) project is a prospective and dynamic cohort which included data of 3396 women who notified at least one pregnancy between December 1999 and March 2012. A validated 136-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to assess soft drink consumption. Four categories of sugar-sweetened soft drink (SSSD) and diet soft drink (DSD) consumption (servings) were established: rarely or never (< 1/month), low (1-3/month), intermediate (> 3/month and <= 1/week) and high (>= 2/week). Potential confounders were adjusted through non-conditional logistic regression models. Results: During the follow-up, we identified 172 incident cases of GDM. After adjusting for age, baseline body mass index, family history of diabetes, smoking, total energy intake, physical activity, parity, fast-food consumption, adherence to Mediterranean dietary pattern, alcohol intake, multiple pregnancy, cardiovascular disease/hypertension at baseline, fiber intake, following special diet and snacking, SSSD consumption was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident GDM, with multivariable adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 2.03 (95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.25-3.31) and 1.67 (95% Cl: 1.01-2.77) for the highest and intermediate categories, respectively, versus the lowest category (p for linear trend: 0.006). Conversely, DSD consumption was not associated with GDM incidence (adjusted OR: 0.82; 95% Cl: 0.52-1.31) for the highest versus the lowest category (p for linear trend: 0.258). Additional sensitivity analyses did not change the results. Conclusion: Higher consumption of SSSDs before pregnancy was an independent risk factor for GDM, however, no association was observed between DSD consumption and GDM risk. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. All rights reserved.
Revista:
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
ISSN:
1944-0391
Año:
2017
Vol.:
43
N°:
3
Págs.:
142
Revista:
PLOS ONE
ISSN:
1932-6203
Año:
2017
Vol.:
12
N°:
12
Págs.:
e0189632
Introduction
Sexual violence, an HIV determinant, is an integrated behavior in the D.R.Congo. We aimed to analyze the prevalence of forced sexual intercourse (FSI) among people receiving HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in a hospital in Kinshasa, and its association with socio-demographics, behaviors and HIV status.
Methodology
Case-control study (2010¿2012). Two-hundred and seventy-four cases with a new HIV+ test and 1,340 controls with an HIV- test were interviewed about HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, including FSI.
Results
Thirty-four percent of the participants declared having had FSI (38% of women and 32% of men). Being a woman, aged 25¿49 and reporting multiple sexual partners were associated with reporting FSI. For men, being single was protective against FSI; and cohabiting, having a high socioeconomic status, and alcohol consumption increased the odds. For women, being single, divorced/separated and widow was associated with reporting FSI. A significant positive association was found between FSI and an HIV positive test.
Conclusion
Among our Congolese population, FSI was strongly associated with HIV infection and it was also associated with alcohol consumption and multiple sexual partnerships, other key HIV determinants. These behaviors need to be identified as potential risk factors of FSI during counseling interventions. Researchers, practitioners and decision-makers should work together to get violence prevention integrated into health, social and educational policies.
Revista:
AIDS CARE - PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-MEDICAL ASPECTS OF AIDS/HIV
ISSN:
0954-0121
Año:
2017
Vol.:
29
N°:
6
Págs.:
772 - 781
In the Democratic Republic of Congo no previous studies have assessed the factors associated with different patterns of condom use and with multiple sexual partners, and the association between condom use simultaneously taking into account multiple sexual partnerships, and HIV infection. We carried out a prospective case¿control study. From December 2010 until June 2012, 1630 participants aged 15¿49 getting HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing in a hospital in Kinshasa were selected. Cases were new HIV diagnosis and controls were HIV-negative participants detected along the study period. We recruited 274 cases and 1340 controls that were interviewed about HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Among cases there was a high prevalence of multiple lifetime and concurrent sexual partnerships (89.8% and 20.4%, respectively) and most cases never used condoms with only 1.5% using them consistently. Condom use and multiple partnerships were associated with male, single and high-educated participants. An association was found between multiple lifetime partners and `any condom use¿ (OR¿=¿2.99; 95%CI: 2.14¿4.19) but not with consistent use. Both having two or more multiple concurrent sexual partners or not using condoms were variables similarly and highly associated to HIV risk. The association found between having two or more concurrent sexual partners and HIV was slightly higher (OR¿=¿3.58, 95%CI:2.31¿5.56) than the association found between never condom use and HIV (OR¿=¿3.38, 95%CI:1.15¿9.93). We found a high prevalence of multiple lifetime sexual partners and an extremely high prevalence of inconsistent condom use, both strongly associated with HIV seropositivity. Local programmes would benefit from comprehensive interventions targeting all behavioural and sociocultural determinants.
Revista:
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
ISSN:
0007-1145
Año:
2017
Vol.:
118
N°:
9
Págs.:
715 - 721
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the adherence to empirically derived dietary patterns and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk and of healthy lifestyles with the prevention of GDM defining an overall healthy score. The Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra project is a Mediterranean cohort of university graduates started in 1999. We included 3455 pregnant women. During a mean follow-up of 10·3 (sd 3·3) years, we identified 173 incident GDM cases. Two major dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis: the Western dietary pattern (WDP) (characterised by a high consumption of meat-based products and processed foods) and the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MDP) (characterised by a high consumption of vegetables, fruits, fish and non-processed foods). A low-risk score for GDM was defined taking into account important risk factors (age, BMI and unhealthy dietary pattern) for GDM. Positive association was found in the multivariable model between the highest quartile of adherence to WDP and GDM incidence compared with the lowest quartile (OR 1·56; 95 % CI 1·00, 2·43). No association was found between adherence to the MDP and GDM incidence (OR 1·08; 95 % CI 0·68, 1·70 for the highest quartile compared with the lowest). Women who adhered to all three low-risk factors had a 76 % lower risk of GDM (OR 0·24; 95 % CI 0·10, 0·55) compared with women who did not adhere to any factor before pregnancy. In conclusion, our results reinforce the importance of dietary recommendations and other two factors (low BMI and young age at pregnancy) in pre-gravid women.
Revista:
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
ISSN:
1664-1078
Año:
2017
Vol.:
8
N°:
1298
Págs.:
1-8
This cross-sectional study assesses the association between age of sexual initiation during adolescence and a selection of well-being outcomes regarding that first relationship. High-school adolescents from El Salvador (2,686) and from Peru (3,399) replied to a paper-pencil questionnaire. Those who were sexually initiated replied to several questions regarding their age at sexual initiation, condom use, satisfaction and reasons/circumstances for that sexual relationship. Approximately 19% of participants were sexually initiated (n=1,179). After retaining participants with valid responses and with sexual initiation ages between 13 and 17, the final sample for this paper consisted of 996 sexually initiated participants (526 Salvadorians and 470 Peruvians). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that those who initiated sex at earlier ages had worse outcomes compared to those who initiated at older ages. Specifically, they had lower odds of having used a condom, of having good memories of that experience and of having had that first relationship because they were in love. Conversely, they had higher odds of having had that first sexual relationship as a result of peer pressure, because of partner pressure, or as a consequence of different forms of impaired autonomy. Results show that sex at earlier ages is associated with worse adolescent health and well-being outcomes.
Revista:
MEDICINA Y ETICA
ISSN:
0188-5022
Año:
2016
Vol.:
27
N°:
3
Págs.:
375-388
Autores:
Carlos, S.; Nzakimuena, F.; Reina, G; et al.
Revista:
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSN:
1471-2458
Año:
2016
Vol.:
16
N°:
1
Págs.:
606
BACKGROUND:
Considering the high percentage of couples in which one or both members are HIV negative, the frequency of transmission among non-regular partners and the probabilities of non-disclosure, attention should be paid to people getting a negative HIV test at the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT). Research has shown that a negative HIV test may be followed by a change in sexual behaviours. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where most HIV infections occur, there are few studies that have analysed the factors associated with changes in sexual risk behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT clinic. The aim of this project is to evaluate the specific factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours, three months after a negative result in an HIV test, and to analyse the effect of counseling and testing on HIV-related knowledge of participants in an outpatient centre of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo).
METHODS AND DESIGN:
Prospective cohort study from December 2014 until March 2016. People 15-60 year old that received VCT at Monkole Hospital (Kinshasa) were followed three months after they got a negative HIV test. In a face-to-face interview, participants replied to a baseline and a follow-up research questionnaire on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. At follow-up respondents were also offered a new HIV test and additional HIV counseling. Four hundred and fifteen participants completed the baseline questionnaire and 363 (87 %) came back for their 3-month follow up.
DISCUSSION:
This is the first longitudinal study in the DRC that evaluates the factors associated with changes in sexual behaviours after a negative HIV test at the VCT. Participants attending the VCT services within a clinical setting are a good study population as they can be good transmitters of preventive information for other people with no access to health facilities.
Revista:
CONTRACEPTION
ISSN:
0010-7824
Año:
2016
Vol.:
93
N°:
6
Págs.:
565 - 566
Revista:
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE
ISSN:
0140-1971
Año:
2016
Vol.:
53
Págs.:
231 - 236
In this paper we study whether parental knowledge of adolescents' activities varies according to socio-demographic variables, and we analyze the possible association between parental knowledge patterns and certain risk behaviors among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was performed with representative samples of high-school students in Peru and El Salvador. A questionnaire assessed risk behaviors, as well as possible determinants, including parental knowledge. The questionnaire was answered by 6208 adolescents. We observed that the greater the degree of knowledge, the lower the frequency of risk behaviors among youth. The degree of knowledge was inversely associated with children's age, and we observed that being female was associated with a greater degree of parental knowledge. The study shows that parents' supervision criteria might be influenced by gender stereotypes, which would have a harmful effect on young males, as the lower degree of knowledge puts them at higher odds of risk behaviors.
Revista:
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSN:
2296-2565
Año:
2016
Vol.:
4
Págs.:
28
Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies affect adolescent sexual health and are serious public health concerns. They result from sexual intercourse in adolescence, which is usually associated with multiple partners, unprotected sex, and condom misuse. This behavior is related to socio-ecological factors that influence lifestyles. The YOURLIFE project aims to find out what young people think and feel about relationships, love, and sexuality, and to assess the associations between these thoughts and attitudes, adolescents' social factors, and sexual health.
Materials and Equipment: An international school-based study with a cross-sectional and optional subsequent longitudinal design. Three online questionnaires designed for adolescents aged 13/14, 15/16, and 17/18, respectively, will be used. A matching coding system will allow longitudinal follow-up when adolescents reply to follow-up surveys. Questionnaires will include questions related to sociodemographic data; information/communication technologies; leisure time; parental supervision; influences of parents/friends; information sources; messages perceived; and sexuality-related knowledge, attitudes, and opinions. The second and third questionnaires for participants aged 15/16 and 17/18 will also contain variables concerning sexual behavior. Schools will be able to use their results to tailor educational approaches targeting the needs of their students. Multivariate analyses will be performed using the larger international dataset.
Expected Impact Of the Study On Public Health: The YOURLIFE project will collect comprehensive information about the socio-ecological determinants of the sexual risk-taking of schooled adolescents worldwide. Effective preventive programs could be subsequently designed and tailored to the specific determinants of adolescents from different schools and settings, and also, when analyzed globally, to public health professionals.
Revista:
NUTRIENTS
ISSN:
2072-6643
Año:
2015
Vol.:
7
N°:
8
Págs.:
6167 - 6178
The role of alcohol on fertility remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between alcohol and specific alcoholic beverages consumption and the risk of difficulty getting pregnant. We used a case-control study nested within the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort, a prospective, dynamic and multipurpose cohort of 21,705 Spanish university graduates, followed biennially with mailed questionnaires. We identified 686 case-control pairs, matched for age and time in the cohort. Cases were women reporting difficulty getting pregnant. Controls did not consult due to difficulty conceiving and had at least one child during follow-up. After adjustment for potential confounders, we found no association between self-reported difficulty getting pregnant and the number of alcoholic beverages consumed per week, (Odds Ratio [OR] > 5 drinks/week vs. none = 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.72-1.51). No association between types of alcoholic beverage and difficulty conceiving (OR > 5 drinks of wine/week vs. none = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.72-1.88; OR > 5 drinks of beer/week vs. none = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.82-1.37; OR > 5 drinks of spirits/week vs. none = 1.24, 95% CI = 0.84-1.64) was observed. In conclusion, we found no association between alcohol intake and risk of consulting a physician due to difficulty conceiving. More studies are needed to clearly elucidate the effects of alcohol intake on women's fertility. In the meantime, recommendations about alcohol intake to couples trying to conceive have to be given cautiously.
Revista:
CONTRACEPTION
ISSN:
0010-7824
Año:
2015
Vol.:
91
N°:
3
Págs.:
265
Revista:
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS
ISSN:
1368-4973
Año:
2015
Vol.:
91
N°:
5
Págs.:
334 - 337
Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of HIV-related misconceptions in an outpatient centre of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and analyse the association between these beliefs and HIV infection.
Methods A case-control study was carried out from December 2010 until June 2012. We assessed 1630 participants aged 15-49 attending a primary outpatient centre in Kinshasa: 762 HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing attendees and 868 blood donors. A 59-item questionnaire about knowledge, attitudes and practice was administered during a face-to-face interview, followed by an HIV test. Cases and controls were respondents with a newly diagnosed HIV-positive or HIV-negative test, respectively. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyse the association between misconceptions and HIV seropositivity.
Results 274 cases and 1340 controls were recruited. Cases were more likely than controls to have a low socioeconomic status, no education, to be divorced/separated or widowed. An association was found between the following variables and HIV seropositivity: having a poor HIV knowledge (adjusted OR=2.79; 95% CI 1.43 to 5.45), not knowing a virus is the cause of AIDS (adjusted OR=2.03; 95% CI 1.38 to 2.98) and reporting more than three HIV-transmission-related misconceptions (adjusted OR=3.30; 95% CI 1.64 to 6.64), such as thinking an HIV-positive person cannot look healthy and that HIV is transmitted by sorcery, God's punishment, a kiss on the mouth, mosquitoes, coughs/sneezes or undercooked food.
Conclusions Despite having access to healthcare services, there are still many people in Kinshasa that have HIV-related misconceptions that increase their HIV risk. Our findings underscore the need for a culturally adapted and gender-orientated basic HIV information into Congolese HIV prevention programmes.
Revista:
BMJ OPEN
ISSN:
2044-6055
Año:
2015
Vol.:
5
N°:
4
Págs.:
e007826
OBJECTIVES:
This study intends to evaluate whether the belief that condoms are 100% effective in protecting against HIV infection is associated with sexual risk behaviours among youth.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was performed in representative samples of high-school students in the Philippines, El Salvador and Peru. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Students were asked about the risk of HIV transmission if one has sex using condoms. They were also asked to indicate whether they had ever had sexual relations and whether they used a condom in their first sexual relation. The sample was composed of 8994 students, aged 13-18.
RESULTS:
One out of seven adolescents believed condoms are 100% effective (safe-sex believers). Those adolescents were 82% more likely to have had sex than those without such belief, after adjusting for confounders (OR=1.82; 95% CI 1.51 to 2.21). On the contrary, no association was found between risk perception and condom use. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses produced similar results.
CONCLUSIONS:
This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study conducted specifically to evaluate this phenomenon and that has used the same questionnaire and the same data collection protocol in three different developing countries from Asia, Central and South America. These results reasonably suggest that there could be an association between safe sex beliefs and sexual initiation. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand this possible association as it could influence how to better promote sexual health.
Revista:
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
ISSN:
1041-0236
Año:
2014
Vol.:
29
N°:
6
Págs.:
629 - 633
The common statistical indicator "mean age of first sex" can be misinterpreted by youth to indicate that most of their peers of the same age are sexually initiated, when this is not usually the case. This can jeopardize efforts to delay sexual initiation. University students were randomly assigned to one of two versions of an anonymous survey. They were asked to estimate how common sexual initiation was at a given age upon being presented with statements with different wordings, such as the "mean age of first sex" or "proportions of youth at different ages having had sex." Their interpretations were compared using logistic regression. Students who were assigned surveys using the indicator "mean age" of sexual initiation had higher odds of overestimating the extent of sexual initiation compared to those assigned surveys using percentages as the indicator, even after adjusting for student's sex and degree. We encourage the use of the "percentage" of youth, at different ages, who are sexually initiated as a more reliable indicator.
Revista:
AIDS
ISSN:
0269-9370
Año:
2014
Vol.:
28
N°:
5
Págs.:
799 - 800
Revista:
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
ISSN:
1472-6939
Revista:
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING
ISSN:
0962-1067
Año:
2013
Vol.:
22
N°:
21-22
Págs.:
3006 - 3015
Aims and Objectives: To assess women's attitudes towards the mechanisms of action of birth control methods.
Background: When addressing women's knowledge of and attitudes towards birth control methods, researchers frequently focus on side effects, effectiveness or correct use. Women's opinions about mechanisms of action have been much less investigated, and research is usually concentrated on the EC pill.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Women, aged 18-49, from Germany, France, the UK, Sweden and Romania were randomly selected (n = 1137). They were asked whether they would use a method that may work after fertilisation or after implantation and whether they would continue using it after learning it may have such effects. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the influence of certain characteristics on women's attitudes.
Results: Almost half of women in Romania and Germany would not use methods with postfertilisation effects, while the lowest percentages were found in Sweden and in France. Regarding methods with postimplantation effects, higher percentages were found in all the countries. Highly educated women and those using a highly effective method were more likely to use methods with postfertilisation effects. On the contrary, married women, those who stated that human life begins at fertilisation and women with middle/high religiosity were less likely to consider using methods that may act after fertilisation.
Conclusions: One-third of European women reported that they would not consider using a method that may have postfertilisation effects.
Relevance To Clinical Practice: Given that postfertilisation effects may not be acceptable to some women, informing them of which methods may have these effects is essential to obtaining complete informed consent and to promoting women's autonomy.
Revista:
EDUCACION MEDICA
ISSN:
1575-1813
Año:
2012
Vol.:
15
N°:
1
Págs.:
47 - 52
Objetivos. La utilización de la simulación es habitual en medicina para mejorar el conocimiento y habilidades de competencias. Se pueden utilizar pacientes virtuales, simuladores y pacientes simulados. Nosotros planteamos que alumnos de quinto y sexto curso actúen como pacientes simulados para que sus compañeros de primero aprendan la anamnesis de la historia clínica.
Sujetos y métodos. Un total de 207 alumnos de primer curso de grado aprendieron a realizar la historia clínica en una sala de urgencias del centro de simulación entrevistando a pacientes simulados, que eran sus compañeros de quinto y sexto curso. Se evaluaron las historias clínicas realizadas, y para conocer el grado de satisfacción de los estudiantes se pidió que cumplimentasen un cuestionario anónimo tanto a los alumnos de primer curso como a los de cursos superiores.
Resultados. La valoración de la calidad de las historias clínicas fue de 8,2 sobre 10. Esta metodología ha sido muy bien valorada. A la pregunta "¿el entrenamiento con pacientes simulados ayuda al aprendizaje para la realización de la historia clínica?", los alumnos de primero puntuaron 9, y los de quinto y sexto, 9,2. Al ítem "¿trabajar con pacientes simulados mejora sus habilidades de comunicación?", ambos grupos puntuaron 8,6. Y para "¿es adecuado el aprendizaje de la historia clínica mediante pacientes simulados previo a su aprendizaje con pacientes reales?", ambos grupos puntuaron 9,3. La valoración de la experiencia como paciente simulado fue de 9,3.
Conclusión. El aprendizaje de la historia clínica en primer curso del grado de Medicina mediante pacientes simulados resulta beneficioso para los alumnos. Un contacto temprano con la clínica a partir del aprendizaje basado en la simulación podría mejorar la formación de los estudiantes.
Revista:
MEDICINA CLINICA
ISSN:
0025-7753
Año:
2012
Vol.:
138
N°:
12
Págs.:
534 - 540
ICS En Europa, seguimos asistiendo a un aumento de la transmisión sexual del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y otras infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS).
Para priorizar estrategias de salud sexual, resulta importante identificar los factores sexuales de riesgo presentes en los jóvenes europeos.
Se realizó una revisión sistemática de artículos científicos y estudios de instituciones oficiales europeas. En total, fueron identificados 21 artículos y 10 estudios. Los datos sugieren un aumento de la iniciación sexual juvenil y del número de parejas sexuales. El 15-20% de los jóvenes usan de forma inconstante el preservativo. Entre los conocimientos y actitudes de riesgo detectadas encontramos: desconocer otras ITS distintas al VIH, tener una actitud favorable a las relaciones sexuales casuales, creer erróneamente que algunas medidas son eficaces para prevenir el VIH, desconocer los riesgos de tener múltiples parejas sexuales y desconocer la transmisión sexual del VIH.
Los datos subrayan la necesidad de mejorar los mensajes transmitidos a los jóvenes.
Revista:
REVISTA PANAMERICANA DE SALUD PUBLICA-PAN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSN:
1020-4989
Año:
2012
Vol.:
31
N°:
1
Págs.:
54 - 61
ICS Objetivo. El objetivo de este estudio es comprobar cómo influyen en el inicio de la actividad sexual de los jóvenes salvadoreños los mensajes que reciben sobre cuestiones de sexualidad, afectividad y ocio a través de la familia, los amigos y los medios de comunicación.
Métodos. Estudio transversal a partir de una muestra representativa de 2 615 estudiantes (de 13 a 19 años) de El Salvador. Se utilizó un muestreo sistemático aleatorio para seleccionar 30 colegios. Se recogieron aspectos sociodemográficos, estilos de vida y fuentes de información sobre sexualidad y amor utilizadas por los jóvenes.
Resultados. La edad media de los jóvenes fue de 15 años (DE = 1,8). En total 638 (24,4%) jóvenes afirmaron haber tenido relaciones sexuales. Los siguientes factores se asociaron con una mayor probabilidad de haber tenido relaciones sexuales: percibir que los hermanos (OR = 1,8, IC 95%: 1,2¿2,7) o los amigos (OR = 1,7, IC 95%: 1,3¿2,2) apoyan que se tengan relaciones sexuales. Como factores protectores se encontraron la supervisión de los padres (OR = 0,5, IC 95%: 0,4¿0,7); recibir mensajes que apoyan la abstinencia por parte de amigos (OR = 0,7, IC 95%: 0,6¿1,0) o hermanos (OR = 0,7, IC 95%: 0,5¿0,8) y recibir mensajes favorables al matrimonio por parte de los padres (OR = 0,4, IC 95%: 0,3¿0,6).
Conclusiones. Los mensajes de la familia y amigos son factores que parecen influir en el inicio de las relaciones sexuales de los jóvenes. Los programas de promoción de la salud sexual en
Revista:
JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH
ISSN:
1054-139X
Año:
2012
Vol.:
50
N°:
3
Págs.:
271 - 278
ICS Purpose
Adolescents who engage in sex can be affected by a range of negative physical and psychological consequences. We intend to analyze the reasons behind first sex, regret, and the association between reasons and regret.
Methods
A questionnaire was implemented to 8,495 high schools students aged 14¿18 years residing in the Philippines, El Salvador, and Peru. Sexually active participants responded whether several circumstances were reasons involved in their first sexual relationship. They also responded whether they regretted having already had sexual relationships.
Results
More than one-third of respondents reported at least one external pressure leading to first sex, and about one-half reported at least one reason implying getting carried away by sexual arousal.
More females affirmed they regret having already had sex. Logistic regression shows that reasons for first sex associated with regret were partner insistence, ¿uncontrolled situations,¿ and seeing sexual images. These reasons were associated with regret even when love was also reported as related to first sex.
Conclusions
Adolescent sexual experience is often motivated by pressure (such as external pressure [because most friends already had sex or because of partner insistence]) and circumstances (such as getting carried away by sexual arousal [through an ¿uncontrolled situation¿ or viewing sexual images]) that lower the control over their decisions concerning sex, rather than by mature decisions, and this ma
Revista:
CONTRACEPTION
ISSN:
0010-7824
Año:
2012
Vol.:
85
N°:
1
Págs.:
69 - 77
ICS Background: Adequate knowledge is essential for making informed decisions. We attempted to determine the level of knowledge about mechanisms of action of birth control methods in five representative samples of European women.
Study Design: Randomly selected women, aged 18-49 years, completed an anonymous survey in Germany, France, the UK, Sweden and Romania (N=1137). Participants were asked about how contraceptive methods work and if providers should inform them about this issue. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate women's characteristics associated with their knowledge of mechanisms of action.
Results: The majority of women identified the unequivocal mode of action of condoms, sterilization and abortion. Fewer than 2% identified all possible mechanisms of action of hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine devices. Highly educated women correctly identified the mechanism or mechanisms of action of more methods than less educated women (beta=0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.43). Regardless of their sociodemographic characteristics and their belief about when human life begins, most women (75%) stated that the provider should inform them about possible postfertilization effects.
Conclusions: European women have low knowledge about mechanisms of action of several contraceptive methods. The majority want to be informed about possible postfertilization effects. Since adequate knowledge is essential for making informed decisions, providers are encouraged to info
Revista:
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
ISSN:
0022-3166
Año:
2012
Vol.:
142
N°:
9
Págs.:
1672-8
The available large prospective studies supporting an inverse association between better adherence to the Mediterranean diet and lower mortality have mainly included older adults. It is not clear whether this inverse association is also present among younger individuals at lower mortality risk. Our aim was to assess the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and total mortality in middle-aged adults from the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project. We followed 15,535 Spanish university graduates for a mean of 6.8 y. Their mean age was 38 ± 12 y, 59.6% were females, and all were initially free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. A validated FFQ was used to assess dietary habits. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was categorized into 3 groups according to the Mediterranean Diet Score (low, 0-2 points; moderate, 3-5 points; and high, 6-9 points). The outcome variable was total mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate HR and 95% CI. We adjusted the estimates for sex, age, years of university education, BMI, smoking, physical activity, television watching, history of depression and baseline hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. We observed 125 deaths during 105,980 person-years of follow-up. The fully adjusted HR for moderate and high adherence were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.99; P = 0.05) and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.70; P = 0.002), respectively. For each 2-point increment in the Mediterranean Diet Score, the HR of death
Revista:
CONTRACEPTION
ISSN:
0010-7824
Año:
2011
Vol.:
84
N°:
6
Págs.:
558 - 564
Background: The choice of a birth control method is influenced by sociocultural and personal factors. We explored the perceived influences in women's choice of a birth control method in five European countries (Germany, France, the UK, Romania and Sweden), where contraception is widely used.
Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study of 1137 randomly selected women aged 18-49 years. An anonymous, 31-item questionnaire related to birth control methods was used. Logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with partner participation in choice of a contraceptive.
Results: Oral contraceptives were mainly used in Germany (54.3%), France (50.5%) and Sweden (34.6%) and condoms in the UK (29.6%) and Romania (22.9%). Sweden showed the highest use of intrauterine devices (IUD, 19%). Romania had the lowest use of contraception. Oral contraceptives and IUDs use were frequently suggested by providers instead of by women. Choosing the method with the partner was associated with age [odds ratio (OR)=0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-0.99], being a university graduate (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.01-2.29), married (OR=1.52, 95% CI 1.01-2.29) and with using a method that requires partner's cooperation (OR=8.18, 95% CI 5.46-12.27).
Conclusions: Hormonal contraceptives and lUDs are commonly recommended by providers rather than requested by women. Partner preferences are taken into account when his cooperation in the use of the method is needed. As fertility care is a male and female issue, there is still more room for actively involving both women and men in their choice of a birth control method.
Revista:
Nutrition Journal
ISSN:
1475-2891
Año:
2011
Vol.:
10
N°:
121
Págs.:
121 - 121
Few studies have related nutritional factors with quality of life in healthy populations. The purpose of the study was to assess whether dietary fat intake is associated to mental and physical quality of life
Revista:
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
ISSN:
0015-0282
Año:
2011
Vol.:
96
N°:
5
Págs.:
1149 - 1153
Revista:
CONTRACEPTION
ISSN:
0010-7824
Año:
2011
Vol.:
83
N°:
2
Págs.:
187
Revista:
LANCET ONCOLOGY
ISSN:
1470-2045
Año:
2011
Vol.:
12
N°:
13
Págs.:
1185 - 1186
Revista:
Public Health Nutrition
ISSN:
1368-9800
Año:
2011
Vol.:
14
N°:
12A
Págs.:
2309 - 2315
Revista:
ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
ISSN:
0004-0002
Año:
2011
Vol.:
40
N°:
5
Págs.:
853 - 855
Revista:
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
ISSN:
0301-2115
Año:
2010
Vol.:
151
N°:
1
Págs.:
56 - 61
Objective: Some methods of family planning, such as oral contraceptives, emergency pill or intrauterine device, may occasionally work after fertilization. These effects may be important to some women. We explored Spanish women's attitudes towards contraceptive choices that may have occasional post-fertilization mechanisms of action. Study design: Cross-sectional study in a Spanish representative sample of 848 potentially fertile women, aged 18¿49. Data were collected using a 30-item questionnaire about family planning. Logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with women's attitudes towards post-fertilization effects. Results: The majority of women were married, had completed high school and had at least one child. Forty-five percent of women would not consider using a method that may work after fertilization and 57% would not consider using one that may work after implantation. Forty-eight percent of the sample would stop using a method if they learned that it sometimes works after fertilization, increasing to 63% when referring to a method that sometimes works after implantation. Women who believe that human life begins at fertilization, those who believe it is important to distinguish between spontaneous and induced embryo losses and women who report having a religion were less likely to consider the use of a method with some post-fertilization effects.Conclusion:The possibility of post-fertilization effects may influence Spanish women's choice of a family planning method. Information about mechanisms of action of birth control methods should be disclosed to women so that they can make informed choices.