Trichomonas vaginalis follow-up and persistence in Colombian women

Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), the most common non-viral sexually-transmitted infection is considered a neglected infection and its epidemiology is not well known. This study determined TV-infection dynamics in a retrospective cohort of Colombian women and evaluated associations between risk factors and TV-outcome. TV was identified by PCR. Cox proportional risk models were used for evaluating the relationship between TV-outcome (infection, clearance and persistence) and risk factors (sexually-transmitted infections and sociodemographic characteristics). Two hundred and sixty-four women were included in the study; 26.1% had TV at the start of the study, 40.9% suffered at least one episode of infection and 13.0% suffered more than one episode of TV during the study. Women suffering HPV had a greater risk of TV-infection (aHR 1.59), high viral-load (> 102) for HPV-16 being related to a greater risk of persistent parasite infection; a high viral load (> 102) for HPV-18 and -33 was related to a lower probability of TV-clearance. Ethnicity (afrodescendent/indigenous people: aHR 5.11) and having had more than two sexual partners (aHR 1.94) were related to greater risk of infection, contrasting with women having a background of abortions and lower probability of having TV (aHR 0.50). Women aged 35- to 49-years-old (aHR 2.08), increased years of sexual activity (aHR 1.10), multiple sexual partners (aHR 8.86) and multiparous women (aHR 3.85) led to a greater probability of persistence. Women whose cervical findings worsened had a 9.99 greater probability of TV-persistence. TV distribution was high in the study population; its coexistence with HPV and other risk factors influenced parasite infection dynamics. The results suggested that routine TV detection should be considered regarding populations at risk of infection.

Risk factor for breast cancer development under exposure to bovine leukemia virus in Colombian women: A case-control study

Viruses have been implicated in cancer development in both humans and animals. The role of viruses in cancer is typically to initiate cellular transformation through cellular DNA damage, although specific mechanisms remain unknown. Silent and long-term viral infections need to be present, in order to initiate cancer disease. In efforts to establish a causative role of viruses, first is needed to demonstrate the strength and consistency of associations in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the association of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a causative agent of leukemia in cattle, with breast cancer and its biomarkers used as prognosis of the severity of the disease (Ki67, HER2, hormonal receptors) in Colombian women. An unmatched, observational case–control study was conducted among women undergoing breast surgery between 2016–2018. Malignant samples (n = 75) were considered as cases and benign samples (n = 83) as controls. Nested-liquid PCR, in-situ PCR and immunohistochemistry were used for viral detection in blood and breast tissues. For the risk assessment, only BLV positive samples from breast tissues were included in the analysis. BLV was higher in cases group (61.3%) compared with controls (48.2%), with a statistically significant association between the virus and breast cancer in the unconditional logistic regression (adjusted-OR = 2.450,95%CI:1.088–5.517, p = 0.031). In this study, BLV was found in both blood and breast tissues of participants and an association between breast cancer and the virus was confirmed in Colombia, as an intermediate risk factor.

Asociación de Mujeres Afro por la Paz: Feminism with the Body and Face of a Woman

The Asociación de Mujeres Afro por la Paz (Association of Afro Women for Peace—AFROMUPAZ) is an organization of displaced Afro-Colombian women now based in Bogotá. The organization represents a differential brand of feminism in the face of historical and ongoing violence and provides community, support, and employment opportunities for dozens of women and their families. Its “feminism with a woman’s body and face” is part of the landscape of popular feminism in the region, but its specific social location and its actions cannot be understood without a deliberate and critical understanding of race. La Asociación de Mujeres Afro por la Paz (AFROMUPAZ) es una organización de mujeres afrocolombianas desplazadas ahora radicadas en Bogotá. La organización representa un tipo distinto de feminismo frente a la violencia histórica y continua, y ofrece oportunidades comunitarias, de apoyo y de empleo para decenas de mujeres y sus familias. Su “feminismo en cuerpo y cara de mujer” es parte del panorama del feminismo popular en la región, pero la comprensión de su ubicación social específica y acciones requiere de un acercamiento deliberado y crítico de la cuestión racial.

Online assessment of the perception of loneliness and associated factors in Colombian climacteric women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated changes due to confinement, this measure can increase the perception of loneliness. The objective was to estimate the frequencies of emotional, social and general loneliness and their association with fear and anxiety with COVID-19, religiosity and severe deterioration of quality of life in middle-aged women. Methods: A cross-sectional study in Colombian women (40-59 y, n=984) surveyed with an electronic form that included sociodemographic characteristics and validated measures (Menopause Rating Scale, de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, fear of COVID-19 scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and Francis Scale for Religiosity). Associations of emotional, social and general loneliness (dependent variables) with severe somatic, psychological, urogenital and quality of life deterioration, as well as with high religiosity, anxiety and high fear of COVID-19 (independent variables), were estimated. Results: The median age was 47 years old, and 39.2% [95% CI: 36.2-42.3] postmenopausal. Severe deterioration in somatic, psychological, urogenital domains and quality of life in women with emotional, social and general loneliness was found (P<0.001). In adjusted models, high fear of COVID-19, severe deterioration of psychological and urogenital domains and quality of life were associated with emotional, social and general loneliness. Anxiety with COVID-19, somatic domain and high religiosity were not associated with loneliness. Conclusion: Emotional, social and general loneliness were identified in 4/10 middle-aged Colombian women surveyed, and the associated factors were high fear of COVID-19, severe deterioration of quality of life and psychological and urogenital domains. Professionals who care for climacteric women should explore the perception of loneliness when assessing menopausal symptoms.

Intimate partner violence against women on the Colombia Ecuador border: a mixed-methods analysis of the liminal migrant experience

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) has serious long-term health and psychological consequences and is highly prevalent in Latin America and among displaced populations. Liminality - the ambiguous in-between state of individuals completing a migratory journey - represents a state of legal, economic, and physical insecurity. Through the framework of liminality, this analysis seeks to understand the unique challenges faced by displaced Colombian women in Ecuador including their experience of IPV. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of 15 in-depth interviews and 319 longitudinal surveys, conducted on the border of Ecuador and Colombia, following a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. We analysed interviews thematically and mapped the main themes onto complementary quantitative variables. We conducted logistic regression with identified risk and protective factors (measured at time 1) and recent IPV (measured at time 2), controlling for demographic characteristics and IPV at time 1. Results Our mixed-methods analysis revealed four main mechanisms by which displacement influenced the social and economic realities of Colombian women years after crossing the border, compounding their risk of IPV and limiting their ability to escape it. Lack of legal residence and documentation, violence experienced along life course and migratory continuums which increased their risk for later revictimisation, social isolation including loss of support networks and restricted mobility and lastly, financial stress. Conclusions This research highlights the critical importance of supporting the economic and social integration of migrants and refugees in host communities, as well as the need to carefully consider migration-related vulnerabilities in IPV prevention and response interventions. As the regional refugee crisis grows, policy makers must consider how the long-term marginalisation of refugee women contributes to their victimisation. This research also supports the idea of incorporating gender synchronised, transformative IPV prevention and response programmes into migration-related and poverty alleviation international development efforts.

Functional autonomy and sarcopenia markers in women over 55 years of age

Introduction: Some parameters used to diagnose sarcopenia, and functional autonomy disorders can lead to interpretation and classification errors. Objective: to analyze sarcopenia markers and their relationship with the strength and gait of physically active older women aged between 55 and 76 years. Materials & Methods: Analytical observational study conducted in 178 physically active Colombian women who were distributed in two age groups (Group 1: 55-66 years, n=98, and Group 2: 67-76 years, n=80). A multiple linear regression model was used to establish possible correlations between strength and gait indicators (dependent variables) and body composition (independent variables). Results: In group 1 (G1) the fat mass and the appendicular mass (appendicular lean/height2(kg/m2)) explained the variance of the power in the lower limbs (SJ: p= 0.001, R2 =0.56; CMJ: p =0.001, R2 =0.51; CMJAS: R2 =0.60, P= 0.001). Similar results were observed in group 2 (G2) (SJ: R2=0.32, DW=2.14; CMJ: R2 = 0.51, DW=2.38; CMJAS: R2=0.41, DW=2.56). Furthermore, fat mass explained differently the variance in G1 and G2 regarding the gait pattern (G1: p=-0.006; R2=20%; G2: p =-0.001; R2=29%). Conclusion: The records of fat and appendicular mass allow studying negative changes in lower limb strength, and their effect on the gait pattern, as well as identifying the type of sarcopenia and functional autonomy disorders in Colombian physically active Colombian women aged 55 to 76 years.