Relationship between universal health insurance benefits and prostate cancer mortality in Colombia.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is the most common cause for cancer mortality among men in Colombia. Law 100, in 1993, created a contributory regime (private insurance) and subsidized regime (public insurance) in which the subsidized regime had fewer benefits. However, Ruling T760 in July 2012 mandated that both systems must offer equal quality and access to healthcare.

Cancer mortality among Colombian and foreign populations over a 15-year period.

Purpose: We aimed to compare cancer mortality among foreign- and Colombian populations in Colombia during the period of 2006-2020.

Methods: This retrospective study utilized vital statistics from the Colombian National Department of Statistics (DANE). The dataset included variables such as age group, sex, country of permanent residency, insurance, education level, marital status, ethnicity, and cause of death.

Impact of the universal health insurance benefits on cervical cancer mortality in Colombia.

Background: Cervical cancer patients in Colombia have a lower likelihood of survival compared to breast cancer patients. In 1993, Colombia enrolled citizens in one of two health insurance regimes (contributory-private insurance and subsidized- public insurance) with fewer benefits in the subsidized regime. In 2008, the Constitutional Court required the Colombian government to unify services of both regimes by 2012.

Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia.

Background: This study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories.

Methods: We conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts on the national and regional armed conflict and the medical mission, and 26 female health workers who were victims of attacks.

Results: Experts and female health workers reported attacks to health activities, facilities, equipment, and personnel, including attacks to traditional doctors belonging to indigenous communities.

Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st edition: Formative research on the comprehension and persuasiveness of the recommendations by the general population.

Background: Cancer prevention is the most efficient and cost-effective strategy in cancer control. One prevention strategy is giving credible, clear, and evidence-based recommendations to the individual; however, it is key that these messages are accepted and understood properly by the public. This study aimed to pilot the draft recommendations developed as part of the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Code Against Cancer 1st edition, in terms of comprehension and persuasion of each message.

Latin America and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer 1st edition: Building capacity on cancer prevention to primary healthcare professionals.

Introduction: Every year 1.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Of these, about 40 % could be prevented.

Delivering health interventions to women, children, and adolescents in conflict settings: what have we learned from ten country case studies?

Armed conflict disproportionately affects the morbidity, mortality, and wellbeing of women, newborns, children, and adolescents. Our study presents insights from a collection of ten country case studies aiming to assess the provision of sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition interventions in ten conflict-affected settings in Afghanistan, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. We found that despite large variations in contexts and decision making processes, antenatal care, basic emergency obstetric and newborn care, comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, immunisation, treatment of common childhood illnesses, infant and young child feeding, and malnutrition treatment and screening were prioritised in these ten conflict settings.

Engagement in Tobacco Use Prompting During Childhood or Adolescence and Its Association with Tobacco Use in Adulthood among Colombian Women.

Although most tobacco users initiate this behavior before the age of 18, little is known about engaging in tobacco use prompting behaviors (TPBs) during childhood/adolescence and tobacco use in adulthood, particularly among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The purpose of this study was to examine engagement in TPBs during childhood or adolescence and tobacco use in adulthood among Colombian women and whether or not current/past tobacco users who were engaged in TPBs during their childhood or adolescence had more odds of engaging other children or adolescents in these behaviors as adults. There were 4262 adult women who were recruited and completed an interviewer-administered survey through a door-to-door approach across the 9 regions of Antioquia, Colombia using a multi-stage probabilistic sampling.

Health-related quality of life of women after HPV testing as triage strategy for an abnormal Pap smear: a nested randomized pragmatic trial in a middle-income country.

Background: Information obtained in studies on the impact of human papilloma virus (HPV) testing on health-related quality of life is contradictory.

Objective: To assess the impact on health-related quality of life of the HPV test, colposcopy, and cytology as triage strategies after a cytology with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in Medellín, Colombia.

Methods: We carried out a nested analysis on the randomized pragmatic trial (ASCUS-COL).

Health in conflict and post-conflict settings: reproductive, maternal and child health in Colombia.

Background: In conflict-afflicted areas, pregnant women and newborns often have higher rates of adverse health outcomes.

Objective: To describe maternal and child health indicators and interventions between 1998 and 2016 comparing high and low conflict areas in Colombia.

Methods: Mixed study of convergent triangulation.

Validation of Spanish version of the human papilloma virus impact profile (HIP).

To examine the construct validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the HPV Impact Profile scale (HIP) among women in Medellin, Colombia. We conducted a nested analysis of data from the pragmatic randomized controlled trial "Evaluation of Strategies for Optimal Clinical Management of Women with Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance" (ASCUS-COL; NCT02067468). Women with Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASCUS) were randomly assigned to one of three triage strategies (Pap smear, colposcopy, HPV).

Psychosocial impact of inclusion of HPV test on the management of women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance: a study within a randomised pragmatic trial in a middle-income country.

To assess the psychosocial impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, colposcopy, and Pap-smear, as triage strategies after a Pap-smear with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). We also sought to evaluate the psychosocial impact based on the results of the strategies. Nested within a randomised pragmatic trial, which compared an immediate colposcopy, repeat Pap-smear, and high risk HPV test, we enrolled 675 women between 2012 and 2014.

Perception about barriers and facilitators of the school-based HPV vaccine program of Manizales, Colombia: A qualitative study in school-enrolled girls and their parents.

In 2012, Colombia implemented a school-based HPV vaccination program of a 3-dose series for nine year old girls. Following a mass psychogenic response after vaccination in a Colombian town, vaccination rates dropped from 80% in 2012-2013 to 5% in 2016. The study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators of HPV vaccine uptake among girls eligible for vaccination in the initial years of vaccine implementation from 2012 to 2014, and their parents.

Association between violence during pregnancy and preterm birth and low birth weight in Colombia: Analysis of the demographic and health survey.

To explore the association between low birth weight and preterm birth with violence during pregnancy, we conducted a cross-sectional study by using the 2010 Colombian Demographic and Health Survey. We conducted bivariate analyses, binomial logistic regression, and stratified models by age, and 14,520 women were included. There was no association between violence and low birth weight.

Evaluation of Entertainment Education Strategies to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening and Knowledge in Colombian Women.

Cervical cancer is considered to be a major health problem for women in developing countries, but it is also problematic for more developed countries as global migration increases and health behaviors move from the countries of origin to new places of residence. We designed and produced a testimonial video and a fotonovela (printed short story) to educate women about cervical cancer and screening. The development of the materials included formative research, production, pretesting, dissemination, and evaluation.

Health Beliefs Associated with the Follow-Up of Pap Smear Abnormalities Among Low-Income Women in Medellín, Colombia.

The purpose of the study was to explore variables of the health belief model in relation to the follow-up of abnormal Pap smear among low-income women in Medellín, Colombia. Eight focus groups (62 women) were conducted according to age groups (25-45 and 46-69 years). The data were analyzed using content analysis.

Sowing the Seeds of Health: Training of Community Health Advisors to Promote Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening among Latina Immigrants in Alabama.

Latinas in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by breast and cervical cancer.

The effect of misclassification error on risk estimation in case-control studies.

Introduction: In epidemiological studies, misclassification error, especially differential misclassification, has serious implications.

Objective: To illustrate how differential misclassification error (DME) and non-differential misclassification error (NDME) occur in a case-control design and to describe the trends in DME and NDME.

Methods: Different sensitivity levels, specificity levels, prevalence rates and odds ratios were simulated.

Acceptability and usability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing among African-American women living in the Mississippi Delta.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing has been shown to be an effective approach to cervical cancer screening, and self-collection sampling for HPV testing could be a potential alternative to Pap test, provided that women who tested positive by any method get timely follow-up and care. This feasibility study examined acceptability and usability of self-collected sampling for HPV testing among African-American (AA) women in the Mississippi Delta to inform the development of interventions to promote cervical cancer screening in this population.

Methods: The study consisted of two phases.

Preventive and curative care utilization among Mexican immigrant women in Birmingham, AL.

This study aims to describe the utilization of curative and preventive care among Mexican immigrant women in the country of origin versus the US, and to identify factors associated with preventive and curative care utilization. A cross-sectional sample of 185 Mexican immigrant women living in Birmingham, AL between 2004 and 2005 were included in this study. Fisher's Exact tests showed that there was a statistically significant difference between seeking curative care (p < 0.

Sexual health knowledge of male and female Latino immigrants.

To explore sexual health knowledge among Latino immigrants in a Southern U.S. city, we conducted 20 qualitative interviews, (10 Women and 10 Men).

A successful guide in understanding Latino immigrant patients: an aid for health care professionals.

The recent growth of Latino immigrants in the United States has presented great challenges to the health care system, particularly in "emerging Latino states." An educational DVD was developed to aid professionals in providing culturally competent care to Latino immigrants and better understand their expectations when seeking care, as well as common cultural beliefs and practices. Knowledge and confidence was assessed through pre- and posttest measurements among 515 health care professionals nationwide.

Contribution of health care coverage in cervical cancer screening follow-up: findings from a cross-sectional study in Colombia.

Objective: To determine the role of health care coverage (HCC) in follow-up of cervical cancer screening (seeking Papanicolaou test results and follow-up when abnormal results were found) among Colombian women.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of 24,717 women, using the 2005 Colombian Demographic and Health Survey, was conducted.

Results: Nearly 4% of women screened did not seek their results.

Awareness and knowledge about human papillomavirus among Latina immigrants.

Objective: Few studies have examined associations with the public's awareness and knowledge of the human papillomavirus (HPV) among Latina immigrants. The primary purpose of this study was to assess HPV awareness and knowledge, while examining demographic and healthcare utilization associations.

Methods: From 2007-2009 as part of a larger randomized control trial, 543 Latina immigrants living in Birmingham, Alabama completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Factors associated with perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer among Latina immigrants in Alabama.

To examine factors associated with perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer among Latina immigrants in two counties in Alabama. Datasets from two anonymous cross-sectional surveys from two studies were combined for these analyses. The total sample size was 743 women.