Prevalence and determinants of genital Chlamydia trachomatis among school-going, sexually experienced adolescents in urban and rural Indigenous regions of Panama

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Cuban adolescent and young populations

BACKGROUND

In Cuba, little is known regarding the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in adolescents and young people. We study the frequency of CT infection in these populations, and its association with clinical-epidemiological variables.

METHODS

A total of 496 individuals aged 12 to 24 were recruited from November 2018 to November 2019. Of them, 302 were patients attending at sexually transmitted infections (STI) services and 194 were young volunteers. CT detections were carried out by real-time PCR and IgG serology.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CT using PCR was 9.1% (45/496); 12.3% (37/302) for subjects attending STI service and 4.1% (8/194) for young volunteers, being significantly higher in the first group (OR=3.25; p=.001). CT IgG antibodies was detected in 38.6% (81/210). Individuals from 12 to 17 years old were more likely infected with CT (OR=2.21; p=.010). Infection was associated with the early onset of sexual intercourse, the frequent changing of sexual partners and black ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that Cuban adolescents and young populations are at highest risk of acquiring CT infection and developing reproductive complications. The data obtained advise the needs of implementation of a routine CT screening strategy, for timely diagnosis, detection and treatment at the earliest ages.

Adolescents’ World: Know One Tell One against Unsafe Sexual Behaviours, Teenage Pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections Including Chlamydia

Addressing adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) matters using multidisciplinary pedagogical innovations may assure the proper development and well-being of adolescents so that they reach the adulthood stage healthy and strong enough to produce for their future investment. This is in response to sustainable development goal number 3, target 3.7, and SDG4, target 4.7 in particular emphasizes the universal availability and accessibility of sexual information and education among people and knowledge and skills for gender equality, human rights and sustainable lifestyles by 2030, respectively. Yet, the innovative strategies may respond to a call stated by SGD5 (gender equality), target 5.3 which advocates the elimination of child, early, and forced marriages, and target 5.6 which focuses on ensuring universal access to SRH and rights to all by 2030.

Dating violence prevalence and risk factors among adolescents (14-19 years) in urban public schools in Panama

Background

Adolescent dating violence (ADV) can have lasting effects on youth's well-being and development. However, few studies in Latin America have described its prevalence and risk factors for having experienced ADV.

Methods

We conducted a multisite, cross-sectional study using two-stage cluster sampling among adolescents (14-19 years) attending public high schools in the urban districts of Panama, San Miguelito, Colón, and Arraiján/La Chorrera from 2015 to 2018 (N = 2469). All completed a tablet-based, self-administered questionnaire. Random effects logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for each ADV type among adolescent boys and girls separately.

Findings

Participants reported experiencing a range of ADV at least once (girls: emotional 61.6%, physical 7.9%, sexual 21.0%; boys: emotional 73.4%, physical 24.1%, sexual 28.9%). In adjusted models, participants with a history of sexual intercourse had greater odds of ADV than those without such history across types (boys: emotional and sexual; girls: emotional, physical, and sexual). Additionally, participants who reported three or more romantic partners in the past year had greater odds of ADV than those with one partner (boys: emotional, physical; girls: physical). Girls with an earlier sexual debut (≤14 years vs ≥15 years) had greater odds of reporting ADV (emotional and sexual violence). No associations were found between reporting dating violence survival and the sex of romantic partners in the past year or the age of the current/most recent sex partner.

Interpretation

This study reveals a high prevalence of ADV among adolescents in urban public schools in Panama. These findings support the need for program implementation to address ADV.

Funding

Funding to undertake this study was acquired from Panama's Ministry of Economics and Finance, project number 009044.049.

How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

OBJECTIVE

To describe reported changes in sexual behaviours, including virtual sex (sexting and cybersex), and access to HIV/STI testing and care during COVID-19 measures in Panama.

METHODS

We conducted an online cross-sectional survey from 8 August to 12 September 2020 among adults (≥18 years) residing in Panama. Participants were recruited through social media. Questions included demographics, access to HIV/STI testing and HIV care, and sexual behaviours 3 months before COVID-19 social distancing measures and during social distancing measures (COVID-19 measures). Logistic regression was used to identify associations between variables and behavioural changes.

RESULTS

We recruited 960 participants; 526 (54.8%) identified as cis-women, 366 (38.1%) cis-men and 68 (7.1%) non-binary or another gender. The median age was 28 years (IQR: 23-37 years), and 531 of 957 (55.5%) were of mixed ethnicity (mixed Indigenous/European/Afro-descendant ancestry). Before COVID-19 measures, virtual sex was reported by 38.5% (181 of 470) of cis-women, 58.4% (184 of 315) cis-men and 45.0% (27 of 60) non-binary participants. During COVID-19 measures, virtual sex increased among 17.2% of cis-women, 24.7% cis-men and 8.9% non-binary participants. During COVID-19 measures, 230 of 800 (28.8%) participants reported decreased casual sex compared with pre-COVID-19 measures. Compared with pre-COVID-19 measures, decreased casual sex was reported more frequently during COVID-19 measures by cis-men compared with cis-women (39.2% vs 22.9%, urban/rural adjusted OR (AOR)=2.17, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.01), and by Afro-descendant compared with participants of mixed ethnicity (40.0% vs 29.8%, AOR=1.78, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.94). Compared with no change in virtual sex (16.8%), increased virtual sex (38.5%, AOR=1.78, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.88) and decreased virtual sex (86.7%, AOR=16.53, 95% CI 7.74 to 35.27) were associated with decreased casual sex encounters. During COVID-19 measures, HIV/STI testing could not be obtained by 58.0% (58 of 100) of the participants who needed a test, and interrupted HIV care was reported by 53.3% (8 of 15) of participants living with HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 measures in Panama were associated with a decrease in casual sex among cis-men and Afro-descendant people, while access to HIV/STI testing and care was seriously disrupted.

The effect of training given using three different methods on genital hygiene behaviours after medical curettage

This research was conducted to determine the effect of genital hygiene training given with three different methods after medical curettage on genital hygiene behaviours. A randomised semi-experimental study was performed with 90 patients who underwent medical curettage at a university hospital in Turkey. The participants were divided into three equal groups: verbal training, training with written materials, and demonstration only. Data was collected using the Patient Information Form and the Genital Hygiene Behaviour Scale. There was no difference between mean pre-training and post-training Genital Hygiene Behaviours Scale total and sub-dimension scores in the verbal group (p > .05). There was a difference between the groups after the training between the mean total and sub-dimensions of the Genital Hygiene Behaviour Scale scores (p < .05). The study findings showed that the demonstration method in genital hygiene training given to participants who underwent medical curettage was more effective in improving genital hygiene behaviours than other methods.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? It is seen that verbal education alone is not effective in providing and developing genital hygiene behaviours. Although studies are investigating the effectiveness of education on genital hygiene behaviours of women, there is no study investigating the effectiveness of education methods.What do the results of this study add? The demonstration method for the development of genital hygiene behaviours is more effective than verbal and written education methods.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of training methods for the development of genital hygiene behaviours. Nurses' preference for demonstration methods in genital hygiene education programs may contribute to the protection and development of health by facilitating the teaching of correct health behaviours.