RESUMEN
As HIV infection is increasing among women, evaluation, prevention, and education campaigns need to target this vulnerable population. Because of their frequent and accepted contact with members of the community, female law officers, if knowledgeable, could be well suited to provide information/education related to HIV/STD transmission. A survey of HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk behaviors was administered to 120 law enforcement women (LEW) and 60 women from the general population (GPW) in Bogotá, Colombia. LEW indicated a very high (90%) understanding of basic HIV knowledge. Although most (52%) of the LEW did not report high-risk behaviors, 29% indicated having unprotected sex during menses, and 17% had unprotected anal sex. This contrasts, however, with GPW, who were of similar age, but had a significantly higher prevalence (73%) of risky behaviors (P=.004). Moreover, 52% of the GPW reported having unprotected anal sex, and approximately half of this group (55%) indicated having unprotected sex during menses. Alcohol and drug users were also more prevalent in the GPW: 14% frequently used alcohol and 3% inhaled drugs during sexual encounters, contrasted to 2% of LEW reporting alcohol use. GPW were four times more likely than LEW, to engage in high-risk sexual practices [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.9-10.4, P=0.034]. Multivariate analyses indicated that alcohol and/or drug use were significantly associated with high-risk sexual practices [odds ratio (OR)=4.7, 95% confidence intervals (CI)=1.3-18.4, P=.02). Improved educational HIV/AIDS programs are needed, particularly for women in the general population, who use alcohol/drugs during sexual encounters, which account, at least in part, for their high-risk behaviors. Women in law enforcement, who appear knowledgeable and exhibit safer behaviors, could be useful educators for GPW. Because of their professional role in the community, training for LEW in HIV/AIDS education/prevention programs should be considered.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por VIH/prevención & control , Educación en Salud , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Aplicación de la Ley , Policia/educación , Asunción de Riesgos , Mujeres Trabajadoras/psicología , Adolescente , Adulto , Colombia , Recolección de Datos , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Policia/clasificación , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias , Sexo Inseguro , Recursos HumanosRESUMEN
The present community-based study in Bogotá, Colombia, investigated risk assessment and preventive counseling practices of obstetrician/gynecologists (ob/gyn n = 34) and their impact on women's (n = 230) knowledge and risk behaviors. The data indicate that physician education has a significant and positive impact on women's knowledge and behavior. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, women instructed by their ob/gyn were 11 times more likely to correctly identify preventive measures (p = 0.0001) and high-risk sexual practices for the HIV /sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) transmission (4x; p = 0.05) and were less likely to engage in high-risk sexual practices (OR = 2; p = 0.05). Few ob/gyns (17%), however, assess risk behaviors and provide risk reduction counseling, and only 6% frequently encouraged HIV testing. These findings highlight the potential public health impact of ob/gyn physicians and underscore the need to increase their involvement in halting the HIV/STD epidemic in Colombia.
Asunto(s)
Consejo , Ginecología/normas , Infecciones por VIH/prevención & control , Obstetricia/normas , Pautas de la Práctica en Medicina , Adulto , Colombia , Femenino , Investigación sobre Servicios de Salud , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Evaluación de Programas y Proyectos de Salud , Conducta de Reducción del Riesgo , Asunción de RiesgosRESUMEN
La inmunoglobulina E, descrita desde 1963 y aislada en 1966 por Ishizaka, ha sido considerada unicamente como el anticuerpo de la respuesta alérgica. En la actualidad, gracias a los conocimientos alcanzados sobre un papel en el sistema de defensa, se abren esperanzadoras perspectivas con respecto a un posible empleo en el seguimiento de los niños infectados por VIH