Factores de riesgo asociados con embarazos no deseados en mujeres estudiantes de medicina / Risk factors associated with unwanted pregnancies in female medical students

Resumen Introducción: La mayoría de los embarazos en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes son involuntarios y muchos son consecuencia del uso inconsistente de los métodos anticonceptivos. Objetivo: Analizar los factores de riesgo que pueden influir en las adolescentes que presentan embarazos no deseados. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal en estudiantes de medicina de Ecuador, para el cual se utilizó la Encuesta Nacional de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva 2013, escala APGAR familia y escala socioeconómica de Graffar-Méndez Castellanos. Resultados: Existió diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la edad de inicio de la vida sexual activa (18.11 ± 1.45) de las estudiantes que se embarazaron en comparación con las que no se embarazaron (19.22 ± 2.28). La edad promedio al embarazo fue de 20.41 ± 2.18); no usaron protección en su primera relación sexual, 59.3 % de las que tuvieron embarazo y 32 % de las que no lo tuvieron. El embarazo fue más frecuente en las residentes de ciudades (100 %), católicas (85.2 %), pertenecientes a estrato socioeconómico medio alto (55.6 %) y a familias con disfunción moderada (40.7 %). Conclusiones: Un porcentaje importante de estudiantes de medicina tuvo algún embarazo no deseado a temprana edad; la mayoría procedía de familias con disfunción moderada y de un nivel socioeconómico medio alto.

Abstract Introduction: Most pregnancies in adolescents and young adults are unwanted and many are the consequence of inconsistent contraception use. Objective: To analyze the risk factors that may influence on female adolescents with unwanted pregnancies. Method: Cross-sectional, descriptive study in Ecuadorian female medical students, where the 2013 National Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey, the family APGAR scale, and the Graffar-Méndez Castellanos socio-economic scale were used. Results: There was statistically significant difference in the age of active sexual life initiation between those who became pregnant (18.11 ± 1.45) and those who did not (19.22 ± 2.28). Average age at pregnancy was 20.41 ± 2.18; 59.3 % of those who had a pregnancy and 32% of those without pregnancy did not use protection in their first intercourse. Pregnancy was more common in city residents (100%), Catholic females (85.2%), who belonged to middle-high (55.6%) and middle-high socioeconomic strata (29.6%) and to families with moderate dysfunction (40.7%). Conclusions: A significant percentage of adolescents in our study had an unwanted pregnancy at an early age despite being young undergraduate medical students, coming from moderately dysfunctional families and belonging to a middle-high socioeconomic status.

Characterization and evaluation of liver fibrosis grade in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and normal transaminases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of our study was to determine the epidemiological, laboratory, and serological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and normal transaminases. The study also aimed to evaluate liver damage by measuring the liver fibrosis (LF) grade and to identify possible factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with chronic HBV infection and classified as inactive carriers or immune-tolerant. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, immigrant, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as virological variables (HBV DNA) and transaminase level were collected throughout the follow-up. The LF grade was evaluated by transient elastography. The cutoff value for significant fibrosis (SF) was liver stiffness ≥7.9 kPa. RESULTS: A total of 214 patients were included in the analysis, and 62% of them had a BMI ≥25 kg/m². During follow-up, 4% of patients showed transaminase elevation ( < 1.5 times normal). Most patients had a viral DNA level < 2,000 IU/mL (83%). Data on LF were available in 160 patients; of these, 14% had SF, 9% F3, and 6% F4. The variables associated with the presence of SF were transaminase alteration during follow-up, as 23% of patients with SF had elevated transaminases versus 3% of patients without SF (P < 0.005), and BMI, as the vast majority of patients with SF (88%) had a BMI ≥25 kg/m² versus 56% of patients without SF (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic HBV infection and normal transaminases, liver damage does not seem to be related to DNA levels, alcohol consumption, or immigrant status. SF seems to be associated with transaminase alteration during follow-up and elevated BMI. It is therefore recommended to measure LF grade with validated non-invasive methods in such patients.

Quality of life in perimenopausal women working in the health and educational system / Qualidade de vida em mulheres climatéricas que trabalham no sistema sanitário e educativo / Calidad de vida en mujeres climatéricas que trabajan en el sistema sanitario y educativo

The objective of this study was to determine the association between the professional activity and the perceived quality of life in climacteric women who work in Health and Education. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was developed in a sample of 203 climacteric women, together with a correlation analysis of labor factors’ influence on health-related quality of life. Significant differences were found between working women’s quality of life and some labor conditions. The perceived quality of life in perimenopausal women who work in Education is higher than that of those working in Health (p=0.004). Nursing professionals can develop health programs that deal with the work conditions that negatively influence the perceived quality of life in climacteric women.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a associação entre a atividade profissional e a qualidade de vida percebida em mulheres climatéricas que trabalham nas áreas da saúde e educação. Realizou-se estudo descritivo e transversal, numa amostra de 203 mulheres climatéricas, juntamente com análise correlacional da influência dos fatores de trabalho na qualidade de vida, relacionada à saúde. Encontraram-se diferenças significativas entre a qualidade de vida das trabalhadoras e algumas variáveis laborais. A qualidade de vida percebida pelas mulheres perimenopáusicas que trabalham na área da educação é superior à daquelas que trabalham na área da saúde (p=0,004). Os profissionais de enfermagem podem elaborar programas de saúde que abordem as condições de trabalho que influenciam negativamente a qualidade de vida percebida pelas mulheres climatéricas.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la asociación entre la actividad profesional y la calidad de vida percibida en mujeres climatéricas que trabajan en las áreas sanitaria y educativa. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, en una muestra de 203 mujeres climatéricas, junto al análisis correlacional de la influencia de los factores laborales en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre la calidad de vida de las trabajadoras y algunas condiciones laborales. La calidad de vida percibida por las mujeres perimenopáusicas que trabajan en educación es superior a la de las que trabajan en salud (p=0,004). Los profesionales de Enfermería pueden elaborar programas de salud, que aborden las condiciones de trabajo que influyen negativamente en la calidad de vida percibida por las mujeres climatéricas.