Mobilize, invent and intervene in the University context: research, prevention and intervention as actions against the pandemic COVID - 19

This text presents the initiatives of a public University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the first moments of the Covid-19 pandemic. It seeks to point out how, in a brief period of time, marked by many intensities due to a new pandemic, numerous activities related to the history of the Institute of Psychology and the University that houses it were organized. As this is an experience report, it describes research, intervention and extension activities carried out by its faculty and students, analyzing the impacts of each one of them not only to the outside world but also to the inside of the institution in its continuous development process facing social demands and historical challenges. The results of this work reveal the major purpose of the University in fulfilling its social commitments and enforcing the tripod of teaching, assistance and research, benefiting the university community, but especially the disadvantaged social groups linked to it. © 2022, Sociedad Interamericana de Psicologia. All rights reserved.

Mental health of female sex workers in the COVID-19 pandemic: stressors and coping strategies

The objective was to analyze the coping strategies adopted by female sex workers in the face of stressors resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative study supported by Systems and Coping theories. An in-depth interview was carried out with 30 sex workers from the Alto Sertão Produtivo Baiano between September and October 2020. The narratives were submitted to the resources of hermeneutics-dialectic to orga-nize the categories. Four categories make reference to the system’s stressors: negative feelings of fear, anxiety and difficulties in sleeping with the uncertainties in the face of the pandemic;concern about personal and family support;irritability in the face of conflicts;anxieties and insecurities with working conditions. Five categories allude to cop-ing: strategies focused on the problem (pandemic);reframing and regulation of emotions;spirituality and religiosity;support networks and social sup-port;use of medications. Stressors arise as a result of sexual service experiences combined with the pandemic situation with reduced customers and income, leading to the development of negative feelings and emotions. However, coping strategies are diverse and they women made effort to deal with problems and to balance their mental health.

Perception of female sex workers about quality of life during the covid-19 pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has interfered with the quality of life and well-being of sex workers, as there has been a drop in income due to the absence of clients during social distancing policies. Objective: To analyze the perception that women in paid sexual service have on the quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Descriptive and qualitative study, carried out with 30 women residing in the Alto Sertão de Bahía Productive Region (Brazil), in areas where prostitution sites are located, between August and September 2020. The in-depth interview was used as a technique of information gathering, whose speeches were subjected to Semantic Content Analysis. Results: Two categories were observed, which portrayed the perception of the quality of life of the participants during the pandemic, with references to the concept and attitudinal problems indicated by the World Health Organization. The positive aspects were related to the money that sex work can bring to them and the means to obtain a healthy life, however, as something far from being achieved at that time. In turn, the statements of some women showed that the negative dimension was surrounded by demotivation with the sexual service. Conclusion: There is a quality of life associated with money and well-being, obtained with sexual service, however, they are having difficulty thinking about this aspect during the pandemic due to the reduction in customer demand. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.

Dengue and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection in an HIV positive patient

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease confined to the geographical areas where its vectors Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are present. The transmission occurs mainly during the summer but it can extend to autumn months in warm climates. In our country, this year the seasonal transmission o f dengue overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus responsible of serious respiratory conditions with eventual fatal outcomes. On the other hand, the HIV is a retrovirus that causes disease by weakening the immune system, favoring infections by numerous opportunistic pathogens. We present the case of an untreated HIV patient who developed simultaneous infection with dengue and SARS-CoV-2 with favorable evolution. El dengue es una arbovirosis confinada a las áreas geográficas donde habitan sus vectores, los mosquitos Aedes aegypti y Aedes albopictus. La transmisión ocurre principalmente durante el verano, pero la persistencia del insecto en el ambiente puede extenderla hasta el otoño en climas templados y cálidos. En nuestro país, este año la trasmisión estacional del dengue se superpuso temporalmente con la pandemia de COVID-19, producida por el SARS-CoV-2, un coronavirus causante de afecciones respiratorias graves con eventual desenlace fatal. Por otro lado, el HIV es un retrovirus que debilita el sistema inmune favoreciendo las infecciones por numerosos patógenos oportunistas. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con infección HIV sin tratamiento que desarrolló infección simultánea por dengue y SARS-CoV-2 con evolución favorable.

[Tuberculosis and COVID-19 coinfection]

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease endemic in Argentina most often localized in the lungs, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It usually afflicts poor population groups and has a significant impact on public health. COVID-19 is an acute viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 presenting with a typical respiratory localization, which eventually displays clinical and radiological similarities with pulmonary tuberculosis. Both entities can have a fatal outcome if they are not diagnosed and treated on time. We present a case series where pulmonary tuberculosis and COVID-19 were diagnosed simultaneously.

[Simultaneous diagnosis and favorable evolution of infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii, SARS-CoV-2 and advanced HIV]

SARS-CoV-2 causes the disease named COVID-19, which emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and developed into the current pandemic. The manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection are highly variable. The worst outcomes are usually associated with advanced age and known risk factors. Among these, it would be reasonable to consider conditions compromising the immune system, particularly the immunodeficiency associated to HIV. To date, however, there is no evidence of HIV infection worsening the evolution and prognosis of COVID-19. Pneumocystis jirovecii (previously-P. carinii) pneumonia, is a fungal disease that most commonly affects immunocompromised persons and can be life-threatening. Typically, patients at risk are those with any underlying condition altering host immunity. We present the case of a middle-aged woman with Raynaud's syndrome who was admitted with pneumonia. During hospitalization she was simultaneously diagnosed with infection by HIV, COVID-19 and P. jirovecci. The patient evolved favorably upon empirical treatment without requiring invasive maneuvers or ventilatory support. Outpatient follow-up after hospital discharge was uneventful.

The dying process and death of patients with COVID-19: A reflection in the light of spirituality

Objective: to reflect on the dying process and death of patients with Covid-19 in the light of spirituality. Development: Amid the pandemic caused by the new Coronavirus, we once again face the feared death, with an aggravating factor: increasing number of deaths characterized by the lack of opportunity for the individuals to say goodbye to their loved ones, dying patients accompanied only by health professionals, and bodies taken directly to the cemeteries. It is worth discussing here an element through which most people seek strength: spirituality. Final considerations: Understanding the sense of spirituality on the part of health professionals, in search of support for dying patients and bereaved families is important, as spirituality can be a potential factor of integration and harmonization of interpersonal relationships. © 2020, Universidade Federal do Parana. All rights reserved.

Situations of health vulnerabilities experienced by sex workers in times of covid-19 pandemic

Objective: To reflect on the situations of health vulnerabilities experienced by sex workers during the pandemic resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Method: This is a reflective study, based on the conceptual theoretical framework of vulnerability in four dimensions: Ontological, epidemiological, symbolic and political-programmatic. Result: The health of sex workers, in the daily experience of sexual work, has been a challenge for governments among all groups associated with stigmas and vulnerable populations, precisely because they are socially marginalized. This is important for understanding this phenomenon in the midst of the financial, economic and health crisis that people from different nations suffer before the progress of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: The situations of health vulnerability resulting from the SARS-CoV-2 infection that expose sex workers are consolidated, mainly, by the absence of the State in the social-legal protection and in the guarantee of human rights, so that these women acquire conditions of coping and prevention. © 2021 Universidade Federal da Bahia. All rights reserved.

Health Surveillance actions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, health surveillance, as well as other health sectors, needed to adapt to develop its activities in a new challenging context. Objective: To describe the actions of health surveillance professionals in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is an experience report about the work in the sector of health surveillance during the pandemic in a Regional Health Center in the state of Bahia. Results: Actions undertaken in a health barrier were reported, including: welcoming, lectures, respiratory symptoms testing and notification, as well as the offer of continuing health education activities, in person and on-line, meetings with municipal managers, and other actions performed by the team, highlighting the intersectoral and intersectoral nature. Conclusions: The experience of the work conducted is consistent with the proposals of the Contingency Plan. Partnerships are of paramount importance for the professionals working in the sector of health surveillance and others, given the complexity of the pandemic moment. The experience also represents a learning process in dealing with new technological tools and allowed the creation of spaces for reflecting on work processes, as well as on new possibilities of approaching in light of the current challenges.

Covid-19 coping-prevention strategies for female sexual workers in the context of various countries

Objective: to analyze the scientific evidence on COVID-19 coping and prevention strategies implemented to female sex workers in the context of several countries. Methods: this is an integrative literature review, with data collected in the PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library and Google Scholar databases using the Boolean descriptors “COVID-19” and “sex workers” and “Delivery of Health Care”, with a time frame from 2019 to 2020. A priori, 215 publications were found. After selection, anchored in the inclusion criteria and in the answer to the guiding question, 19 articles were used, whose information was organized in a synoptic table, and the texts were analyzed using semantic content. Results: after content analysis of actions implemented or recommended in different countries, so that female sex workers can prevent contamination by Sars-CoV-2, four categories were highlighted: programmatic/ governmental actions and responses from society;combating the stigmas involved in sex work;health education through technological/digital and media resources;adjustment of health services. Conclusion: gender, race and class inequalities, as well as social stigmas, have been maintained by states governed by patriarchy and, therefore, are the main barriers for female sex workers to adopt strategies to combat COVID-19. Even so, intersectoral actions have been implemented/recommended in several countries such as the adjustment of sexual health services, financial incentives to improve the services of signal operators and digital technologies to implement effective actions to promote health education and enable the distribution of inputs for individual protection and prevention. © 2021, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. All rights reserved.