Collective minds: Emotional support and counselling program using information and communications technologies

Aims: The counselling and support program of the Collective Minds Ecosystem [Mentes Colectivas] is a university-based program that aims to provide free and available counselling services in mental and sexual and reproductive health to people over 14 years in Colombia. Method(s): The program uses diverse information and communications technologies such as: traditional phone, SMS, and Internet mediated chat and video calls. Results and Conclusion(s): Since September 2020 to October 2022, 4873 users have been counselled, most of them are female (78.2%, n = 3809/4873), 46% of the users are between 18 to 29 years old. The program has served most of the Colombian territory, reaching 28/32 departments;as expected, the 4 remained are in the Amazon region, which is the area with the lowest internet connectivity. Most of the counselled (84%) had some type of psychological distress (measured with the Kessler-6 scale): 27% were classified as having mild psychological discomfort, 37% moderate and 20% severe. The most frequent topics in mental health include anxiety, depression, and relationship problems. In relation to sexual and reproductive health counselling, they were sexual education, anticonception, and pregnancy. By making use of diverse technologies, the Collective Minds program has managed to reach different parts of Colombia, providing free counselling and support to individuals in need. It has also assisted to mitigate the post-COVID-19 negative effects on mental and sexual and reproductive health by breaking down economic, geographic, and specialized human capital barriers.

Sexual health and contraceptives in the young people of the XXI century

Youth is a key period of life to ensure future well-being, especially in relation to sexuality. The general objective is to analyze the sexual education of young people today regarding sexual practices and to study the use of contraceptive methods. Material(s) and Method(s): It is a cross-sectional, observational study of cases. Designed a digital questionnaire made with Google consisting of 26 items and 3 blocks: social-demographic data, female sexuality and sexual health. Data analysis the statistical program SPSS 25.0. Result(s): The sample obtained: 1320 women. Social-demographic data: ages between 15 and 29 years and 58.3% of the women had a partner. The most frequent sexual orientation: 77% heterosexual. Female sexuality: for 63.9% of women, sex is an important part of their relationships and 43.3% consider themselves attractive people. The most rejected practices: anal sex, during menstruation or with the light on. 4.7% do not feel prepared to require their sexual partner to use a condom. 9.7% are not able to request sexual practices that they want. 6.2% state that they do not avoid any practice despite the fact that some of them cause discomfort. During the Covid-19 situation, the frequency of sexual relations decreases by 49% and the absent practices of viral transmission via online increase. Regarding sexual education, we observe that the majority have been provided by friends, that is, unqualified personnel. The most explained topics are focused on the traditional aspects of sexual health and human development, therefore it is an education that is not of quality, data confirmed by 58% of women. The contraceptive methods most used by women are condoms and oral contraceptives, whose main purpose is the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (condoms). Its use can have negative connotations such as decreased sexual desire, excitement, sensitivity and orgasm disorders. Conclusion(s): Currently, young women perceive sexuality more and more naturally, talking about it without fear or censorship. Sex educators are mostly not qualified personnel. The SARS-CoV2 (Covid-19) situation increases the number of sexual practices online, decreasing it. The contraceptive methods most used by women are condoms and oral contraceptives.Copyright © 2023

OLFACTORY FUNCTION AND BRAIN STRUCTURAL EFFECTS FOLLOWING SARS-CoV-2 INFECTION

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection is accompanied by acute olfactory disturbance in as high as 70% of cases. This loss is associated with decreased olfactory bulb volume. As time passes, the anosmia tends to subside, but the OB volume decrease does not. Volume reductions in primary and secondary olfactory cortex are also seen following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nevertheless, concurrent SARS-CoV-2 infection effects on olfactory discrimination, olfactory bulb volume, primary olfactory cortex and its targets have not been investigated. To explore this possibility, we measured olfactory discrimination, olfactory bulb volume, primary olfactory cortex and basal ganglia volume in patients who had SARS-CoV-2 infection more than 12 weeks previously, who were then divided into COVID and long-COVID groups on the basis of selfreported fatigue and concentration complaints. Method(s): This cross-sectional study included 25 post-infection and 19 demographically-matched, no-COVID control participants, we investigated effects on olfaction using NIH Toolbox Odor Identification Test and the Monell Smell Questionnaire. GM structure was assessed with voxel-based morphometry and manual delineation of high resolution (1mm3), T1- and T2-weighted MRI data. Linear regression was used to model group effects on GM structure, adjusting for age, sex, education and total intracranial volume. CAT12/SPM12 and R were used for image processing and statistical modeling. Result(s): Results. The NIH Toolbox Odor Identification Test failed to show differences among the groups. In contrast, the Monell Smell Questionnaire revealed persistently diminished and distorted smell in 50% of the long-COVID sample. Olfactory bulb volume was lower in the long-COVID group (p=0.02). Primary olfactory cortex volume was reduced in the long-COVID group (p=0.004). Caudate volume was also lower in the long-COVID group (p=0.04). Conclusion(s): Conclusions. In the absence of olfactory discrimination problems, long-COVID, but not COVID, patients experience persistent olfactory loss and distortion. These perceptual problems are associated with lower olfactory bulb, primary olfactory cortex, and caudate volume, suggesting that the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection can extend beyond the olfactory periphery in some cases to affect central targets. (Figure Presented).

Association between Food Insecurity and Blood Pressure in A Multiethnic Population

Hypertension (HTN) is the strongest modifiable risk factor for CVD that is disproportionately higher in racial/ethnic groups, e.g., Native Hawaiians. Native Hawaiians have over a 50% prevalence of HTN (i.e., systolic blood pressure (SBP) of =130mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of =80mmHg), placing them at higher risk for CVD. Behavioral/biological risk factors (e.g., BMI, diet, physical activity) are often the focus of epidemiological and intervention research;yet, socioeconomic factors, such as food insecurity, also affect blood pressure.The purpose of this study is to examine the association between food insecurity and SBP and DBP in Native Hawaiians communities, controlling for demographics and behavioral/biological risk factors.Participants in this 2020, cross-sectional study (N = 125) were from six, predominantly Native Hawaiian communities across Hawai'i. Demographic variables included age, sex, education, and race/ethnicity. Potential confounding variables were leisure-time physical activity, daily servings of processed meat, daily servings of red meat, daily servings of fruit and vegetables, resilience, BMI, use of HTN medication, and COVID-19 related mental health. To assess food insecurity participants were asked to indicate how often money for food runs out by the end of the month on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater frequency. SBP and DBP were measured according to a standardized protocol. All confounding variables with a significant bivariate correlation with SBP or DBP were entered into the respective multiple regression model.Participants were predominantly female (73, 58.4%), had some college or were college graduates (73, 58.4%), a mean age of 39.2yrs (SD=9.9) and mean BMI of 31.6 (SD=8.7). Mean SBP and DBP were in the normotensive range, 122.9+/-17.5 and 79.5+/-11.9, respectively. Female sex (beta=-9.9, SE=2.6, p<0.001), daily servings of fruit and vegetables (beta=-2.35, SE=1.04, p=0.026), BMI (beta=0.76, SE=0.16, p<0.001), use of HTN medication (beta=14.01, SE=4.90, p=0.005), and food insecurity (beta=2.09, SE=0.95, p=0.030) were associated with SBP (R2=0.40, SE=14.05, p<0.001). Male sex, fewer daily servings of fruit and vegetables, greater BMI, use of HTN medication, and more food insecurity were significantly associated with higher DBP. Female sex (beta=-5.03, SE=1.90, p=0.009), BMI (beta=0.51, SE=0.12, p<0.001), and food insecurity (beta=1.36, SE=0.69, p=0.05) were associated with DBP (R2=0.31, SE=10.18, p<0.001). Male sex, greater BMI, and more food insecurity were significantly associated with higher DBP.After controlling for potential confounders, food insecurity retains a significant, independent association with both SBP and DBP such that a greater frequency of food insecurity was related to higher SBP and DBP. This provides additional evidence for the idea that food insecurity may directly impact CVD risk.

School and Youth in Argentina: The Student Center and the Demands of Comprehensive Sexual Education as Supports of School Experiences

In this article we investigate the supports of school experiences, attending to the types of institutional offer of secondary level, in a context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the gradual return to face-To-face classes in Argentina. The empirical data come from the study "Diversification of the secondary school structure and educational segmentation in Latin America" by ECLAC-IIEP UNESCO Buenos Aires and UNICEF, where focus groups and semi-structured interviews were carried out. In this article we are going to focus into the Student Center and the demands for the right to comprehensive sexual education (ESI) that, as instances of participation and sociability appear, from youth narratives, as privileged supports of school experiences. © 2023 Verlag Vervuert. All rights reserved.

Exploring Inequities in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Youth-Led Study in Ontario, Canada

Background: COVID-19 posed a significant threat to adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR), with disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged groups. However, existing research has not centered adolescents' experiences or expertise. Youth-led participatory action research (YPAR) is a collaborative approach to research that recognizes young people as experts to generate knowledge, empower youth, and catalyze action to improve their health. The objective of this study was to support three teams of youth researchers in developing and implementing their own research projects examining the impact of COVID-19 on an ASRHR issue of their choosing, using YPAR methodology. Method(s): Purposive sampling was used to recruit four teams of female-identified youth researchers (ages 16-19 years) in three high-priority regions of Ontario, Canada. Interested youth were interviewed to gauge motivation, relevant intersectional experiences, interest in collaborating, and sense of service to their communities. Selected youth completed a five-day virtual training covering critical thinking, ASRHR, qualitative/quantitative data collection and analysis, research ethics, and project logistics. Each youth team was paired with two adult research mentors and engaged in a four step YPAR process depicted in Figure 1. Youth researchers received compensation for their work and were included as study collaborators. This study was approved by IRB. Result(s): Team 1 identified barriers to having SRH needs met during COVID-19 for assigned females 13-21 yrs old in London, Ontario, using survey methodology. They found that among 58 assigned-female youth, 50% reported difficulties accessing sexual health-related treatment during COVID-19. Team 2 sought to understand how the intersectional identities of youth in Hamilton and Niagara Falls regions influenced experiences of sex education, using in-depth interviews. Key themes were the need to recognize diversity, that the relevance of sex ed changes as adolescence progresses, and that sex ed should focus on positive sexuality. Team 3 identified factors that influenced access to SRH products for teens in Northern Ontario using a survey of 114 adolescents. They found 32% of respondents experienced barriers to buying sexual health products locally, including stigma, cost, distance, disability, and 2SLGBTQIA+ identity. See https://www.shareproject.ca Conclusion(s): This study amplified youth voices through a social justice-framed approach to examining ASRHR during the COVID-19 pandemic. Centering the perspectives, values and experiences of youth introduced the potential to positively impact the youth researchers themselves, while yielding results that were relevant, meaningful, adolescent-responsive and culturally-informed. Supporting Figures or Tables https://www.abstractscorecard.com/uploads/Tasks/upload/19245/RGXGDRUQ-1380706-1-ANY.docxCopyright © 2023

Features and outcomes of adolescent deliveries during COVID-19 pandemic - a bicentric study

Introduction: adolescent pregnancies represent a global public health problem associated with multiple consequences on the well-being of young mothers, their babies and general population. The biggest prevalence of adolescent pregnancies in Europe can be found in southeastern countries. Objective(s): to analyze the features and outcomes of adolescent deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): retrospective, descriptive study of adolescent mothers delivered in the period 01.01.2020-31.12.2021 in two university medical centers: the Emergency Clinical County Hospital of Arad (Romania), and Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics of University Clinical Center of Vojvodina (Serbia). Demographic and anthropometric parameters of adolescent mothers, number and way of delivery, birth weight and Apgar score of neonate, COVID-19 status and data about pathologies and complications associated with pregnancy and delivery were collected from medical records and analyzed statistically using IBM SPSS. Result(s): there were total of 458 adolescent mothers, aged between 12 and 17 (average 16.07+/-1.07 year). From urban environment there were 182 (60.3%) cases and from rural 276 (39.7%) cases. Number of previous pregnancies and births ranged from 0-3, with majority of mothers being primiparas (76.2%). Cesarean section was performed in 40.8%, vaginal birth in 59.2%. The most common indications for cesarean section were maternal-pelvic disproportion, transverse lie or deflected cephalic presentation, twin pregnancies, severe fetal distress, preeclampsia, scarred uterus with risk of rupture and premature placental abruption. The average fetal weight at birth was 3010.22g ranging from 860 to 4500 g. The average Apgar score was 8.73. There were 9.66% of premature labors. There were 9 (2%) positive COVID-19 cases at birth and additional 4 (0.9%) cases who had COVID-19 during pregnancy. We observed a very high percentage (73.86%) of pregnancies without adequate prenatal care. Conclusion(s): Adolescent mothers are prone to develop complications compared to general population. The COVID-19 pandemic might have additional negative influence on the addressability of underage mothers to medical care, this phenomenon being the basis of most complications during pregnancy. Effective interventions, better sexual education and social programs are needed to reduce the number of adolescent mothers and to help them get a much better social reinsertion and an increase in the general quality of life.Copyright © 2023

142. The Reach, Implementation, and Effectiveness of Virtual Sex Education for Youth in Foster Care

Purpose: Youth in foster care have high rates of adverse sexual health outcomes and are important targets for evidence-based sex education. With the COVID-19 pandemic, sexual health programming was moved to a virtual format. However, few data existed to guide this transition. While it lowers expenses and can potentially broaden geographic reach, it is unclear if virtual programming meets the needs of youth in foster care or other vulnerable populations. We conducted a mixed-methods analysis comparing the reach, implementation, and effectiveness of virtual vs in-person sex education for youth in foster care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Indiana Proud and Connected Teens (IN-PACT) provides evidenced-based sex education programs to system-involved youth. The data used in this study focused exclusively on foster-care programming and includes attendance records, facilitator session reviews (n=64) from 2020-2021 virtual programs, and youth surveys from 2018-2020 in-person (n=965) and virtual (n=50) programs. Reach was measured using youth baseline survey demographics and sexual behaviors;implementation by free responses from facilitators on challenges and adaptation for virtual teaching;and effectiveness by attendance records and youth behavior intention on follow-up surveys. Results: Reach: Youth demographic diversity was maintained for virtual programming in ethnicity, race, sex, and sexual orientation. However, youth in virtual programs had lower rates of self-reported risk behaviors including lower rates of involvement with juvenile justice (35.0% vs 59.4%, p<0.01) to have ever had sex (44.4% vs 78.8%, p<0.001) or contributed to a pregnancy (4.4% vs 23.4%, p<0.05). And though not statistically significant, virtual youth reported higher rates of condom use (44.4% vs 30.4%, p=0.371) and lower rates of substance use before sex in the past 3 months (15.6% vs 28.5%, p=0.114) as compared to in-person youth. Implementation: Technical challenges included connection difficulties and learning curves to using Zoom. Virtual facilitators incorporated more technology than they did in-person by playing videos on complicated topics such as conception and STIs. In terms of curriculum, hands-on condom demonstrations were changed to facilitator-run experiments such as having youth use socks at home to simulate condoms on their arms. Breakout rooms were utilized to maintain small group work but were cumbersome. Relational challenges included awkward silences, disengagement, and a decrease in group trust due to cameras being turned off during sensitive topics and less connection between youth and facilitators. Effectiveness: Attendance records show that fewer virtual youth completed 100% of programming, as compared to in-person youth (23% vs 54%). More virtual youth answered yes to the question "As a result of this program, will you abstain from sex for the next three months?” as compared to in-person youth (55% vs 45%, p=0.462). However, virtual youth were significantly less likely to have baseline sexual experience. Conclusions: In-person sexual health programming had a wider reach, experienced fewer implementation challenges, and was potentially more effective than virtual programming for youth in foster care. If virtual programming becomes necessary again, sex educators and researchers can use these data to redesign virtual programming that maximizes reach, implementation, and effectiveness. Sources of Support: HHS 90AK0041-02-00 to Health Care Education and Training Inc.

HPV and COVID-19 vaccines attitudes and preferred sources of information among adults living in Puerto Rico

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Puerto Rico (PR) had one of the highest Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine rates in the United States. Yet, widespread misleading information about the COVID19 vaccine might negatively impact HPV vaccine attitudes. This study aims to assess and compare HPV and COVID-19 vaccines attitudes toward school-entry policies among adults living in PR. A convenience sample of 222 adults (>=21 years old) living in PR were recruited through social media and completed an online survey from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants answered questions about HPV and COVID-19 vaccines knowledge (ranging from 0=none to 3=high knowledge), attitudes toward vaccination policies for school-entry, and perceptions of trusted and untrusted sources of information. Descriptive statistics were computed to identify the demographics characteristics of the participants. We also estimated the prevalence ratio (PRadjusted) using a logistic regression model to assess the magnitude of association between COVID-19 vaccination for the school-entry policy and HPV vaccination for school-entry policy agreement, adjusting for different confounders. The mean age of the study sample was 36.73 +/- 11.18 years. The majority of the sample were female (87%, n=194), with at least some college of education (92%;n=205) and employed (61%;n=165). One-fifth of the participants reported having children between ages 11 and 16 (n=46). Participants' perceived knowledge about the HPV vaccine was moderate (mean=1.72;SD=1.12), while for COVID-19 vaccine was moderately high (mean=2.47;SD=.68). The most trusted form of information for HPV and COVID-19 vaccines were health care providers (42% and 17%, respectively), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (35% and 55%, respectively), and the Department of Health (15% and 19%, respectively). The least trusted source of information included social media (40% and 39%, respectively), friends and family (23% n=47, and 17% n=33, respectively), and the Department of Health (15% n=30, and 18% n=36, respectively). More than half of the participants agreed that HPV (76% n=156) and COVID vaccines (69% n=136) should be required for school-entry. Agreement with COVID-19 vaccination for the school-entry policy was significantly associated with HPV vaccination for school-entry policy agreement (PRadjusted:1.96;95% CI:1.48-2.61) after controlling for age, sex, education, and having children between age 11 and 16. Findings suggest that adults living in PR have an overall positive attitude about mandatory HPV and COVID-19 vaccination school-entry policies, and these attitudes are interrelated. Yet, it is concerning that the Department of Health is identified as one of the least trusted sources of information, as it has a prominent role in implementing HPV and COVID-19 vaccine policies in PR. Further research should elucidate why the Department of Health is considered an untrusted source of information among adults living in PR and evaluate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on HPV vaccine attitudes and adherence rates.

Working life of people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey of working-aged people with multiple sclerosis in Sweden

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has led to vast changes in working life and conditions in which we work. These changes may affect people with multiple sclerosis (MS) differently. Aim(s): To describe the work participation of people with MS during the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequences of the pandemic on their working lives. Method(s): A web-based survey was conducted in summer 2021 to investigate various aspects of life among people with MS in Sweden, including work and impacts of the pandemic. All individuals aged 20-50 listed in the Swedish MS registry were invited. Individual-level sociodemographic and clinical data were linked from nationwide registers. Differences in the responses by sex, education level (university, yes or no), and type of work (office or manual) were tested with chi2-tests. Result(s): Over 8500 adults with MS were invited and 4412 (52%) responded. The 4164 without full-time disability pension were included, with a mean age of 40.3 and 9.2 years since diagnosis. Overall, 2731 reported no impact on their work situation by the pandemic. Among the 3571 employed or self-employed, 3.2% reported less to do and 9.5% more to do due to the pandemic. Similar proportions reported no impact on work by sex (65.8% v 65.2%, p-value 0.690), but women more frequently stated they had more to do (8.7% v 6.9%, p-value: 0.058). No impact on work was more often reported among those with university education (68.2% v 61.3%, p-value <0.001) and fewer reported more to do than those without university education (6.3% v 9.4%, p-value <0.001). Fewer with university education were furloughed (Currently: 0.5% v 1.6%, p-value 0.001. Earlier: 5.6% v 6.7%, p-value 0.028). They also pursued further studies to a higher extent (2.3% v 1.4%, p-value 0.028). Office workers reported no impact on work to a higher extent than manual workers (72.4% v 63.6%, p-value <0.001), despite more stating they had more to do to (9.4% v 7.1%, p-value 0.023). Current furlough was less common among office workers (0.6% v 1.4%, p-value 0.026), with no differences earlier (6.2% v 6.0%, p-value 0.779). Fewer office workers pursued studies (0.8% v 2.9%, p-value <0.001). Conclusion(s): Many people with MS reported that the pandemic did not affect their work situation. However, the consequences reported differed among them. Further knowledge of which factors promoted or hindered their work lives during the pandemic is needed to support long-term work participation.

"Did You Try Virtual Sex?": Sexological Discourse and Digital Culture in Times of Covid-19

In this paper, it is exploring the discourses on sexuality that, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, are reproduce and circulate on Instagram accounts of six Argentine sexologists who do sex education and publicize their professional work through these social media. From digital ethnographic explorations we analyze how these professionals construct a way of narrating the knowledge of sexology on the internet;deploy pedagogical activities that position them as new references in the field of national sexology and configure a network of "instagramers" dedicated to sex education.

THE IMPACT OF IBS ON SELF-REPORTED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC – A NORWEGIAN TWIN STUDY

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a stress-sensitive gut-brain disorder. The outbreak of Covid-19 has influenced the level of stress and anxiety at least for some people. Individuals with IBS often report poor self-rated health (SRH), which also reflects psychological and social aspects of life and an overall sense of well-being. This populationbased twin study evaluates whether the Covid pandemic has affected self-reports of abdominal symptoms of IBS and ratings of physical (p_SRH) and mental health (m_SRH) among individuals with IBS. Further, we calculate measures of twin similarity and correlations across traits to gain insights into the importance of genetic influences. Methods: In July 2021, we invited 17138 twins from the Norwegian Twin Register to complete a questionnaire asking how the pandemic affected their health and well-being, including depression, perceived stress, loneliness, anxiety, chronic somatic and pain-related diseases. Responses were received from 9032 twins, aged 19 – 86 of whom 831 reported a positive history of IBS (Table 1). Hierarchical regression models were used to estimate the impact of IBS on p_ SRH and m_SRH during the Covid pandemic, covariates in the stepwise modeling included age, sex, education, and other chronic physical and mental health conditions. Phenotypic, intraclass and cross-twin cross-trait correlations were computed for IBS and the health measures. Results: The majority of individuals with IBS reported no changes in abdominal pain or bowel disturbance during the pandemic. Nonetheless, they did report worse perceptions of health compared to those without IBS. Further findings revealed weak but significant associations between IBS and changes in perceived stress. Age was inversely related to ratings for p_SRH and m_SRH, with younger participants reporting that their mental and physical health worsened more than older participants. IBS retained significance as a predictor of worsening m_SRH after accounting for depression and perceived stress (model 5, Table 2) [OR = 1.22 (1.00;1.50), Table 2]. The intraclass correlations for worse p_SRH and m_SRH were greater among monozygotic (MZ) than dizygotic (DZ) twins, which is consistent with genetic variance explaining some of the differences in how the pandemic has affected perceptions of health. Cross-twin cross-trait correlations between IBS and worse p_SRH were 0.15 (0.11;0.18) for MZ twins and 0.08 (0.03;0.12) for DZ twins, suggesting that common genetic factors may underlie this relationship Conclusion: Abdominal symptoms of IBS did not change during the pandemic. However, IBS was predictive of worsening of mental SRH, not confounded by depression or perceived stress. These results underscore the role of psychosocial and emotional factors for mental health in IBS during the pandemic. (Table Presented) (Table Presented) (Table Presented) (Table Presented)

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Education of Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic, Results from "Come Te La Passi?"-Survey in Bologna, Italy.

Social distancing measures adopted to face the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on adolescent education and their interaction with peers and adults, secondary to the limitation of school and recreational activities, with repercussions on social and sexual life. The "Come te la passi?" ("How is it going?") study, performed in the Metropolitan City of Bologna (Italy), aimed at investigating the type of information sources adopted by adolescents for their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge and education, the age of their sexual debut, and the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic affected their relationships and sexual life in order to help local health care professionals and educators designing SRH education programs. A purposely designed online survey was administered during the COVID-19 pandemic to 378 high school students (age > 14 yo) in July 2021. Based on the study results, the most common source of SRH education was the web, followed by peers (friends). A total of 61.3% of 17-year-olds already had sexual intercourse, and 90% of 15-year-olds had experienced romantic or sexual attraction. For 58.2% of the adolescents, the COVID-19 pandemic had negative effects on their relationships/sexual life. The current research emphasizes the need to involve health care professionals and educators in structured programs to promote SRH education tailored to adolescents' needs and started from early ages.

Influence of health beliefs on COVID-19 vaccination among patients with cancer and other comorbidities in Puerto Rico

Background: Ethnic minority populations are more likely to suffer from chronic comorbidities, making them more susceptible to the poor health outcomes associated with COVID-19 infection. Ensuring COVID-19 vaccination among vulnerable populations, such as cancer patients, is of utmost importance. Thus, we aimed to investigate health behaviors and perceptions related to COVID-19 vaccination among adults with cancer and other chronic comorbidities in Puerto Rico (PR). Methods: This secondary analysis used data from 1,911 participants who completed an online survey from December 2020 to February 2021. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used to measure perceptions surrounding COVID-19 vaccination among individuals diagnosed with cancer, adults with other chronic comorbidities, and healthy adults. Multivariate logistic regression analyses assessed the associations of disease status (healthy, cancer diagnosis, other chronic conditions/comorbidities [excluding cancer]) with individual HBM constructs and vaccine intent, while adjusting for age, sex, education, income, employment status, influenza vaccine, health literacy, and religiosity. Results: Among study participants, 76% were female, 34% greater than or equal to 50 years old, 5% had a cancer diagnosis, and 70% had other chronic conditions/comorbidities. Participants with a cancer diagnosis had significantly higher odds of getting vaccinated when the vaccine was made available to them compared to healthy individuals (OR: 2.08 95%CI: 1.00-4.30). Compared to healthy participants, those diagnosed with cancer and those with other chronic conditions other than cancer had higher odds of perceiving their chance of getting COVID-19 as high (OR: 1.63 95%CI: 1.01-1.62;OR: 1.39 95%CI: 1.11-1.73), believed getting COVID-19 was a possibility for them (OR: 1.94 95%CI: 1.16-3.25;OR: 1.56 95%CI: 1.24-1.97), perceived they would get very sick if infected with COVID-19 (OR: 4.18 95%CI: 2.30-7.58;OR: 1.83 95%CI: 1.47-2.28), and were afraid of COVID-19 (OR 2.51: 95%CI: 1.18-5.35;OR 1.67: 95%CI: 1.25-2.22). Individuals with other chronic comorbidities also had increased odds of perceiving that COVID-19 side effects would interfere with their usual activities (OR: 1.32 95%CI: 1.06-1.64), worrying about their likelihood of getting COVID-19 (OR: 1.63 95%CI: 1.09- 2.44), and taking the vaccine regardless of the information provided (OR: 1.42 95%CI: 1.14-1.77). COVID-19 vaccine safety was the main reason for vaccine hesitancy among all participants. Discussion: Understanding vaccine hesitancy and willingness is essential in creating effective vaccine promotion programs and informing health policy. Our findings elucidate the effect of disease status on health-related decision making and isolate what steps can be taken to increase vaccine uptake among vulnerable ethnic minority populations. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by Award Grant R25CA240120 and RCMI grant U54-MD007600.

Sexual behavior of Russian people of all ages amid the pandemic (COVID-19)

At the beginning of 2021, a team of the Field Research Center of the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting (RANEPA) conducted two online surveys as part of the research work “Partnership and romantic relationships during the pandemic and afterwards”. The surveys deal with the issues of sexual behavior of Russian people. The topic of sexuality is tabooed no more, but remains sensitive, thus, men, people with an upper middle income, and with a higher education are more inclined to talk about sex in public. Sexual education and satisfaction with sex life are directly related to status, including not only money, profession, or gender, but mostly the presence of a permanent sexual partner. Despite the proliferation of traditional family values, it keeps being a basis for sexual well-being and a meaningful approach to intimate practices. The pandemic only reinforces the tendencies which have already been indicated: Those who have a partner turn out to be more successful in their intimate life than those who rely on fleeting or casual relationships. At the same time, the quality of intimate life for many people is reduced due to subjective factors (fear and stress), as well as to objective problems and losses (loss of a spouse, illness, etc.). The affection of these tendencies in the longer term has yet to be explored. A discussion about sexuality open to all ages, requires redefinition of intimate life in terms of tenderness, care, altruism and positive communication, the search for “body language” demonstrating attention to the other than direct sexual intercourse. Positive sexuality includes three basic elements: 1) the rejection of any violence and the priority of “negotiation”;2) acceptance of one’s own body and its changes;3) lifelong sexual education as an experience of one’s own mistakes as well as readiness for them. Such discourse on sexuality makes possible further studies of various social groups’ intimate life in Russia, making one of the factors of their subjective well-being less obscene. © 2021, Russian Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Sex Education in the Spotlight: What Is Working? Systematic Review.

Adolescence, a period of physical, social, cognitive and emotional development, represents a target population for sexual health promotion and education when it comes to achieving the 2030 Agenda goals for sustainable and equitable societies. The aim of this study is to provide an overview of what is known about the dissemination and effectiveness of sex education programs and thereby to inform better public policy making in this area. Methodology: We carried out a systematic review based on international scientific literature, in which only peer-reviewed papers were included. To identify reviews, we carried out an electronic search of the Cochrane Database Reviews, ERIC, Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Scopus and PsycINFO. This paper provides a narrative review of reviews of the literature from 2015 to 2020. Results: 20 reviews met the inclusion criteria (10 in school settings, 9 using digital platforms and 1 blended learning program): they focused mainly on reducing risk behaviors (e.g., VIH/STIs and unwanted pregnancies), whilst obviating themes such as desire and pleasure, which were not included in outcome evaluations. The reviews with the lowest risk of bias are those carried out in school settings and are the ones that most question the effectiveness of sex education programs. Whilst the reviews of digital platforms and blended learning show greater effectiveness in terms of promoting sexual and reproductive health in adolescents (ASRH), they nevertheless also include greater risks of bias. Conclusion: A more rigorous assessment of the effectiveness of sexual education programs is necessary, especially regarding the opportunities offered by new technologies, which may lead to more cost-effective interventions than with in-person programs. Moreover, blended learning programs offer a promising way forward, as they combine the best of face-to-face and digital interventions, and may provide an excellent tool in the new context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sexual Health in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Multi-Site Implementation Through Synchronized Videoconferencing of an Educational Resource Using Standardized Patients.

Objective: Matters of sexuality and sexual health are common in the practice of child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP), yet clinicians can feel ill-equipped to address them with confidence. To address this gap in training and practice, we developed, implemented, and evaluated an educational module enhanced by videotaped depictions of expert clinicians interacting with professional actors performing as standardized patients (SPs). Methods: We developed an educational resource highlighting common issues of sexual health relevant to CAP practice, including sexual development, psychotropic-related side effects, and sexuality in children with autism. We wrote original scripts, based on which two clinicians interacted with three SPs. Digital recordings were edited to yield 5 clips with a cumulative running time of 20 min. The clips were interspersed during a 90-min session comprising didactic and interactive components. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we used synchronous videoconferencing, which allowed content dissemination to several training programs across the country. Results: We recruited 125 learners from 16 CAP training programs through the American Academy of CAP's Alliance for Learning and Innovation (AALI). Routine inquiry into adolescent patients' sexual function was uncommon, reported by only 28% of participants, with "awkward" and "uncomfortable" the most common terms mentioned in reference to the clinical task. The didactic intervention led to measurable improvements after 2 weeks in skills and knowledge (p = 0.004) and in attitudes (p < 0.001). The three items with the greatest improvement were: (a) availability of developmentally tailored resources; (b) comfort in addressing sexual development with underage patients; and (c) with parents or guardians of neuroatypical or developmentally disabled patients (p < 0.001 for each). Conclusions: A sexual health curriculum enriched by video-based examples can lead to measurable improvement in outcomes pertinent to the clinical practice of CAP. These educational materials are available for distribution, use and adaptation by local instructors. Our study also provides proof-of-principle for the use of multisite educational initiatives in CAP through synchronized videoconferencing.