Refugee women in Africa, COVID-19 and multisystem violence: when it rains it pours

The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to hit Africa (February–September 2020) was not particularly virulent either in terms of cases detected or lethality. However, the presence of the virus and the subsequent restrictions exacerbated pre-existing inequalities based on ethnicity, class and gender. This paper analyses the impacts of the pandemic on refugee women, who are subject to "structural vulnerability” and "multisystemic violence” in Africa. After analysing the ten African countries with the largest refugee populations, the different forms and levels of these impacts are systematised, along with the consequences and implications for refugee women in the long term, highlighting the need for strategies to be adopted towards this group at various levels © 2023, Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals.All Rights Reserved.

Family Relations of University Students in Times of Pandemic by COVID-19: Feelings and Tensions

Objective: The objective of this research was to reveal the feelings and tensions that characterize the family relationships of university students in times of pandemic and confinement conditions due to COVID-19. Method(s): The method was qualitative, and the feelings and tensions in the family and educational context of 584 university students were evaluated, from a qualitative proposal and a hermeneutic approach, anchored to the question: How have the affective manifestations been, in terms of feelings and tensions, in the family relationships of university students, academically active, in the Caribbean Region of Colombia, during the mandatory confinement process derived from the COVID 19 pandemic? The methodological design was structured from the concepts of the Grounded Theory, applied to the data obtained through virtual techniques and instruments, such as an online survey. The organization of the information to generate the results was made from descriptive, analytical and interpretive coding, supported by matrices and theoretical maps. Results and Discussion: There are feelings and tensions in three directions: Negative Feelings (in tension) such as anxiety, stress and depression;positive feelings, joy, adaptation and ambiguous feelings, which show ambivalence and variability, which are reflected in family relationships and three senses: They have improved, remain the same and have worsened, according to each type, dynamics and characteristics of the family, associated with gender, coping mechanisms and socioeconomic level. Conclusion(s): Families were transformed due to the pandemic, and relationships and interactions were found that exacerbated tensions or factors of protection and care among family members, with emotional overload, with stress from work and study.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.

Relationship of body and emotional perception with food consumption of university students during social distance in the covid-19 pandemic

Introduction: In early 2020, the world was exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, with social isolation being one of the preventive measures to control the spread of the disease. The pandemic and social isolation generated several implications in the usual routine of the population, among them, changes in eating habits. Objective: To evaluate the food consumption of university students during the period of social isolation and analyze its relationship with bodily and emotional perceptions. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional research was carried out with 445 university students from Guarapuava-PR of both genders. Data collection took place through an online questionnaire, with social, emotional, food, body satisfaction, feelings and weekly food intake questions. Results: There was a prevalence of 81.2% females aged between 18 and 21 years. Comparing food consumption before and during the pandemic, significant changes in chocolate consumption were observed. Regarding feelings and body image, those who consumed more ultra -processed foods were stressed, anxious, tired and dissatisfied with their bodies. On the other hand, those who were calm, willing and satisfied with their bodies, increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: Food consumption had significant relationships with the emotions and body perception of university students analyzed during the period of social isolation.

Description of moderate-severe cases of covid-19 in pediatric cancer at the unidad nacional de oncologia pediatrica, Guatemala

Introduction. Guatemala reported the first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 case on March 13th 2020. Up to now, more than 140,000 confirmed cases have been documented, with 8% of them being <20 years-old. The impact of COVID-19 in pediatric cancer in not well known, even though pediatric oncological institutions did some initial recommendations, this new disease still represents a challenge in this population. The objective of the report is to describe the moderate-severe cases of COVID-19 in pediatric cancer during the first 8 months of the pandemic in the Unidad Nacional de Oncologia Pediatrica (UNOP). Methods. This is a descriptive, prospective report of pediatric cancer patients <20 years-old and SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab with PCR technique at UNOP from May to December 2020. The SARS-CoV-2 test was performed to all patients who developed symptoms of infection or as screening in patients who were admitted to UNOP regardless of symptoms. Information about sex, age, primary oncological diagnosis, confirmed coinfections and treatment received at time of COVID-19 was collected. Moderate illness was considered if the patient required supplemental oxygen and severe illness if admitted to Intensive Care Unit-ICU-secondary to COVID-19. Results. Two hundred one patients with pediatric cancer with the SARS-CoV-2 infection were confirmed. Sixty four percent were male (n=128), median of age was 9.5 years (5-m to 18-y). The primary oncologic diagnosis was leukemia 65% (n=129), and other solid tumors 35% (n=72), 5% (n=10) of patients were in palliative care. In leukemia patients, 40% were receiving induction therapy (n=51), 25% consolidation (n=32), and 19% maintenance (n=25). The most common initial symptom was fever in 32% (n=64) and 33% were asymptomatic (n=67). Twenty two percent developed moderate disease (n=44) and 13% severe disease (n=26). A total of 13 patients died during COVID-19 period (6%) and 7 of them died receiving active treatment (3%). The risk of developing moderate-severe disease was not higher in leukemia patients compared to patients with other tumors who were receiving intense chemotherapy (OR=0.7), but there might be a higher risk of death (OR=1.41). In patients with leukemia, the risk of developing moderate-severe disease was higher for patients receiving induction therapy compared with those in consolidation (OR=6.7) or maintenance (OR=3.04). Mortality risk seems to be higher in patients with leukemia during induction therapy (OR=1.94). Confirmed coinfections correlated with higher risk of severe illness (OR=1.95) and death during the COVID19 period (OR=5.2). Conclusions. The mortality due to COVID-19 in pediatric cancer is low and could be related to coinfections or intensive chemotherapy. Important limitation of our report is the lack of analysis of underlying clinical conditions in moderate-severe disease (neutropenia or other comorbidities), factors that could have an impact on our data analysis.