ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare college and non-college women in terms of the frequency of, etiology of, and risk factors associated with urinary tract infections. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Cartagena, Colombia, with 258 female college students and 256 female non-college students from 15 to 34 years old. The participants were interviewed and completed a questionnaire assessing the risk factors associated with urinary tract infections. Urine samples were examined by urinalysis and to look for signs of urinary tract infection, when found, were confirmed by culture. Isolated bacteria were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using the Kirby-Bauer test. A chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Urinary tract infections were found in 7.8% of the participating college women and 9.4% of the participating non-college women. E. coli was the most frequent uropathogen found in the members of the 2 groups. The majority of the isolated bacteria were highly resistant to ß-lactams. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that in the college women, the predictor variables of having a urinary tract infection were the presence of nitrites, leucocytes, and urinary urgency. In the case of the non-college women, the predictor variables were the presence of nitrites and cystitis in the last 2 years. CONCLUSION: The frequencies of urinary tract infection were similar in both groups. These individuals might have been taking non-prescribed antibiotics or failing to comply with a prescribed treatment or bacteria are of hospital origin.
Subject(s)
Urinary Tract Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Colombia/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Risk Factors , Students , Universities , Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Las infecciones de transmisión sexual constituyen un problema epidemiológico y clínico de primer orden en todo el mundo por las secuelas que pueden ocasionar y por sus consecuencias económicas. Los adolescentes y jóvenes tienen mayor riesgo de presentarlas debido a factores como el inicio temprano de relaciones sexuales, la promiscuidad, entre otros. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar los comportamientos de riesgo y nivel de conocimiento de infecciones de transmisión sexual en estudiantes de Bacteriología de la ciudad de Cartagena. Estudio correlacional de corte transversal, en donde se aplicó un cuestionario para determinar comportamientos de riesgo y nivel de conocimiento a 128 estudiantes de Bacteriología. El 78,1 % de los estudiantes encuestados sí ha tenido relaciones sexuales. El 55 % ingiere bebidas alcohólicas antes de una relación sexual. A través del análisis estadístico se estableció una asociación entre la presencia de ITS con el consumo de drogas (p=0,042). Los estudiantes presentaron un nivel de conocimiento regular. No se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre los comportamientos de riesgo y el nivel de conocimiento (p> 0,05). Los resultados encontrados en esta investigación evidencian la necesidad de realizar actividades de prevención para motivar cambios de comportamiento que permitan disminuir el riesgo de contagio de estas enfermedades.
Sexually transmitted infections are an epidemiologic and clinical problem of first order in all the world by effect that can produce and their economic consequences. Adolescents and young are in most risk to have these diseases by facts such as premature sexual relationships and promiscuity. The objective of this investigation was to determine risk behaviors and level of knowledge about sexually transmitted infections in students' community. Correlational cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was applied to determine risk behaviors and level of knowledge about sexually transmitted infections to 128 students' community. In this study was found 78.1% of students had sexual relationships. 55% of students drink alcohol before a sexual relationship. By means of statistical analysis was found association between sexually transmitted infections and drug use (p=0.042). Students had a regular level of knowledge. It not was found association between risk behaviors and level of knowledge (p>0.05). Results found in this investigation demonstrate the necessity of making activities for prevention of these infections and motivating changes of behaviors for reducing risk of contagion of these infections.
