[Impact of contraception counseling on choice of combined hormonal methods in Colombia]. / Impacto de la asesoría sobre anticoncepción en la selección de métodos hormonales combinados en Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the impact of informed contraceptive counseling on choice of contraceptive method. METHODS: Multicenter descriptive study using before-and-after evaluation in nine cities in Colombia. Women considering use of self-administered combined hormonal methods at the time of consultation were invited to participate. They were asked about contraceptive method use and preference, following signing of informed consent. Later, they were given standardized medical advice on contraception and then asked again about contraceptive preference and reasons for their choice. RESULTS: The study enrolled 858 women. At the beginning of the study, 538 (62.7%) women were using the combined pill and 281 (32.8%) were not using any contraceptive method. Before receiving counseling, women showed a preference for the pill (62.7%), followed by the intravaginal ring (28.4%), and transdermal patch (14%). After counseling, preferences were as follows: pill (40.8%), intravaginal ring (31.5%), and transdermal patch (11.3%). After counseling, 32.5%, 26.8%, and 7.5% of those considering the pill, patch, and ring, respectively, changed their intended choice. Region of origin, employment status, desire to conceive a child in the future, and having a stable relationship showed a statistical relationship to choice of method. However, age, number of children, and level of education were not determining factors. CONCLUSIONS: Medical advice has an impact on choice of self-administered combined hormonal contraceptives, which helps women to use the method of their choice and improves adherence to the method in accordance with its particular conditions.

Impacto de la asesoría sobre anticoncepción en la selección de métodos hormonales combinados en Colombia / Impact of contraception counseling on choice of combined hormonal methods in Colombia

OBJETIVO: Determinar el impacto de la asesoría anticonceptiva informada sobre la elección de método anticonceptivo. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo multicéntrico de evaluación antes y después en nueve ciudades de Colombia. Se invitó a participar mujeres que consideraban usar métodos hormonales combinados de autoadministración al momento de la consulta. Se indagó sobre el uso y preferencia de método anticonceptivo, previa firma del consentimiento informado. En una etapa posterior, se brindó asesoría médica estandarizada en anticoncepción y, a continuación, se preguntó nuevamente por la preferencia de método anticonceptivo y las motivaciones para su elección. RESULTADOS: Ingresaron 858 mujeres al estudio. Al inicio del estudio, 538 (62,7%) mujeres usaban píldora combinada y 281 (32,8%) no utilizaban ningún método anticonceptivo. Antes de recibir asesoría, las mujeres mostraron una preferencia por la píldora (62,7%), seguida por el anillo intravaginal (28,4%) y el parche transdérmico (14%). Luego de la asesoría, la preferencia fue la siguiente: píldora (40,8%), anillo intravaginal (31,5%) y parche transdérmico (11,3%). También luego de la asesoría, 32,5 %, 26,8% y 7,5% de las que consideraban usar píldora, parche y anillo, respectivamente, cambiaron su intención de uso. La región de origen, el estatus laboral, el deseo de concebir un hijo en el futuro y tener una relación estable presentaron una relación estadística con la selección del método, pero la edad, el número de hijos o el grado de escolaridad no fueron factores determinantes. CONCLUSIONES: La asesoría médica tiene impacto en la selección del anticonceptivo hormonal combinado autoadministrado, lo que ayuda a las mujeres a utilizar el método de su preferencia y presentar una mejor adherencia al método acorde a sus condiciones particulares.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the impact of informed contraceptive counseling on choice of contraceptive method. METHODS: Multicenter descriptive study using before-and-after evaluation in nine cities in Colombia. Women considering use of self-administered combined hormonal methods at the time of consultation were invited to participate. They were asked about contraceptive method use and preference, following signing of informed consent. Later, they were given standardized medical advice on contraception and then asked again about contraceptive preference and reasons for their choice. RESULTS: The study enrolled 858 women. At the beginning of the study, 538 (62.7%) women were using the combined pill and 281 (32.8%) were not using any contraceptive method. Before receiving counseling, women showed a preference for the pill (62.7%), followed by the intravaginal ring (28.4%), and transdermal patch (14%). After counseling, preferences were as follows: pill (40.8%), intravaginal ring (31.5%), and transdermal patch (11.3%). After counseling, 32.5%, 26.8%, and 7.5% of those considering the pill, patch, and ring, respectively, changed their intended choice. Region of origin, employment status, desire to conceive a child in the future, and having a stable relationship showed a statistical relationship to choice of method. However, age, number of children, and level of education were not determining factors. CONCLUSIONS: Medical advice has an impact on choice of self-administered combined hormonal contraceptives, which helps women to use the method of their choice and improves adherence to the method in accordance with its particular conditions.

Impacto de la asesoría sobre anticoncepción en la selección de métodos hormonales combinados en Colombia / Impact of contraception counseling on choice of combined hormonal methods in Colombia

Objetivo. Determinar el impacto de la asesoría anticonceptiva informada sobre la elección de método anticonceptivo. Métodos. Estudio descriptivo multicéntrico de evaluación antes y después en nueve ciudades de Colombia. Se invitó a participar mujeres que consideraban usar métodos hormonales combinados de autoadministración al momento de la consulta. Se indagó sobre el uso y preferencia de método anticonceptivo, previa firma del consentimiento informado. En una etapa posterior, se brindó asesoría médica estandarizada en anticoncepción y, a continuación, se preguntó nuevamente por la preferencia de método anticonceptivo y las motivaciones para su elección. Resultados. Ingresaron 858 mujeres al estudio. Al inicio del estudio, 390 (47,8%) mujeres usaban píldora combinada y 113 (13,2%) no utilizaban ningún método anticonceptivo. Antes de recibir asesoría, las mujeres mostraron una preferencia por la píldora (53,5%), seguida por el anillo intravaginal (14,1%) y el parche transdérmico (6,8%). Luego de la asesoría, la preferencia fue la siguiente: píldora (40,8%), anillo intravaginal (31,5%) y parche transdérmico (11,3%). También luego de la asesoría, 32,5 %, 26,8% y 7,5% de las que consideraban usar píldora, parche y anillo, respectivamente, cambiaron su intención de uso. La región de origen, el estatus laboral, el deseo de concebir un hijo en el futuro y tener una relación estable presentaron una relación estadística con la selección del método, pero la edad, el número de hijos o el grado de escolaridad no fueron factores determinantes. Conclusiones. La asesoría médica tiene impacto en la selección del anticonceptivo hormonal combinado autoadministrado, lo que ayuda a las mujeres a utilizar el método de su preferencia y presentar una mejor adherencia al método acorde a sus condiciones particulares.

Objective. Determine the impact of informed contraceptive counseling on choice of contraceptive method. Methods. Multicenter descriptive study using before-and-after evaluation in nine cities in Colombia. Women considering use of self-administered combined hormonal methods at the time of consultation were invited to participate. They were asked about contraceptive method use and preference, following signing of informed consent. Later, they were given standardized medical advice on contraception and then asked again about contraceptive preference and reasons for their choice. Results. The study enrolled 858 women. At the beginning of the study, 538 (62.7%) women were using the combined pill and 281 (32.8%) were not using any contraceptive method. Before receiving counseling, women showed a preference for the pill (62.7%), followed by the intravaginal ring (28.4%), and transdermal patch (14%). After counseling, preferences were as follows: pill (40.8%), intravaginal ring (31.5%), and transdermal patch (11.3%). After counseling, 32.5%, 26.8%, and 7.5% of those considering the pill, patch, and ring, respectively, changed their intended choice. Region of origin, employment status, desire to conceive a child in the future, and having a stable relationship showed a statistical relationship to choice of method. However, age, number of children, and level of education were not determining factors. Conclusions. Medical advice has an impact on choice of self-administered combined hormonal contraceptives, which helps women to use the method of their choice and improves adherence to the method in accordance with its particular conditions.

First Colombian multicentric newborn screening for congenital toxoplasmosis.

AIMS: To determine the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in Colombian newborns from 19 hospital or maternal child health services from seven different cities of five natural geographic regions (Caribbean, Central, Andean, Amazonia and Eastern). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected 15,333 samples from umbilical cord blood between the period of March 2009 to May 2010 in 19 different hospitals and maternal-child health services from seven different cities. We applied an IgM ELISA assay (Vircell, Spain) to determine the frequency of IgM anti Toxoplasma. The results in blood cord samples were confirmed either by western blot and repeated ELISA IgM assay. In a sub-sample of 1,613 children that were negative by the anti-Toxoplasma IgM assay, the frequency of specific anti-Toxoplasma IgA by the ISAGA assay was determined. All children with positive samples by IgM, IgA, clinical diagnosis or treatment during pregnancy were recalled for confirmatory tests after day 10 of life. RESULTS: 61 positive samples for specific IgM (0.39%) and 9 positives for IgA (0.5%) were found. 143 questionnaires were positive for a clinical diagnosis or treatment for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. 109 out of the 218 children that had some of the criteria for postnatal confirmatory tests were followed. Congenital toxoplasmosis infection was confirmed in 15 children: 7 were symptomatic, and three of them died before the first month of life (20% of lethality). A significant correlation was found between a high incidence of markers for congenital toxoplasmosis and higher mean annual rainfall for the city. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence for congenital toxoplasmosis is significantly different between hospitals or maternal child health services from different cities in Colombia. Mean annual rainfall was correlated with incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis.