Doris Cardona

Mortalidad por causas externas en tres ciudades latinoamericanas: Córdoba (Argentina), Campinas (Brasil) y Medellín (Colombia), 1980-2005

Aim: This article has the objective of contributing to studies on mortality from violent causes in Latin America through a comparative analysis of recent patterns and trends in deaths from external causes in three regional urban contexts. Methods: A descriptive study from secondary sources is presented, using vital statistics from Cordoba (Argentina), Campinas (Brazil) and Medellin (Colombia) during three different periods between 1980 and 2005. The following subgroups of external causes are studied: homicides by firearms and other weapons, traffic accidents, and suicides and deaths with unspecified intentions. The data was disaggregated by age and sex, with rates calculated for the medians of the next three census years. Results: The levels for Medellin are significantly higher than those seen in Campinas and Cordoba for all external causes studied. Young men constitute the group with the highest mortality. The levels in Campinas are twice those seen in Cordoba, especially in homicides and traffic accidents, but the suicide rates of Cordoba are double those in Campinas. For Medellin the rates were highest around 1990, unlike the two other cities where the trend grew between 1980 and 2000 and declined between 2001 and 2005. Conclusions: The availability of quality data on mortality allows comparisons among the populations studied. When comparing mortality from external causes, considerable differences in the levels and trends can be seen, but there are fewer differences observed on the data for age and sex. These data were collected from cities with similarities, as they are all three important university centers with industrial development that has been important for their countries. The results suggest that socioeconomic and demographic factors are insufficient to explain the great differences in the data reported.

Quality of life in institutionalized elderly people of Medellín

INTRODUCTION Many factors contribute to the deteriorating quality of life of elderly people living in care institutions. Some of these problems are a consequence of few contacts with relatives and friends, and being alone with a feeling of isolation. OBJECTIVE The conditions of quality of life are explored for elderly people living in care institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a cross sectional study, 276 subjects were selected from 39 long term institutions located in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The sex ratio was female: male 60:40% with a mean age of 79.2 ± 8.0. Elderly subjects with cognitive problems or not living in the institution were excluded. The World Health Organization Quality of Life of Older Adults (WHOQOL-OLD) questionnaire was applied; in additional, capacity and cognitive functional scales of Pfeffer, the anxiety scale of Goldberg, and the Geriatric Depression Scale of Yesavage were administered. Mininutritional assessment scales and complementary questionnaires about demographics, health perception, social support system were also included. The information was analyzed using the Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression method. RESULTS Most (71%) considered themselves autonomous for undertaking daily, habitual activities. Other statistics included the following: 45.7% with depression, 33.0% with anxiety, 28.3% with functional problems, and 54.3% at risk of malnutrition. A negative quality-of-life assessment was associated with the following factors: female, diabetes, depression, anxiety and high functional capacity. A positive quality-of-life assessment was associated with individuals who voluntarily came to the institution. CONCLUSION Quality of life for elderly people living in care institutions can become deteriorated when they are not capable to do the usual activities necessary for daily living. Exacerbating factors included sex, symptoms of depression, anxiety, or perceived mistreatment by their families.

Satisfacción Personal como Componente de la Calidad de Vida de los Adultos de Medellín

Objetivo Determinar la satisfaccion personal como el principal componente de la calidad de vida de los hombres y las mujeres de 20 a 64 anos de la ciudad de Medellin en el ano 2005. Metodos Estudio poblacional descriptivo transversal, con fuente de informacion primaria constituida por dos muestras: 659 hombres y 683 mujeres, que representaron a 523 705 y 651 704 respectivamente, segun factores de expansion poblacional; seleccionados con muestreo complejo probabilistico, estratificado por estrato socioeconomico, por conglomerados y polietapico: manzanas, viviendas y personas. Resultados La calidad de vida actual de la poblacion adulta de la ciudad de Medellin esta dada principalmente por los aspectos personales, economicos, entorno fisico de la vivienda y seguridad social. Los aspectos analizados fueron valorados por encima de 75 %, los que mayor satisfaccion generan son las habilidades y capacidades, y las menores la situacion economica y la seguridad social. No se presentaron diferencias significativas segun sexo en la satisfaccion personal con los diferentes aspectos de la vida. Conclusiones El aporte al conocimiento es evidenciar la necesidad de incorporar lo subjetivo, la opinion, la percepcion y la valoracion que de su propia vida tenga cada persona, como un componente fundamental en la valoracion individual de la calidad de vida.

Mortality from external causes in three Latin American cities: Córdoba (Argentina), Campinas (Brazil) and Medellín (Colombia), 1980-2005

Aim: This article has the objective of contributing to studies on mortality from violent causes in Latin America through a comparative analysis of recent patterns and trends in deaths from external causes in three regional urban contexts. Methods: A descriptive study from secondary sources is presented, using vital statistics from Cordoba (Argentina), Campinas (Brazil) and Medellin (Colombia) during three different periods between 1980 and 2005. The following subgroups of external causes are studied: homicides by firearms and other weapons, traffic accidents, and suicides and deaths with unspecified intentions. The data was disaggregated by age and sex, with rates calculated for the medians of the next three census years. Results: The levels for Medellin are significantly higher than those seen in Campinas and Cordoba for all external causes studied. Young men constitute the group with the highest mortality. The levels in Campinas are twice those seen in Cordoba, especially in homicides and traffic accidents, but the suicide rates of Cordoba are double those in Campinas. For Medellin the rates were highest around 1990, unlike the two other cities where the trend grew between 1980 and 2000 and declined between 2001 and 2005. Conclusions: The availability of quality data on mortality allows comparisons among the populations studied. When comparing mortality from external causes, considerable differences in the levels and trends can be seen, but there are fewer differences observed on the data for age and sex. These data were collected from cities with similarities, as they are all three important university centers with industrial development that has been important for their countries. The results suggest that socioeconomic and demographic factors are insufficient to explain the great differences in the data reported.

Mortalidade por causas externas em três cidades latino-americanas: Córdoba (Argentina), Campinas (Brasil) e Medellín (Colômbia), 1980-2005

Aim: This article has the objective of contributing to studies on mortality from violent causes in Latin America through a comparative analysis of recent patterns and trends in deaths from external causes in three regional urban contexts. Methods: A descriptive study from secondary sources is presented, using vital statistics from Cordoba (Argentina), Campinas (Brazil) and Medellin (Colombia) during three different periods between 1980 and 2005. The following subgroups of external causes are studied: homicides by firearms and other weapons, traffic accidents, and suicides and deaths with unspecified intentions. The data was disaggregated by age and sex, with rates calculated for the medians of the next three census years. Results: The levels for Medellin are significantly higher than those seen in Campinas and Cordoba for all external causes studied. Young men constitute the group with the highest mortality. The levels in Campinas are twice those seen in Cordoba, especially in homicides and traffic accidents, but the suicide rates of Cordoba are double those in Campinas. For Medellin the rates were highest around 1990, unlike the two other cities where the trend grew between 1980 and 2000 and declined between 2001 and 2005. Conclusions: The availability of quality data on mortality allows comparisons among the populations studied. When comparing mortality from external causes, considerable differences in the levels and trends can be seen, but there are fewer differences observed on the data for age and sex. These data were collected from cities with similarities, as they are all three important university centers with industrial development that has been important for their countries. The results suggest that socioeconomic and demographic factors are insufficient to explain the great differences in the data reported.

Factors associated with syringe exchange among injection drug users in Colombia

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze sociodemographic factors, injection behavior, and the prevalence of hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among injection drug users (IDUs) in five cities of Colombia.Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 1,123 people, using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Prevalence of hepatitis C and HIV was estimated. The association between sociodemographic factors, injection behavior, and prevalence of hepatitis C and HIV syringe exchange was established, and raw and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated.Results: Forty point three per cent of users share needles. Among IDUs, the HIV prevalence was 5.5%, and hepatitis C prevalence was 31.6%. Being male reduces the likelihood of sharing syringes. On the other hand, a secondary level of education, exchanging another part of the equipment and the increased consumption of crack are associated with syringe exchange.Conclusions: The existence of injector networks in cities of Colombia, and a lot of sharing of non-sterile and unclean injection equipment were recognized.