Communities In Ecuador Research Articles

Associations of PFASs and Pesticides with Lung Function Changes from Adolescence to Young Adulthood in the ESPINA study.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and pesticides are ubiquitous environmental exposures with increasingly recognized adverse health outcomes; however, their impact on lung function, particularly in combination, remains poorly understood. We included 381 adolescent participants from a prospective cohort study in Ecuador who underwent measurements of serum PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorooctanesulfonic acid [PFOS] and perfluorononanoic acid [PFNA]) and urinary herbicides (glyphosate, 2,4D) and fungicides (ethylene thiourea) and had spirometric measurements in either 2016 or 2022. We characterized the association between each PFAS or pesticide and each lung function measure in log-log models estimated via ordinary least squares regression. We used quantile g-computation to assess the association of the mixture of PFAS and pesticides with lung function outcomes. After accounting for multiple hypothesis testing, and in models adjusting for household income, parental education, and exposure to tobacco, we found that, individually, PFOA, glyphosate, and ETU were associated with slight increases in FEV1/FVC between 2016 and 2022. No other individual associations were significant. In mixtures analyses, a one quartile increase in all PFASs and pesticides simultaneously was also not associated with statistically significant changes in lung function outcomes after accounting for multiple hypothesis testing. In large part, we do not provide evidence for associations of PFAS and herbicide and fungicide pesticides with lung function among adolescents in moderate-to-high-altitude agricultural communities in Ecuador.

Ethnic, geographical and altitude considerations and maternal mortality associated with HELLP syndrome in Ecuador: a population-based cohort study

BackgroundEclampsia and pre-eclampsia rank as the third leading causes of maternal death in Ecuador, following pre-existing chronic diseases and postpartum haemorrhage, as reported by the Ecuadorian National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). In contrast, HELLP (Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count) syndrome remains underexplored epidemiologically, not only in Latin America but globally. This study marks the first population-based investigation into HELLP syndrome incidence and mortality in Ecuador, examining geographical variations, altitude influences and ethnic backgrounds.MethodsConducted as a retrospective population-based cohort study from 2015 to 2017, this research delves into the incidence, risk factors and maternal mortality associated with HELLP syndrome in Ecuador. Utilising data from INEC and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, we identified HELLP syndrome cases through ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision) coding in hospitalised individuals. Logistic regression analysis was employed to explore association, whilst geospatial statistical analysis focused on cantons to identify significant spatial clusters. Primary outcome measures include HELLP syndrome incidence and maternal mortality, supplying crucial insights into the syndrome’s impact on maternal health in Ecuador.ResultsThe incidence of HELLP syndrome is 0.76 (0.69–0.84)/ 1000 deliveries. Afro-Ecuadorian communities have a higher risk (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.18 (1.03–4.63)) compared to Indigenous Ecuadorian communities. Living at mid-level or high altitude is a significant risk factor OR of 2.79 (2.19–3.55) and an OR 3.61 (2.58–5.03), respectively. Being an older mother was also identified as a risk factor. Women living more than 20 km from the obstetric unit have an OR of 2.55 (2.05–3.18). Moreover, we found that cantons with higher crude HELLP syndrome incidence also have lower numbers of physicians (R = 0.503, p-value < 0.001). The mortality incidence of women with HELLP syndrome is 21.22 (12.05–20.59)/1000 deliveries with HELLP syndrome diagnoses.ConclusionsHigh altitude, advanced maternal age and geographical distance between residence and health centres are risk factors for HELLP syndrome. Maternal mortality in women with HELLP syndrome is higher than pre-eclampsia and eclampsia but comparable with previous reports in other countries.

Exploring HLA-C methylation patterns and nutritional status in Kichwa mothers and infants from Tena, Ecuador.

Environment and lifestyle can affect the epigenome passed down from generation to generation. A mother's nutrition can impact the methylation levels of her offspring's epigenome, but it's unclear which genes may be affected by malnutrition during gestation or early development. In this study, we examined the levels of methylated GC in the promoter region of HLA-C in mothers and infants from the Kichwa community in Ecuador. To do this, we analyzed saliva samples using bisulfite DNA sequencing. While we did not observe any significant differences in the mean methylation percentages in exon 1 of HLA-C between mothers and their infants after the first two years of lactation and life, respectively, we did find that infants tended to increase their methylation level during the first two years of life, while mothers tended to decrease it after the first two years of breastfeeding. When we compared methylation levels between mothers and infants using an ANOVA/posthoc Tukey test, we found that the average methylation for the entire population was less than 3% at T1 and T2. Although there was a tendency for infants to have higher methylation levels during their first two years of life and for mothers to have lower methylation levels after the first two years of breastfeeding, the mean values were not significantly different. However, we found a significant difference when we contrasted the data using a Kruskal-Wallis test at 0.05 for T1 AND T2 (p-value: 0.0148). Specifically, mothers had an average of X̅ = 2.06% and sons had X̅ = 1.57% at T2 (p-value: 0.7227), while the average for mothers was X̅ = 1.83% and for sons X̅ =1.77%. Finally, we identified three CpG motif nucleotide positions (32-33, 43-44, and 96-97) along the 122 bp analysis of HLA-C exon one, which was found to retain methylation patterns over time and is inherited from mother to offspring. Finally, our small pilot study did not reveal significant correlations between maternal and offspring nutritional status and DNA methylation levels of HLA-C exon one.

The Impact of Zika Emergence in Remote Communities in Northwestern Ecuador.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Latin America (2015-2016) has primarily been studied in urban centers, with less understanding of its impact on smaller rural communities. To address this gap, we analyzed ZIKV seroepidemiology in 6 rural Ecuadorian communities (2018-2019) with varying access to a commercial hub. Seroprevalence ranged from 19% to 54%, measured by nonstructural protein 1 blockade of binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed a decline in ZIKV seroprevalence between 2018 and 2019 that was greater among younger populations, suggesting that the attack rates in the 2015-2016 epidemic were significantly higher than our 2018 observations. These data indicate that the 2015-2016 epidemic included significant transmission in rural and more remote settings. Our observations of high seroprevalence in our area of study highlights the importance of surveillance and research in rural areas lacking robust health systems to manage future Zika outbreaks and vaccine initiatives.

Framing the allopathic approach to health and disease labels through patient narratives during the COVID‐19 pandemic first wave in Ecuador: An understudied and underutilized tool in health care practice and delivery

AbstractPresented in this article is a search for folk, popular, and professional health care labels through patient narratives. Fieldwork was done in the Ecuadorian communities of Santa Rosa and Pano during the first wave of COVID‐19. The results emphasize the utility of studying labels to better understand what communities experience in health crises, the opportunities to improve allopathic health care delivery and engagement with the folk and popular sectors. Both communities had adapted labels that were familiar to them from prior health experiences and served to inform their personal medical care during the pandemic. Meanwhile, in Pano, an Indigenous predominant community, people had inherited labels for plants and pandemics in both the Kichwa and Spanish language, and those provided a vocabulary of hope to the people. In Santa Rosa the labels demonstrated the grief and difficult times the community had experienced with the limited health resources available.

Perceptions of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and La Niña Shape Fishers’ Adaptive Capacity and Resilience

Much research has raised concerns about how a warming planet will interact with natural cyclical climatic variations, and the implications for the resilience and vulnerability of coastal communities. As the anticipated effects of climate change will continue to intensify, it is necessary to understand the response and adaptive capacity of individuals and communities. Coastal communities in Ecuador have evolved in an environment of such cyclical climatic variations referred to as El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and La Niña. These climatic events are frequently characterized by extreme variations in precipitation, violent storms, and coastal flooding during El Niño and lowered sea water temperatures and drought during La Niña. This paper draws on survey data and long-term ethnographic research in Ecuadorian coastal communities to explore how fishers understand the impacts of ENSO and implications for their livelihood decisions and resilience to climate variability. The results suggest that fishers along the coast of Ecuador understand and respond differentially to the impacts of ENSO depending on social, cultural, environmental, and geographical factors. These differential levels of response suggest that livelihood diversification may uphold social resilience, which has implications for how coastal communities may adapt to the increasingly harsh weather conditions predicted by many climate models. Our findings further suggest that the impacts of El Niño are more salient than the impacts of La Niña; these findings have significant implications for fisheries management and science communication.

Strategie kulturowe i wspólnotowe wobec ekstraktywistycznego przemysłu krewetkowego na wyspie Puná w Ekwadorze

This article discusses the conflicts created by the expansion of the shrimp industry on the island of Puná in Ecuador and its consequences: the destruction of hundreds of thousands of hectares of mangroves and the landlessness of the island’s communities. The purpose of the text is to show how the principle of community in this particular context becomes a strategy for defending the territory, and thus an alternative to the island’s current extractivist, capitalist development model. Key-words: Puná Island, shrimp industry, extractivism, Ecuadorian communities, mangroves

International Biological Flora: Festuca dolichophylla†

Abstract This account provides information on all aspects of the biology of Festuca dolichophylla J. Presl (Chilliwa, Chilligua) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the International Biological Flora including distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic and environmental factors, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, conservation and global heterogeneity. Festuca dolichophylla is a tall perennial tussock grass that thrives at high elevations. It is native and widely distributed along the Andes of South America. It also occurs in North and Central America, especially in Mexico and Costa Rica. Festuca dolichophylla plays a significant role in Andean ecosystems and communities of Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and northern Argentina. It serves various purposes, primarily as food source for South American camelids such as llama and alpaca. Festuca dolichophylla is dominant in Altiplano (Andean high plains) grasslands and is also present in Bofedales (Andean peatlands), shrublands and possibly in Ecuador and Colombia paramos. Festuca dolichophylla reproduces through seeds and vegetative tillers. Flowering tillers bear panicles with multiple spikelets and florets. An ungrazed plant can produce as much as 15.6 g of seeds during May and June, and seeds can germinate in 7 days or more. Festuca dolichophylla exhibits physiological and ecological traits that enable it to thrive in harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, drought and nutrient‐poor soils. It thrives in a range of soil types from strongly acid to slightly alkaline, encompassing textures that include loamy, sandy clay loam, clay loam and clay, and which are influenced by the cold and semiarid Andean climate. Fertilizers with different NPK formulations enhance fresh aerial biomass, plant height and volume. Additionally, F. dolichophylla forms mycorrhizal associations, stores large amounts of fixed carbon in its stems, and bioaccumulates mercury, lead and arsenic. Despite its importance, Festuca dolichophylla remains poorly studied. Further research is needed to explore its ecology, breeding systems, diseases or ecotypes. Moreover, population and demographic studies are crucial to assess the impact of climate change on this species. Adaptive, strategic and organized management and conservation efforts are essential, particularly in Indigenous Andean settlements, where F. dolichophylla offers multiple applications and benefits. Furthermore, utilizing this species in grassland revegetation and restoration initiatives highlights the need for ongoing research and management endeavours to ensure its conservation and sustainable use.

Unveiling Social Dynamics in People's Perception of Raptors to Guide Effective Conservation Strategies

Ethnoscientific approaches offer valuable tools for exploring human–nature relationships, making them useful for developing effective conservation strategies. Raptors, which are birds of prey, face significant conservation threats worldwide, with human persecution being a leading factor in their population decline. Urgent conservation strategies are needed, particularly in regions of high raptor diversity like the tropical Andes. In this study, we employed semistructured questionnaires and logistic models to investigate how demographic factors, economic activity, and traditional knowledge shape people's perceptions of raptors in rural communities of the Ecuadorian Andes. These communities have historically experienced poverty and inequality, and our approach takes into account their local realities to provide conservation recommendations. Our findings reveal that traditional ecological knowledge provides a broad understanding of human–raptor relations, and that raptors are viewed as both providers of ecosystem services and disservices. Additionally, social demographics, such as gender and educational level, can influence people's perception of raptors. Based on these results, we can promote conservation actions from a local to global level. Ethnoecological approaches offer diverse conservation opportunities that can vary based on different local contexts. In addition to conventional measures such as environmental education programs, poultry management, and landscape preservation, it is essential to consider the political ecology of specific sites, particularly in regions of the Global South where poverty and inequality are closely intertwined with social and environmental injustices. As such, policy making to alleviate poverty and inequality in rural communities in Ecuador and other Andean countries; and science decolonization to make conservation more inclusive are crucial for human well-being and successful and lasting conservation actions for raptors and biodiversity.

"Barriers and Advantages of Self-Sampling Tests, for HPV Diagnosis: A Qualitative Field Experience Before Implementation in a Rural Community in Ecuador".

Cervical cancer screening has demonstrated high efficacy in reducing cervical cancer mortality worldwide. However, clinician sampling is often perceived as an uncomfortable procedure that could reduce screening uptake. Self-sampling methods for HPV diagnosis have shown high sensitivity, which could increase acceptance and screening rates among women. This study aims to identify the perceived barriers and advantages of self-sampling methods versus clinician sampling for cervical cancer screening in a rural setting in Ecuador. A qualitative study was conducted. Seven focus group discussions took place in the rural Parish of El Valle in Azuay Province, Cuenca, Ecuador. Women native to this rural area were included in the study. FGDs were recorded and transcribed, and content analysis was performed to categorize and analyze the data. A total of 45 women participated in the study. Clinician sampling was perceived as a painful and intrusive method. However, participants believed that it is more reliable compared to self-sampling methods, attributing this to the direct visualization of the cervix, which facilitates the detection of cervical pathologies. The perceived advantages of self-sampling included increased comfort, pain reduction, time savings, the ability to perform the test at home, and the potential for widespread availability through pharmacies or local traditional healers. Nevertheless, doubts about the test's reliability as well as the user's proficiency in self-testing posed barriers to the adoption of this technique. Self-sampling methods offer several advantages over clinician sampling, such as enhanced privacy, comfort, and accessibility to cancer screening. Barriers primarily revolved around users' proficiency in performing the test and the reliability of the results. Providing training for using self-sampling tests could address these barriers.

Language and Representation of Indigenous Knowledge in Ecuadorian Radio Programs

Radio programs in Ecuador play a crucial role in amplifying indigenous voices, celebrating cultural diversity, and fostering social inclusion within the country's diverse landscape. This paper explores the multifaceted contributions of radio programming to indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage preservation, linguistic diversity, and social inclusion in Ecuadorian society. Through an analysis of themes, strategies, and impacts, the paper highlights the transformative power of radio as a medium of communication, cultural expression, and community empowerment for indigenous communities in Ecuador. By prioritizing indigenous languages, amplifying diverse voices, and fostering intercultural dialogue, radio programs contribute to the revitalization, recognition, and rights of indigenous peoples, promoting a deeper appreciation for linguistic diversity, cultural resilience, and social justice within Ecuadorian society.

Organizational design for strengthening community-based tourism: Empowering stakeholders for self-organization and networking.

The San Pablo community in El Triunfo, Ecuador, is emerging as a promising community-based tourism destination. Despite its potential, the lack of knowledge about self-organization and its implementation has hindered effective tourism management. To address this challenge, a participatory approach was employed, involving the community and key stakeholders, such as the local government of El Triunfo. Through the utilization of Design Thinking and both online and in-person interviews, it was identified that an organizational structure based on networks and a culture of self-organization can drive local tourism. These aspects were incorporated into a Design Thinking-guided process, contributing to the understanding of how to forge an appropriate organizational framework for the community. Furthermore, this study aims for broader impact. The goal is not only to strengthen tourism in San Pablo, but also to inform the management of strategies and policies in other entities. The findings offer valuable insights to similar communities in Ecuador and the region. Collectively, this research enhances the comprehension of community-based tourism and proposes practical solutions for optimizing its management in emerging contexts.

Environmental pollution by heavy metals within the area influenced by the Tungurahua volcano eruption – Ecuador

Volcanic eruptions can have long-lasting negative effects on nearby environments and communities, especially those relying on agriculture. The Tungurahua and Sangay volcanoes in Ecuador’s highlands pose a significant risk to the region’s agricultural economy and inhabitants. The most recent eruption of the Tungurahua volcano spanned from September 1999 to March 2016. Volcanic ash is known to contain both non-essential and essential elements for plant growth, but excessive amounts of the latter can also be toxic and disrupt physiological processes. Additionally, the use of pesticides and fertilizers introduces additional elements to agricultural soils, which can potentially transfer to edible plants and raise health concerns for consumers. Despite this, little is known about the impact of the Tungurahua volcano’s latest eruption on soil deposition of micronutrient and heavy metals and their potential transfer to the food chain. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study to explore the impact of the Tungurahua volcano’s latest eruption on soil deposition of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, As, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of cultivated and uncultivated soil samples and vegetables in the cantons most affected by volcanic ash. According to our findings, the physicochemical properties, micronutrient, and heavy metal concentrations of both cultivated and uncultivated soils differ and, in some cases, exceeded the maximum limits established, which could affect the health of the soil as well as of human beings through the trophic chain. This study provides valuable information for monitoring the chemical and physical properties of soil and vegetables in areas affected by the Tungurahua volcanic activity and agriculture, aiding in understanding their impact on the environment, agriculture, and potential health risks associated with locally grown crops in rural Ecuadorian communities.

Entrevista a Walter Mignolo e Catherine E. Walsh

Catherine E. Walsh (1964) had her initial experiences as an activist at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), influencing her academic interests in pedagogy, decoloniality, and feminism. After completing her Ph.D. in Education in 1984, she worked at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and Boston until the mid-1990s when she permanently relocated to Ecuador. Among her many activist contributions, she stands out for her work alongside Paulo Freire and the critical pedagogy network in the 1990s, bilingual education and consulting projects for indigenous communities in Ecuador, and the establishment of the Fondo Documental Afro-Andino, jointly with Afro-Ecuadorian community leader and intellectual Juan García Salazar in 2002, with whom she co-authored To Think Sowing/To Sow Thinking with Grandfather Zenon (2017). Notable among her various works are the edited volumes Decolonial Pedagogies (2013), On Decoloniality (in collaboration with Walter Mignolo, 2018), and her latest work, Rising Up, Living Up. Re-Existances, Sowings, and Decolonial Cracks (2023, Duke University Press). She recently retired as a professor and director of the Ph.D. program in Latin American Cultural Studies at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar (Quito, Ecuador). Walter Mignolo (1941) specialized in Semiotics and Literary Theory and has made extensive contributions to the fields of modernity and coloniality. His work prominently explores the concepts of decoloniality, global colonialism, geopolitics of knowledge, border thinking, and pluriversality. He is a central figure in the Latin American decolonial thought school, with a profound impact on global academic discourse. The author of several books translated into other languages, notable among them, in addition to On Decoloniality, co-authored with Walsh, are The Darker Side of the Renaissance: Literacy, Territoriality, and Colonization (1996), winner of the Katherine Singer Kovaks Award, The Idea of Latin America (2006), winner of the Frantz Fanon Award, and his most recent work, The Politics of Decolonial Investigations (2021). He has been working at Duke University since 1993, where he holds the distinguished title of «William H. Wannamaker» as a professor of Literature and Romance Studies. The works developed by Walsh and Mignolo are an extension of the concept of coloniality initiated by the Peruvian sociologist Aníbal Quijano, whom they consider disciples.

Frequency of Drug Use in the Adult Population of Therapeutic Communities in Ecuador

Introduction: Drug consumption is a serious and multicausal phenomenon that daily intensifies and modifies the relationship with the reality of the human being because it stimulates the pleasure circuit and makes consumers seek rewards in the increase of the same, which triggers a dependence that affects the individual, family and social level. This reward circuit can be modified to the extent that the consumption of any drug is definitively avoided. &#x0D; Objective: To determine the frequency of drug use among adults in therapeutic communities in Ecuador. &#x0D; Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study with a sample of 480 intentionally selected adult drug users in Ecuador, by non-probabilistic sampling, with a 95% confidence interval. &#x0D; Results: Concerning the frequency of consumption of drugs such as tobacco, alcohol, coca, inhalants, tranquilizers, hallucinogens and opioids, the level of significance with the sociodemographic variables of the study is less than 0.05, so the variables are dependent, and there is a significant relationship between them.&#x0D; Conclusions: The study showed that the frequency of drug use is associated with sociodemographic variables with a statistical association and a significance level equal to or less than 0.05.

Risk factors for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli carriage among children in a food animal-producing region of Ecuador: A repeated measures observational study.

The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria may be driven by human-animal-environment interactions, especially in regions with limited restrictions on antibiotic use, widespread food animal production, and free-roaming domestic animals. In this study, we aimed to identify risk factors related to commercial food animal production, small-scale or "backyard" food animal production, domestic animal ownership, and practices related to animal handling, waste disposal, and antibiotic use in Ecuadorian communities. We conducted a repeated measures study from 2018 to 2021 in 7 semirural parishes of Quito, Ecuador to identify determinants of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (3GCR-EC) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli (ESBL-EC) in children. We collected 1,699 fecal samples from 600 children and 1,871 domestic animal fecal samples from 376 of the same households at up to 5 time points per household over the 3-year study period. We used multivariable log-binomial regression models to estimate relative risks (RR) of 3GCR-EC and ESBL-EC carriage, adjusting for child sex and age, caregiver education, household wealth, and recent child antibiotic use. Risk factors for 3GCR-EC included living within 5 km of more than 5 commercial food animal operations (RR: 1.26; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 1.45; p-value: 0.001), household pig ownership (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.48; p-value: 0.030) and child pet contact (RR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.39; p-value: 0.001). Risk factors for ESBL-EC were dog ownership (RR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.83; p-value: 0.053), child pet contact (RR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.16; p-value: 0.012), and placing animal feces on household land/crops (RR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.46; p-value: 0.019). The primary limitations of this study are the use of proxy and self-reported exposure measures and the use of a single beta-lactamase drug (ceftazidime with clavulanic acid) in combination disk diffusion tests for ESBL confirmation, potentially underestimating phenotypic ESBL production among cephalosporin-resistant E. coli isolates. To improve ESBL determination, it is recommended to use 2 combination disk diffusion tests (ceftazidime with clavulanic acid and cefotaxime with clavulanic acid) for ESBL confirmatory testing. Future studies should also characterize transmission pathways by assessing antibiotic resistance in commercial food animals and environmental reservoirs. In this study, we observed an increase in enteric colonization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria among children with exposures to domestic animals and their waste in the household environment and children living in areas with a higher density of commercial food animal production operations.

Urinary Glyphosate, 2,4-D and DEET Biomarkers in Relation to Neurobehavioral Performance in Ecuadorian Adolescents in the ESPINA Cohort.

Herbicides are the most used class of pesticides worldwide, and insect repellents are widely used globally. Yet, there is a dearth of studies characterizing the associations between these chemical groups and human neurobehavior. Experimental studies suggest that glyphosate and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicides can affect neurobehavior and the cholinergic and glutamatergic pathways in the brain. We aim to assess whether herbicides and insect repellents are associated with neurobehavioral performance in adolescents. We assessed 519 participants (11-17 years of age) living in agricultural communities in Ecuador. We quantified urinary concentrations of glyphosate, 2,4-D, and two N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) insect repellent metabolites [3-(diethylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid (DCBA) and 3-(ethylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid (ECBA)] using isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. We assessed neurobehavioral performance using 9 subtests across 5 domains (attention/inhibitory control, memory/learning, language, visuospatial processing, and social perception). We characterized the associations using generalized estimating equations and multiple imputation for metabolites below detection limits. Models were adjusted for demographic and anthropometric characteristics, urinary creatinine, and sexual maturation. Mediation by salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, , and testosterone was assessed using structural equation modeling. The mean of each neurobehavioral domain score was between 7.0 and 8.7 [standard deviation (SD) range: 2.0-2.3]. Glyphosate was detected in 98.3% of participants, 2,4-D in 66.2%, DCBA in 63.3%, and ECBA in 33.4%. 2,4-D was negatively associated with all neurobehavioral domains, but statistically significant associations were observed with attention/inhibition [score difference per 50% higher metabolite concentration 95% confidence interval (CI): , ], language [ (95% CI: , )], and memory/learning [ (95% CI: , 0.01)]. Glyphosate had a statistically significant negative association only with social perception [ (95% CI: , )]. DEET metabolites were not associated with neurobehavioral performance. Mediation by gender and adrenal hormones was not observed. This study describes worse neurobehavioral performance associated with herbicide exposures in adolescents, particularly with 2,4-D. Replication of these findings among other pediatric and adult populations is needed. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11383.

Marine litter and social inequities entangle Ecuadorian mangrove communities: Perceptions of plastic pollution and well-being concerns in Puerto Hondo and Isla Santay, Ecuador

Mangrove forests of Ecuador’s Gulf of Guayaquil are ecologically, culturally, and economically important to local communities relying on them for artisanal fishing, ecotourism, and related businesses. However, these ecosystems have experienced significant degradation by anthropogenic impacts such as anthropogenic marine debris. On one hand, plastics have improved the ease of life and safety for local people of the region; however, plastic pollution threatens the health of the mangrove ecosystem and these communities. This interdisciplinary study explores perceptions of marine litter and its impacts on community well-being based on surveys conducted in Puerto Hondo and Santay Island, two mangrove communities in the Gulf of Guayaquil, in 2019 and 2021. Santay Island respondents expressed that marine litter is an extreme issue affecting their well-being, while Puerto Hondo respondents reported less concern. Authors suggest Puerto Hondo’s geographic link to Guayaquil city has transitioned the community into a “peri-urban” landscape, where community members increasingly look inland for basic needs. Conversely, Santay Island, isolated by estuarine water, is physically linked to the mangroves. It is suggested that as communities spend less time in the mangroves, whether geographically or socially separated, marine litter becomes “out of sight, out of mind” despite its ongoing impacts on local food security and historical heritage. This work illustrates the complexities of plastic use and marine debris. To foster equitable plastic waste governance for exposed coastal Ecuadorian communities, policies must not only account for these intricacies but also actively engage with and listen to local perspectives.

Leveraging the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment to assess changes in antibiotic use and antibiotic-resistant E. coli carriage in semi-rural Ecuador

The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had significant impacts on health systems, population dynamics, public health awareness, and antibiotic stewardship, which could affect antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) emergence and transmission. In this study, we aimed to compare knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of antibiotic use and ARB carriage in Ecuadorian communities before versus after the COVID-19 pandemic began. We leveraged data collected for a repeated measures observational study of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (3GCR-EC) carriage among children in semi-rural communities in Quito, Ecuador between July 2018 and September 2021. We included 241 households that participated in surveys and child stool sample collection in 2019, before the pandemic, and in 2021, after the pandemic began. We estimated adjusted Prevalence Ratios (aPR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) using logistic and Poisson regression models. Child antibiotic use in the last 3 months declined from 17% pre-pandemic to 5% in 2021 (aPR: 0.30; 95% CI 0.15, 0.61) and 3GCR-EC carriage among children declined from 40 to 23% (aPR: 0.48; 95% CI 0.32, 0.73). Multi-drug resistance declined from 86 to 70% (aPR: 0.32; 95% CI 0.13; 0.79), the average number of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) per 3GCR-EC isolate declined from 9.9 to 7.8 (aPR of 0.79; 95% CI 0.65, 0.96), and the diversity of ARGs was lower in 2021. In the context of Ecuador, where COVID-19 prevention and control measures were strictly enforced after its major cities experienced some of the world’s the highest mortality rates from SARS-CoV-2 infections, antibiotic use and ARB carriage declined in semi-rural communities of Quito from 2019 to 2021.

Population genomics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli uncovers high connectivity between urban and rural communities in Ecuador.

Human movement may be an important driver of transmission dynamics for enteric pathogens but has largely been underappreciated except for international 'travelers' diarrhea or cholera. Phylodynamic methods, which combine genomic and epidemiological data, are used to examine rates and dynamics of disease matching underlying evolutionary history and biogeographic distributions, but these methods often are not applied to enteric bacterial pathogens. We used phylodynamics to explore the phylogeographic and evolutionary patterns of diarrheagenic E. coli in northern Ecuador to investigate the role of human travel in the geographic distribution of strains across the country. Using whole genome sequences of diarrheagenic E. coli isolates, we built a core genome phylogeny, reconstructed discrete ancestral states across urban and rural sites, and estimated migration rates between E. coli populations. We found minimal structuring based on site locations, urban vs. rural locality, pathotype, or clinical status. Ancestral states of phylogenomic nodes and tips were inferred to have 51% urban ancestry and 49% rural ancestry. Lack of structuring by location or pathotype E. coli isolates imply highly connected communities and extensive sharing of genomic characteristics across isolates. Using an approximate structured coalescent model, we estimated rates of migration among circulating isolates were 6.7 times larger for urban towards rural populations compared to rural towards urban populations. This suggests increased inferred migration rates of diarrheagenic E. coli from urban populations towards rural populations. Our results indicate that investments in water and sanitation prevention in urban areas could limit the spread of enteric bacterial pathogens among rural populations.