Colombian People Research Articles

Exploring the invisible threads: Social determinants of health and emotional self-perception in Colombia.

Mental health is essential for overall well-being, but it is affected by disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are highly prevalent both globally and regionally. The prevalence of these disorders has risen due to factors such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, lack of adequate investment in mental health care, and the implementation of low-impact strategies. To establish the social determinants of health associated with the self-perception of sadness, depression, and/or anxiety in people in Colombia. Materials and methods: Using the DESOSA81 tool, a quantitative, cross-sectional study with a correlational phase was conducted with 2,725 participants from the five regions of the Colombian mainland. Data were collected through a digital survey and analyzed using Jamovi software to perform univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses (logistic regression). Heterogeneity was found in the predictive determinants between regions. The Amazon presented the regression model with the highest prediction (R2N = 0.650), while Orinoco had the lowest (R2N = 0.503). Among the social determinants associated with a greater risk of sadness, depression, and anxiety, those found to have a significant influence on emotional self-perception are female gender, stress, support networks, and social cohesion. Stress management and interpersonal relationship programs, comprehensive family care strategies, and community support should be strengthened. Furthermore, public policies should adopt comprehensive approaches that go beyond the biomedical paradigm.

Evidence of association between gender and physical fitness in physically active people in Colombia

Abstract Background Physical Condition (PC) is an important health marker (Colley, 2019), as a predictor of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, among other causes (Cruz, 2018). Aim To perform association tests between gender (G) and CP in physically active people in Colombia. This study is observational cross-sectional, 1,503 people participated, 1,019 Women (W) (68.6%) and 485 Men (M) (31.4%) in Colombia, mean age 52±16.2 in W and 42±17.8 in M. Data were analyzed with Rstudio v2022.12.0. The statistical protocol was: 1- Empirical distribution. 2- Normality tests with Kolmogorov-Smirnov. 3- Tests of independence with Chi-square (χ²). The mean (X¯), percentage (%) and standard deviation (±) were taken into account. PC was measured in body composition variables; Body Mass Index (BMI), Body Adiposity Index (BAI) and Abdominal Circumference (AC), Grip Strength (GS) and Maximal Oxygen Consumption (Vo2max). Results In W, 38.3% (27.2±1.37) were overweight (Ow) and 19.1% (33.0±2.83) obese (Ob), 69.6% (90.9±8.14) cardiovascular risk (CVR) for AC and 50.4% (32±4.73) risk for BAI. Regarding GS 43.4% (15.8±6.38) is weak and 54.6% (27.7±4.98) Vo2max is low. In M 35.6% (26.9±1.48) presented Ow and 10.6% (32.7±2.39) in Ob, 39.7% (98.4±6.8) with Rcv by AC and 24.3% (29.7±3.45) at risk by BAI. As for GS 41.5% (27.1±6.39) are weak and 32.3% (33.3±6.33) under Vo2max. According to independence tests with χ² there is association between the G and BMI (χ²=1452.1, df = 1427, p-value=0. 315), G and AC (χ²=394.9, df = 382, p-value=0. 313), G and Vo2max (χ²=155.5, df = 6, p-value<2. 2e-16), G and BAI (χ²=2970.3, df = 1502, p-value<2.2e-16), G and GS (χ²=6015.5, df = 1502, p-value<2.2e-16). This project has been approved by the bioethics committee. Conclusions Test of independence with (χ²), being a non-homogeneous sample, there is a strong association between G and PC with BMI, BAI, AC, GS and Vo2max, each variable depending on the others, evidencing higher Rcv in women with respect to men. Key messages • Several studies consider Physical Condition (PC) is an important health marker (Colley, 2019), as a predictor of morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease, among other causes (Cruz, 2018). • There is a strong association between G and the levels of BMI, BAI, AC, SG and Vo2max variables, each variable depending on the others, showing a higher Rcv in women compared to men.

Adoption of e-wallets: trust and perceived risk in Generation Z in Colombia

Purpose This study aims to explore the development of trust in relation to security and privacy concerns, as well as the influence of perceived risk on the intention to use e-wallets. The research focused on the Colombian context because of its characterization as an underdeveloped financial system that has experienced considerable security and privacy violations in recent years. Additionally, this geographical area is relatively under-researched, and the target demographic for this investigation was Generation Z, given their pivotal role in driving the adoption of e-wallets. Design/methodology/approach Based on measurement scales that had already been tested in the academic literature on mobile payment systems, a questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically. A total of 424 responses were obtained from young Colombians. Structural equation modeling (SEM), specifically the PLS-SEM method, was used to process the data to study the explanatory and predictive power of the proposed model. Findings The findings revealed that security and privacy have a positive and significant effect on perceived trust, and that this at the same time has a positive and significant effect on attitude, perceived usefulness, perceived ease and intention to use, as well as a significant but negative effect on perceived risk. On the other hand, perceived risk showed an inverse, but not significant, relationship with intention to use. Originality/value This research explored the adoption of e-wallets by young people in Colombia, which has been widely claimed in the academic literature. In a turbulent context with a high distrust of financial institutions, as well as a change in digital money consumption patterns, it is critical to understand the factors that contribute to the adoption of mobile payment services. The findings, in addition to contributing to the academic debate, have important implications for e-wallet providers, as they offer information that allows designing strategies to attract and keep current and potential users. At the same time, the recommendations by the authors allow the design of tools, especially related to security and privacy, to improve their trust and build loyalty, thus contributing to the consolidation and development of the mobile payment system.

Educación de los pueblos originarios en Colombia, subalternización e injusticia cognitiva

This article has been derived from a documentary research work, which offers a balance of education for Indigenous Peoples in the Latin American sphere, in the Colombian sphere and in the specific sphere of the Nasa Indigenous People in Colombia. It also realizes the way in which the relationship between Own Education and the fight for territorial autonomy has been raised. Finally, for the Colombian case, some problematizations present in the relationship between Indigenous Education and state policy on education are collected. It is concluded that the ontological and epistemic violence that generates injustices in knowledge and understanding, and that affected the indigenous peoples under the colonial project, is resisted based on the educational experiences of the Nasa Indigenous People.

Online Psychometric Performance of the Athens Insomnia Scale among Colombian People

Abstract Introduction The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) has shown acceptable performance in face-to-face applications. However, knowledge about AIS performance in online applications could be improved. Objective The study aimed to perform confirmatory factor, internal consistency, and differential item functioning analyses of AIS in two Colombian online samples. Material and methods Two samples were recruited online at different times (n = 700, M = 37.05, SD = 12.7 and n = 292, M = 60.4, SD = 17.6). Separated confirmatory factor analyses and Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega were computed for each factor. Results The data adjusted better for the AIS two-dimensional model in the general and clinical populations. Excellent internal consistency was observed among the general population sample and clinical sample. Conclusions The AIS shows a two-dimensional structure and high internal consistency in two online samples in Colombia. Corroboration of these findings in other samples is necessary.

Influencia de las emociones sobre la confianza institucional

This document examines the relationship between the collective emotions expressed by young people in Colombia at various times and their trust in the country’s institutions. An aggregated measure of institutional trust is constructed using the Multiple Correspondence Analysis technique. Subsequently, the relationship and impact of emotions on institutional trust are estimated through the fitting of a model adjusted to the Generalized Beta Type 1 density function. The emotions that generate the most social mobilization are anger, sadness, and surprise, with the latter having differential effects depending on age and levels of institutional trust. No differences in perceptions towards institutions were found based on the gender of the respondents. Issues are dynamic and may vary according to predominant emotions. Contrary to expectations, joy does not have a positive effect on institutional trust. Additionally, there is no evidence of emotional cascades, despite dynamic changes in collective emotions during each conjunctural process.

Coloniality in language and education policies and the sustenance of Indigenous languages in the Global South: The case of the Wayuu people in Colombia

Coloniality in education and language policies continues to impact Indigenous communities in implicit and complex ways. In this article, we describe the case of Colombia where, like in many other countries in the Global South, educational policy messages are contradictory. While ethno-education policies purport to sustain Indigenous languages and epistemologies and grant Indigenous peoples the right to educate their children and youth in ways that sustain their cultural and linguistic identities, the National Bilingual Plan enforces colonial English and Spanish exclusively, thus implicitly devaluing Indigenous peoples’ bilingualism. This has resulted in further displacement of Indigenous languages that now compete for space in the curriculum against two colonial languages. Drawing on Southern Epistemologies Coloniality and Decoloniality, in this case study, we explore how these seemingly contradicting policies impact curriculum design, how teachers and school administrators in the Wayuu community, the largest Indigenous people in Colombia, perceive and navigate these demands, and how they, along other community members, envisage possibilities to resist this impact. Findings point to the insufficiency of stand-alone policies to sustain Indigenous languages and cultures and assert the need to center Indigenous voices and epistemologies to decolonize education.

Effectiveness and safety of medication abortion via telemedicine versus in-person: A cohort of pregnant people in Colombia

ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness and safety of medication abortion (MAB) via telemedicine versus in-person in pregnant people with less than 12 gestational weeks in Colombia. Study designA retrospective cohort study was conducted with 23,362 pregnant people who requested MAB service from Profamilia (a Colombian non-governmental organization) in 2021–2022. The outcomes were success and safety of MAB. We performed a descriptive and a multivariate statistical analysis using the binary regression model to obtain an adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) to identify factors associated with abortion success. ResultsIn comparison to in-person care (n = 20,289), individuals in telemedicine (n = 3073) were predominantly from urban areas, belonged to a lower socioeconomic stratum, single and did not identify with any ethnic group. In-person users tended to have higher levels of education and accessed the service through private insurance (p < 0,05). There were no differences in the odd of a successful abortion based on the modality of care (aOR 1.18; 95% CI=0.87–1.59). The results were also the same with sensitivity analysis stratified: pregnant people who were nine weeks gestation or less (aOR 0.86; 95% CI=0.63–1.17) or more (aOR 0.87; 95% CI=0.28–2.65). ConclusionTelemedicine is an effective and safe option for MAB, as in-person care. Telemedicine has the potential to increase abortion access by extending the availability of providers and offering people a new option for obtaining care conveniently and privately, especially for women with disadvantaged socioeconomic and educational background. ImplicationsThis study demonstrates that medication abortion (MAB) administered via telemedicine produces outcomes akin to those of in-person care, providing a compelling rationale for its adoption, particularly in underserved regions. This approach can be replicated in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Exploring dietary differences among developmental stages of triatomines infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in different habitats

Chagas disease affects millions of people in Colombia and worldwide, with its transmission influenced by ecological, environmental, and anthropogenic factors. There is a notable correlation between vector transmission cycles and the habitats of insect vectors of the parasite. However, the scale at which these cycles operate remains uncertain. While individual triatomine ecotopes such as palms provide conditions for isolated transmission cycles, recent studies examining triatomine blood sources in various habitats suggest a more intricate network of transmission cycles, linking wild ecotopes with human dwellings. This study aims to provide further evidence on the complexity of the scale of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission cycles, by exploring the different blood sources among developmental stages of infected triatomines in different habitats. We evaluated infection rates, parasite loads, feeding sources, and the distribution of Rhodnius prolixus insects in Attalea butyracea palms across three distinct habitats in Casanare, Colombia: peridomestics, pastures, and woodlands. Our results show that there is no clear independence in transmission cycles in each environment. Analyses of feeding sources suggest the movement of insects and mammals (primarily bats and didelphids) among habitats. A significant association was found between habitat and instar stages in collected R. prolixus. The N1 stage was correlated with pasture and woodland, while the N4 stage was related to pasture. Additionally, adult insects exhibited higher T. cruzi loads than N1, N2, and N3. We observed higher T. cruzi loads in insects captured in dwelling and pasture habitats, compared with those captured in woodland areas. Effective Chagas disease control strategies must consider the complexity of transmission cycles and the interplay between domestic and sylvatic populations of mammals and vectors.

Inter-weavings of Practice and Research in the Tšombiach (Woven Sashes) of the Kamëntŝa Biya People

This article discusses practices surrounding the tšombiach, a traditional belt or sash woven by the Kamëntŝa people of Colombia. Aspects of the making, thinking, and feeling processes that cohere around tšombiachs are presented through weaving by eight Kamëntŝa women and the authors as a form of design research. The article considers how, through weaving, tšombiachs participate in cross-cutting care practices bound up by wrapping up, that include forms of working collectively, of summoning and sheltering, traveling, telling, and re-creating the territory. These involve caring for what is vital while interweaving practice with research.

Chagas Disease: Comparison of Therapy with Nifurtimox and Benznidazole in Indigenous Communities in Colombia.

Background: For indigenous people in Colombia, high infection rates with Chagas disease (CD) are known. Methods: In 2018 and 2020, nine villages were screened for CD. CD-positive patients could enter a drug observed treatment. While, in 2018, Benznidazole (BNZ) was provided as the first-line drug by the government, nifurtimox (NFX) was administered in 2020. Results: Of 121 individuals treated with BNZ, 79 (65%) suffered from at least one adverse event (AE). Of 115 treated with NFX, at least one AE occurred in 96 (84%) patients. In 69% of BNZ cases, the side effects did not last longer than one day; this applied to 31% of NFX cases. Excluding extreme outlier values, average duration of AEs differed highly significantly: BNZ (M = 0.7, SD = 1.4) and NFX (M = 1.7, SD = 1.5, p < 0.001). Using an intensity scale, AEs were highly significantly more severe for NFX (M = 2.1, SD = 0.58) compared to BZN (M = 1.1, SD = 0.38), p < 0.001. When analyzing the duration in relation to the intensity, the burden of AEs caused by NFX was significantly more pronounced. Dropouts (n = 2) due to AEs were in the NFX-group only. Conclusions: Side effects caused by BNZ were significantly fewer, as well as milder, shorter in duration, and more easily treatable, compared to NFX.

Treatment patterns and persistence on disease modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis and its associated factors

Background Effective interventions for Multiple Sclerosis require timely treatment optimization which usually involves switching disease modifying therapies. The patterns of prescription and the reasons for changing treatment in people with MS, especially in low prevalence populations, are unknown.Objectives To describe the persistence, reasons of DMT switches and prescription patterns in a cohort of Colombian people with MS.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study including patients with confirmed MS with at least one visit at our centre. We estimated the overall incidence rate of medication changes and assessed the persistence on medication with Kaplan–Meier survival estimates for individual medications and according to efficacy and mode of administration. The factors associated with changing medications were assessed using adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models. The reasons for switching medication changes were described, and the prescription patterns were assessed using network analysis, with measures of centrality.ResultsSeven hundred one patients with MS were included. Mean age was 44.3 years, and 67.9% were female. Mean disease duration was 11.3 years and 84.5% had relapsing MS at onset, with median EDSS of 1.0. Treatment was started in 659 (94%) of the patients after a mean of 3 years after MS symptom onset. Among them, 39.5% maintained their initial DMT, 29.9% experienced a single DMT change, while 18.7% went through two, and 11.9% had three or more DMT changes until the final follow-up. The total number of treatment modifications reached 720, resulting in an incidence rate of 1.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.17) per patient per year The median time to change after the first DMT was 3.75 years, and was not different according to the mode of administration or efficacy classification. The main reasons for changing DMT were MS activity (relapses, 56.7%; MRI activity, 18.6%), followed by non-serious adverse events (15.3%) and disability (11.1%). Younger age at MS onset, care under our centre and insurer status were the main determinants of treatment change. Network analysis showed that interferons and fingolimod were the most influential DMTs.ConclusionsA majority of patients switch medications, mostly due to disease activity, and in association with age and insurer status.

NEED FOR RELATEDNESS AND EATING BEHAVIOUR IN MILLENNIALS

This research analyses the moderating effects of the need for relatedness in the relationship between behavioural intention (attitude towards the behaviour, subjective norm behaviour and perceived behavioural control) and self-reported healthy eating behaviour in millennials. A structural equation model was used in a sample of 2380 young people in Colombia and Spain (1190 for each country) considered healthy food consumers. All of them were classified as millennials based on age (25–34). The results show that attitudes towards the behaviour and subjective norm behaviour positively influence self-reported healthy eating behaviour.In contrast, perceived control behaviour does not influence self-reported healthy eating behaviour. The need for relatedness moderates the relationship between behavioural intention (attitude towards the behaviour, subjective norm behaviour and perceived behavioural control) and self-reported healthy eating behaviour. The results suggest that the isolation conditions caused by the pandemic directly affect millennials’ behaviour regarding the consumption of healthy food. This condition affects their lifestyles and preferences associated with consumption.

The psychosocial impact of the covid-19 pandemic on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Colombia

Resumo Este artigo analisa o impacto dos fatores psicossociais provocado pela pandemia da covid-19 em lésbicas, gays, bissexuais e transgêneros (LGBT) na Colômbia. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório misto, que utilizou dados qualitativos para explicar os dados quantitativos, com ênfase na interpretação das relações entre ambos. Para tanto, foram utilizados como instrumentos um questionário e grupos de estudo. Participaram do estudo 219 pessoas LGBT, sendo 18 lésbicas, 128 gays, 36 bissexuais e 37 pessoas transgênero. Os impactos psicossociais mais significativos associados à covid-19 foram relacionados a fatores econômicos (como desemprego e diminuição da renda familiar), conflitos familiares (como perda da privacidade da população LGBT que tiveram que retornar a seu lar de origem) e tensões nas relações sociais, gerando insegurança, medo e ansiedade nessa população durante o lockdown. Tais aspectos evidenciam um aumento da desigualdade social vivenciada por pessoas de orientações sexuais e identidades de gênero não hegemônicas durante a pandemia.

The psychosocial impact of the covid-19 pandemic on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Colombia

Resumen Este artículo presenta un análisis del impacto generado por la pandemia del covid-19 en los aspectos psicosociales de las personas lesbianas, gais, bisexuales y transgénero (LGBT) en Colombia. La metodología empleada fue mixta, con un enfoque secuencial explicativo, en el cual los resultados cualitativos se utilizaron para explicar los resultados cuantitativos y su énfasis fue interpretar las relaciones entre ambos; para tal fin se utilizaron la encuesta y los grupos de discusión como técnicas de investigación. En total, participaron en el estudio 219 personas LGBT, de las cuales 18 eran lesbianas, 128 gais, 36 bisexuales y 37 personas transgénero. Los impactos psicosociales más significativos asociados al covid-19 están relacionados con los aspectos económicos vinculados al desempleo y la disminución de los ingresos familiares, así como los conflictos en el ámbito familiar determinados por la pérdida de la privacidad de las personas LGBT que debieron regresar a sus hogares de origen; además de las tensiones en las relaciones sociales que generan sentimientos de inseguridad, temor y ansiedad en esta población debido al confinamiento obligatorio, lo cual evidencia una mayor desigualdad social vinculada a las orientaciones sexuales e identidades de género no hegemónicas que se acrecentaron en tiempos de pandemia.

Trends in Addiction to Psychoactive Substances Among Homeless People in Colombia Using Artificial Intelligence

Introduction: Currently, homelessness should not be seen as just another problem, but as a reality of inequality and the absence of social justice. In this sense, homeless people are subjected to social disengagement, lack of job opportunities or the instability of these, insecurity circumstances, these aspects being one of the causes associated with the consumption or addiction to psychoactive substances. Data: To define the proposed approach, data from the Census of Street Inhabitants - CHC- 2021 of the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), which contains 19,375 records and 25 columns, were used. Methodology: This article presents an artificial intelligence approach that implements a model based on machine learning algorithms for identifying addiction trends to psychoactive substances in street dwellers in Colombia. Conclusions: Based on the results obtained, it is evident that the approach can serve as a support for decision making by municipal administrations in the definition of social public policies for the street-dwelling population in Colombia.

Zloupotreba dece i mladih u romanu „Bogorodica plaćenika“ Fernanda Valjeha

On the basis of the theory of the novela sicaresca, this paper depicts the figure of the sicario (young assassin) in the novel Our Lady of the Assassins written by the Colombian author Fernando Vallejo. The figure is the symbol of the abuse to which chil- dren and young people in Colombia were exposed during the 1980s and 1990s. The paper implies that sicarios are both products and victims of socio-political circumstances in Colombia. It is emphasized that young hitmen come from marginalized social strata; therefore, they were suitable for becoming victims of manipulation and exploitation. Children com- ing from poor city quarters were deprived of love, attention, and care, which pushed them to grow up too quickly. Craving for money, they enter the world of crime, which nullifies their primordial innocence and purity. By entering this world, children become deprived of their basic human rights: the right to freedom of thought, speech, education, and existence. They become mere henchmen condemned to premature death. It is concluded that with the tragic death of a minor hitmen, Vallejo shows that in Colombia ruled by drug lords there is no (bright) future.

Indigenous zoom: Impact of the implementation of the School Feeding Program for Indigenous Peoples in Colombia on enrollment

Considering the socioeconomic and cultural heterogeneity of the Colombian population, which leads to lower access and permanence in the educational system of indigenous children and youth, the National Government has developed a feeding program with a differential approach for these students. Although the World Bank (2022) developed an analysis of the implementation of the School Feeding Program for Indigenous Peoples (PAEPI – because of the initials in Spanish –), its impact has not yet been evaluated. Hence, this article seeks to fill this gap by establishing whether the implementation of this program had a positive impact on the enrollment of indigenous students. For this purpose, a Difference-in-Differences model was estimated with data from 24 departments during the period 2017-2021. Although it was found that the impact of the PAEPI on indigenous enrollment is not statistically significant, the article provides evidence of the potential effect that this policy can have, since it showed a positive impact on indigenous enrollment. Thus, these findings support the idea that adopting differential treatments can enhance the impact of public policies.

Effect of Resilience, Well-Being, Happiness, and Social Support on the Levels of Perceived Negative Emotions of Colombian People During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The research established the relationships between resilient coping, subjective well-being, subjective happiness, and social support on anxiety levels, depression, and perceived stress among Colombians during the COVID-19 pandemic in the department of Córdoba, Colombia. Participants were 997 elderly people of both genders with literacy skills and without the presence of cognitive impairment. The Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), the Happiness Scale (SHS), the Subjective Wellness Scale (SWLS), the Duke-UNC 12 social support scale, the PHQ-4 scale (anxiety-depression), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) were used as measuring instruments. We worked with a nonexperimental cross-sectional design and a correlative scope.

Comparison between verbal and visual working memory in subjects with frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s participating in the Redlat study

AbstractBackgroundAlterations in working memory have been reported in people with Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal degeneration, and have been associated with executive impairment related to the frontal areas of the brain.MethodThe objective of this work is to compare the capacity of verbal and visual working memory in a sample of 70 Colombian people with dementia (32 with Alzheimer’s Dementia and 30 with Frontotemporal Dementia and 22 healthy controls) participating in the RedLat study. For this, the performance in a digit retention task and the Short Term Memory Binding Test (STMB) are studied.ResultIn general, there is a decrease in the performance of the two groups of patients (AD and FTD). Also AD patients shows worst performance at visual working memory tasks. Results shows differences between dementia groups and controls, but not between AD and FTD.ConclusionThis converges with what has been reported about the dissociation between verbal and visual working memory, and could suggest alternative strategies for the recall of immediate information. Additionally, both low performances are explained by differents reasons in each neurodegenerative disorder.