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Background: Global efforts regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have been focused on preventive activities, such as vaccination, since the disease is expected to become endemic. Adolescents were among the last population groups to be included in the vaccination program in Colombia, and adequate coverage has not yet been achieved in this group and in infants. Aims: It is important to understand their motivations to improve the willingness of this population to be vaccinated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed via an online survey in adolescents aged 14–19 years in Villavicencio Meta after validation of the survey and informed consent. The following options were provided for the question on vaccine disposition: willing, undecided, and unwilling. We described the disposition toward receiving COVID-19 vaccine using graphs and absolute and relative frequencies based on age group. A multinomial regression model was used to assess the relationship between our predictor variables and vaccine disposition in adolescents. Results: In this study, 288 adolescents were surveyed. The risk variables for unwillingness to be vaccinated were being male (odds ratio [OR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8–5.7, p = 0.62), belonging to low social stratum (OR 2.29, 95% CI 0.9–5.88, p = 0.19), having a monthly family income of less than 1 million Colombian pesos (250 USD) (OR 2.01, 95% CI 0.8–5.16, p = 0.19), and having basic education (OR 2.59, 95% CI 0.33–20.14, p = 0.18). Conclusions: Unproven myths and beliefs have a profound influence on adolescents, resulting in an unwillingness to get vaccinated. Social networks have a high influence on these behaviors, which affect vaccination coverage in adolescents and young people not only for COVID, but also for human papillomavirus, Tetanus and rubella. Therefore, innovative public health strategies must be designed to improve willingness to be vaccinated in this population group.

This study explores the community perceptions of COVID-19 and the healthcare system’s response to it.: A web-based descriptive observational study was conducted on the general population during the third quarter of 2020 through the application of a survey via social media. Of the sample, 55% have minimal connection with prevention programs, while 66.3% received little or no information about COVID-19, and 69.62% were considered at risk of getting sick from COVID-19. Further, 73.14% were afraid to go to healthcare centers fearing the risk of becoming infected by COVID-19. The low-income population is at greater risk (OR 4.32), as well as those who have not been informed by their insurer of the risks of COVID-19 (OR 2.18). There is a need to strengthen the healthcare system and the quality and design of effective self-care educational interventions during the pandemic.

Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento de la morbilidad materna extrema durante el año 2014, en el departamento del Meta, Colombia.Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, con abordaje cuantitativo con los reportes de morbilidad extrema del departamento durante el año 2014.Resultados: Se reportaron 353 casos de morbilidad materna extrema durante 2014, frente a 194 del 2013, con una edad promedio de 25.2 años. El 99.43% de las pacientes se hospitalizaron, de las cuales el 38.24% se remitieron inicialmente a mayor nivel de complejidad. Se analizaron los criterios de inclusión, por enfermedad específica, encontrando como primera causa la eclampsia (22.38%), seguida de choque hipovolémico. El 71.67% de las gestantes presentó entre uno y dos criterios de inclusión para Morbilidad Materna Extrema y el 28% restante tres y más. De las pacientes notificadas, el 13.59% tuvo una cirugía adicional (la más frecuente fue la histerectomía), seguida de laparotomía exploratoria. Por causas agrupadas se encuentran en primer lugar los trastornos hipertensivos (55.24% de los casos), seguidos de las complicaciones hemorrágicas (21.25% de los casos).Conclusiones: La morbilidad materna extrema en el Meta es una causa importante de morbilidad en las mujeres en edad fértil. Se requiere seguir fortaleciendo su identificación para realizar manejos oportunos, así como fortalecer las estrategias y programas en salud pública existentes para que haya mayor adherencia al control prenatal. Los trastornos hipertensivos y los hemorrágicos fueron las primeras complicaciones que se presentaron en el departamento, similares al país y al mundo. Objective: To describe the behavior of extreme maternal morbidity in 2014 in the department of Meta, Colombia.Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study with a quantitative approach with extreme morbidity reports of the department of Meta during 2014 was carried out.Results: A total of 353 cases of extreme maternal morbidity were reported during 2014 compared to 194 cases reported in 2013, with an average age of 25.2 years. A 99.43% of patients were hospitalized of which 38.24% were initially sent to higher level of complexity. The inclusion criteria were analyzed by specific disease being eclampsia the leading cause (22.38%), followed by hypovolemic shock. A 71.67% of pregnant women presented between one and two inclusion criteria for extreme maternal morbidity and the remaining 28% presented three or more inclusion criteria. Of the reported patients, a 13.59% had additional surgery (the most frequent was hysterectomy) followed by exploratory laparotomy. Grouped causes are primarily hypertensive disorders (55.24% of the cases), followed by bleeding complications (21.25% of the cases).Conclusions: Extreme maternal morbidity in Meta is a major cause of morbidity in women of childbearing age. It is necessary to continue strengthening its identification for timely handling, as well as strengthening the already existing strategies and programs in public health so that there is greater adherence to prenatal care. Hypertensive and hemorrhagic disorders were the first complications presented at the department, as it happens in the country and the world.

Resumen Introducción. El control prenatal (CPN) es una estrategia de costo eficaz en la prevención de mortalidad y morbilidad materna y perinatal. Aunque Colombia tiene una inscripción de gestantes al CPN del 94%, este logro no afecta el descenso de la mortalidad materno perinatal. Objetivo. Describir las barreras de acceso al CPN y la calidad de atención a gestantes en Meta. Materiales y métodos. Se diseñó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal y se realizó una encuesta que abordó aspectos como percepción de calidad de atención, barreras de acceso e integridad de la atención. Resultados. Se trabajó con 306 gestantes, cuya edad promedio fue de 24 años. El 66% tuvo una o dos gestaciones, el 15% ha tenido aborto y el 25% cesárea. El 74.17% tuvo cuatro o más controles. Existieron factores de riesgo asociados a menos de cuatro controles, percepción de la calidad del control con Odds ratio (OR, por su sigla en inglés) 22.7, inicio del CPN en segundo trimestre con OR 5.64, nivel de ingreso bajo con OR 5.12 y baja escolaridad de la madre con OR 3.62. Conclusión. Es necesario mejorar la calidad e integridad del CPN por los prestadores de salud como estrategia complementaria para asegurar su efecto en la reducción de la morbimortalidad materno y perinatal. Abstract Introduction: Prenatal care (PC) is a cost-effective strategy that prevents maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Although PC in Colombian pregnant women shows an enrollment rate of 94%, this condition does not impact the decline of maternal perinatal mortality. Objective: To describe the obstacles to access to PC and the perceived quality of care for pregnant women in Meta. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, observational and descriptive study was designed and a survey was applied to inquire about aspects such as perception of quality of care, obstacles to access and comprehensiveness of care. Results: 306 pregnant women were included in the study, whose average age was 24 years. 66% had one or two pregnancies, 15% had abortions and 25% had a cesarean section. 74.17% of them had four or more prenatal controls. Risk factors were associated with attending less than four controls, while perception of quality had an odds ratio (OR) of 22.7; additionally, beginning PC during the second trimester had an OR of 5.64, low income level an OR of 5.12, and low maternal schooling an OR of 3.62. Conclusion: Improving the quality and integrity of PC by health providers is a complementary strategy to ensure its effect on the reduction of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal descriptivo en la sede central de la Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia en Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia, en el primer semestre de 2008, para conocer las características de la situación de salud de los estudiantes; se tomó una muestra de 172 estudiantes mediante muestreo aleatorio por conglomerados y se aplicó cuestionario autoadministrado. La edad promedio fue de 20 años, 91,7% solteros, 6,5% casados o en unión libre, 36,3% estudian y trabajan, 11,3% tiene hijos a cargo, el 60,9% estuvo enfermo en el último año; las enfermedades respiratorias y digestivas son las primeras causas de consulta; el 61,2% fue al médico en el último año, el 44,6% acudió a las Empresas Promotoras de Salud del Sistema de Seguridad Social, el 39,8% al médico particular y el 14,5% al servicio médico universitario; 15,5% usó tratamientos caseros; el 70,8% consume alcohol y el 45,5% lo hace semanalmente. Se recomienda realizar estrategias de bienestar estudiantil dirigidas a la población trabajadora y al buen uso del tiempo libre de la población universitaria.