RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although potentially curable with early detection and timely treatment, breast cancer (BC) and cervical cancer (CC) remain leading causes of death for Colombian women. Lack of education, complicated administrative processes, and geographic limitations hinder early cancer detection. Today, technological tools permeate the society and could assess user risk, deliver customized information, and provide care coordination. We evaluated the effectiveness of a free mobile application (mApp) to reach women, understand misconceptions, identify users at risk for BC and/or CC, and coordinate screening tests in Cali, Colombia. METHODS: The mApp was developed and advertised in four healthcare facility waiting rooms. It used educational, evaluative, and risk factor questions followed by brief explanations to assess the population's knowledge, educate on BC and/or CC, and identify users in need of screening test(s). Women who required screening were navigated and enrolled in the national cancer program. RESULTS: From August 2017 to August 2019, 1,043 women downloaded the mApp. BC misconceptions included beliefs that BC can be prevented (87%), obesity does not increase the risk of BC (49%), and deodorant causes BC (17%). CC misconceptions included that pap smears should not be performed while sexually active (64%), vaginal pain is an early sign of CC (44%), and only women contract human papilloma virus (33%). Overall, 29% (303) were identified as at risk and needed a screening test, with 32% (98) successfully screened. DISCUSSION: mApps can identify women at risk for BC and/or CC, detect barriers to early cancer detection, and help coordinate screening test(s). This technology has widespread applications and may be useful in other underserved communities.
Assuntos
Neoplasias do Colo do Útero , Colômbia , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Feminino , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/diagnóstico , Esfregaço VaginalRESUMO
Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are blood-sucking insect vectors of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi which is the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Rhodnius prolixus is the most epidemiologically important vector of T. cruzi in Colombia. Triatomines are regarded to be vessel-feeders as they obtain their blood meals from vertebrate hosts by directly inserting their mouthparts into vessels. Microscopic techniques are useful for visualizing and describing the morphology of biological structures. Here, we show images of the blood-feeding of R. prolixus, including some histological features by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the mouthparts of R. prolixus when feeding on a laboratory mouse.
Assuntos
Comportamento Alimentar/fisiologia , Rhodnius/fisiologia , Estruturas Animais/ultraestrutura , Animais , Biópsia , Sangue , Insetos Vetores/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Insetos Vetores/fisiologia , Insetos Vetores/ultraestrutura , Camundongos , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Ninfa , Rhodnius/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Rhodnius/ultraestrutura , Pele/ultraestrutura , Trypanosoma cruziRESUMO
Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are blood-sucking insect vectors of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi which is the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Rhodnius prolixus is the most epidemiologically important vector of T. cruzi in Colombia. Triatomines are regarded to be vessel-feeders as they obtain their blood meals from vertebrate hosts by directly inserting their mouthparts into vessels. Microscopic techniques are useful for visualizing and describing the morphology of biological structures. Here, we show images of the blood-feeding of R. prolixus, including some histological features by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the mouthparts of R. prolixus when feeding on a laboratory mouse.
Los triatominos (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) son insectos hematófagos vectores del protozooTrypanosoma cruzi, el cual causa la enfermedad de Chagas. Rhodnius prolixus es el vector de T. cruzi de mayor importancia epidemiológica en Colombia. Para alimentarse, los triatominos introducen su probóscide directamente en los vasos sanguíneos de los huéspedes vertebrados. La microscopía es una técnica útil para visualizar y describir la morfología de estructuras biológicas. Se presentan imágenes de la hematofagia de R. prolixus, incluidas algunas características histológicas visibles por microscopía de luz y microscopía electrónica de barrido de las partes bucales de R. prolixus al alimentarse de un ratón de laboratorio.