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BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a preventable cancer; however, decreasing its prevalence requires early detection and treatment strategies that reduce rates of loss to follow-up. This study explores factors associated with loss to follow-up among HPV-positive women after implementation of a new HPV-based screen-and-treat approach for cervical cancer prevention in Iquitos, Peru. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with "obstetras" (i.e., midwives) (n = 15) working in cervical cancer prevention and women (n = 24) who were recorded as lost to follow-up after positive HPV results. We used the Health Care Access Barriers Model to guide analyses. We utilized manifest content analysis to describe barriers to follow-up according to the obstetras and thematic analysis to report themes from the women's perspectives. We also report the steps and time taken to contact women. RESULTS: We found an incomplete and fragmented patient monitoring system. This incomplete system, in conjunction with challenges in contacting some of the women, led to structural barriers for the obstetras when attempting to deliver positive results. Women in this study expressed a desire to receive treatment, however, faced cognitive barriers including a lack of understanding about HPV results and treatment procedures, fear or anxiety about HPV or treatment, and confusion about the follow-up process. Women also reported having important work matters as a barrier and reported frequently using natural medicine. Reported financial barriers were minimal. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the barriers to follow-up after implementation of a primary-level HPV-based screen-and-treat approach. While some barriers that have previously been associated with loss to follow-up were not as prominently observed in this study (e.g., financial), we emphasize the need for screen-and-treat programs to focus on strategies that can address incomplete registry systems, structural challenges in results delivery, cognitive barriers in understanding results and treatment, and work-related barriers.

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Introducción. Los niños con enfermedad neuromuscular (ENM) requieren cuidados crónicos de salud (CCS) y podrían presentar COVID-19 grave. Objetivos. Describir CCS para niños con ENM durante la pandemia y evolución del COVID-19 en este grupo. Población y métodos. Cohorte prospectiva unicéntrica. Se incluyeron pacientes de 2-18 años, con ≥ 1 año de seguimiento previo a la pandemia. Se recolectaron variables demográficas, relativas a los CCS y al COVID-19 mediante historias clínicas y encuestas telefónicas. Resultados. Se incluyeron 226 pacientes; el 71 % varones, mediana de edad 11,3 años. Presentaban distrofias musculares (55,7 %) y atrofia muscular espinal (23 %). Comparando el primer año de pandemia con el previo, el 30 % no realizó controles médicos y el 25 % no realizó kinesioterapia. Otros disminuyeron la frecuencia. Hubo 52 casos de COVID-19. Fueron sintomáticos el 82 %: el 88,4 % leves/moderados y el 11,6 % graves. No hubo fallecidos. Conclusiones. La pandemia impactó negativamente en los CCS y los casos de COVID-19 fueron mayormente leves.

Introduction. Children with neuromuscular disease (NMD) require chronic health care (CHC) and may develop severe COVID-19. Objectives. To describe CHC for children with NMD during the pandemic and the course of COVID-19 in this group. Population and methods. Prospective, single-center cohort. Patients aged 2 to 18 years with ≥ 1 year of follow-up prior to the pandemic were included. Demographic variables in relation to CHC and COVID-19 were collected from medical records and via telephone surveys. Results. A total of 226 patients with a median age of 11.3 years were included; 71% were males. They had muscular dystrophy (55.7%) and spinal muscular atrophy (23%). When comparing the first year of the pandemic with the previous year, 30% did not have a health checkup and 25% did not receive kinesiotherapy. Others did, but with a lower frequency. A total of 52 COVID-19 cases were reported; 82% were symptomatic: 88.4% were mild/moderate and 11.6%, severe. No patient died. Conclusions. The pandemic had a negative impact on CHC, and COVID-19 cases were mostly mild.

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Introduction. Children with neuromuscular disease (NMD) require chronic health care (CHC) and may develop severe COVID-19. Objectives. To describe CHC for children with NMD during the pandemic and the course of COVID-19 in this group. Population and methods. Prospective, single-center cohort. Patients aged 2 to 18 years with ≥ 1 year of follow-up prior to the pandemic were included. Demographic variables in relation to CHC and COVID-19 were collected from medical records and via telephone surveys. Results. A total of 226 patients with a median age of 11.3 years were included; 71% were males. They had muscular dystrophy (55.7%) and spinal muscular atrophy (23%). When comparing the first year of the pandemic with the previous year, 30% did not have a health checkup and 25% did not receive kinesiotherapy. Others did, but with a lower frequency. A total of 52 COVID-19 cases were reported; 82% were symptomatic: 88.4% were mild/moderate and 11.6%, severe. No patient died. Conclusions. The pandemic had a negative impact on CHC, and COVID-19 cases were mostly mild.

Introducción. Los niños con enfermedad neuromuscular (ENM) requieren cuidados crónicos de salud (CCS) y podrían presentar COVID-19 grave. Objetivos. Describir CCS para niños con ENM durante la pandemia y evolución del COVID-19 en este grupo. Población y métodos. Cohorte prospectiva unicéntrica. Se incluyeron pacientes de 2-18 años, con ≥ 1 año de seguimiento previo a la pandemia. Se recolectaron variables demográficas, relativas a los CCS y al COVID-19 mediante historias clínicas y encuestas telefónicas. Resultados. Se incluyeron 226 pacientes; el 71 % varones, mediana de edad 11,3 años. Presentaban distrofias musculares (55,7 %) y atrofia muscular espinal (23 %). Comparando el primer año de pandemia con el previo, el 30 % no realizó controles médicos y el 25 % no realizó kinesioterapia. Otros disminuyeron la frecuencia. Hubo 52 casos de COVID-19. Fueron sintomáticos el 82 %: el 88,4 % leves/moderados y el 11,6 % graves. No hubo fallecidos. Conclusiones. La pandemia impactó negativamente en los CCS y los casos de COVID-19 fueron mayormente leves.

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Background: Cervical cancer is a preventable cancer; however, decreasing its prevalence requires early detection and treatment strategies that reduce rates of loss to follow-up. This study explores factors associated with loss to follow-up among HPV-positive women after implementation of a screen-and-treat approach with visual triage and ablative therapy for cervical cancer prevention in Iquitos, Peru. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with nurse-midwives (n = 15) working in cervical cancer prevention and women (n = 24) who were recorded as lost to follow-up after positive HPV results. We used the Health Care Access Barriers Model to guide analysis. We utilize manifest content analysis to describe barriers to follow-up according to the nurse-midwives and thematic analysis to report themes from the women's perspectives. We also report the steps and time taken to contact women and report discrepancies and concordances between nurse-midwives and women regarding reasons for loss to follow-up. Results: Women in this study expressed a desire to receive treatment. Barriers, including fragmented and incomplete registry systems, made receiving follow-up care more challenging. Nurse-midwives faced structural barriers in attempting to deliver positive results to women who were challenging to contact, and women did not have clear knowledge of how to receive their HPV results. Women faced cognitive barriers including a lack of understanding about HPV results and treatment procedures, fear or anxiety about HPV or treatment, and confusion about the follow-up process. Women also reported having important work matters as a barrier. Reported financial barriers were minimal. There was agreement between women's and nurse-midwives' reported barriers to follow-up in slightly over half of the cases. Conclusion: This study highlights the barriers to follow-up after implementation of a primary-level HPV-based screen-and-treat approach. While some barriers that have previously been associated with loss to follow-up were not observed in this study (e.g., financial), we emphasize the need for screen-and-treat programs to focus on strategies that can address incomplete registry systems, structural challenges in results delivery, cognitive barriers in understanding results and treatment, and work-related barriers.

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Abstract Objective To analyze the follow-up, in specialized outpatient clinics, of infants reported with congenital syphilis during the penicillin shortage. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out in ten public maternity hospitals affiliated with the Brazilian Unified Health System in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará. Clinical records of infants reported with congenital syphilis who were born alive in 2015 were used to describe correlates of attendance at recommended clinical follow-up appointments. Results A total of 469 infants reported with CS from January 1/2015 to December 31/2015 were included in the analysis. The results show that most infants did not attend the follow-up visits (368/469, 78.5%) and the main associated factors are that the follow-up clinic is located in a different hospital from that where the infant was born (OR: 3.7; CI: 2.20-6.22; p< 0.001) and the use of illicit drugs by the mother (OR: 3.2; CI: 1.57-6.87; p= 0.002). Only 33.7% (34/101) were followed until discharge. Conclusion The majority of infants with reported congenital syphilis during this period did not attend the follow-up visits. Public health efforts aimed at reaching the parents of infants with CS should be a priority to ensure appropriate clinical identification and management of the associated outcomes of this vertically transmitted infection.

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BACKGROUND: The study's objective was to explore the factors associated with loss to follow-up among women with abnormal cervical cancer screening results in Iquitos, Peru from women's perspectives. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 screen-positive women who were referred for follow-up care but for whom evidence of follow-up was not found. Interview transcripts were thematically analyzed inductively, and the codes were then categorized using the Health Care Access Barriers Model for presentation of results. RESULTS: All interviewed women were highly motivated to complete the continuum of care but faced numerous barriers along the way, including cognitive barriers such as a lack of knowledge about cervical cancer and poor communication from health professionals regarding the process, structural barriers such as challenges with scheduling appointments and unavailability of providers, and financial barriers including out-of-pocket payments and costs related to travel or missing days of work. With no information system tracking the continuum of care, we found fragmentation between primary and hospital-level care, and often, registration of women's follow-up care was missing altogether, preventing women from being able to receive proper care and providers from ensuring that women receive care and treatment as needed. CONCLUSIONS: The challenges elucidated demonstrate the complexity of implementing a successful cervical cancer prevention program and indicate a need for any such program to consider the perspectives of women to improve follow-up after a positive screening test.

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INTRODUCTION: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with emtricitabine/tenofovir (FTC/TDF) is highly effective in preventing HIV infection. This study aimed to identify factors associated with PrEP early loss to follow-up (ELFU) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender women (TGW). METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective cohort study evaluating TGW and MSM who initiated PrEP at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI-Fiocruz) from 2014 to 2020. ELFU was defined as not returning for a PrEP visit within 180 days after first dispensation. Exposure variables included age, gender, race, education, transactional sex, condomless anal intercourse [CAI] (both in the past six months), binge drinking and substance use (both in past three months) and syphilis diagnosis at baseline. Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts and fixed slopes were used to identify factors associated with ELFU accounting for clustering of participants according to their PrEP initiation study/context (PrEP Brasil, PrEParadas, ImPrEP and PrEP SUS). RESULTS: Among 1,463 participants, the median age was 29 years (interquartile range 24-36), 83% self-identified as MSM, 17% as TGW, 24% were black, 37% mixed-black/pardo and 30% had < 12 years of education. Fifteen percent reported transactional sex, 59% reported CAI, 67% binge drinking, 33% substance use, and 15% had a syphilis diagnosis. Overall, 137 participants (9.7%) had ELFU. Younger age (18-24 years) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.9, 95%CI:1.2-3.2), TGW (aOR 2.8, 95%CI:1.6-4.8) and education < 12 years (aOR 1.9, 95%CI:1.2-2.9) were associated with greater odds of ELFU. CONCLUSION: TGW, young individuals and those with lower education were at higher risk of PrEP ELFU. Our results suggest that the development of specific strategies targeting these populations should be a priority, through policies that aim to reduce the incidence of HIV infection.

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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the follow-up, in specialized outpatient clinics, of infants reported with congenital syphilis during the penicillin shortage. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was carried out in ten public maternity hospitals affiliated with the Brazilian Unified Health System in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará. Clinical records of infants reported with congenital syphilis who were born alive in 2015 were used to describe correlates of attendance at recommended clinical follow-up appointments. RESULTS: A total of 469 infants reported with CS from January 1/2015 to December 31/2015 were included in the analysis. The results show that most infants did not attend the follow-up visits (368/469, 78.5%) and the main associated factors are that the follow-up clinic is located in a different hospital from that where the infant was born (OR: 3.7; CI: 2.20-6.22; p < 0.001) and the use of illicit drugs by the mother (OR: 3.2; CI: 1.57-6.87; p = 0.002). Only 33.7% (34/101) were followed until discharge. CONCLUSION: The majority of infants with reported congenital syphilis during this period did not attend the follow-up visits. Public health efforts aimed at reaching the parents of infants with CS should be a priority to ensure appropriate clinical identification and management of the associated outcomes of this vertically transmitted infection.

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Abstract Introduction Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with emtricitabine/tenofovir (FTC/TDF) is highly effective in preventing HIV infection. This study aimed to identify factors associated with PrEP early loss to follow-up (ELFU) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender women (TGW). Methodology This was a prospective cohort study evaluating TGW and MSM who initiated PrEP at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI-Fiocruz) from 2014 to 2020. ELFU was defined as not returning for a PrEP visit within 180 days after first dispensation. Exposure variables included age, gender, race, education, transactional sex, condomless anal intercourse [CAI] (both in the past six months), binge drinking and substance use (both in past three months) and syphilis diagnosis at baseline. Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts and fixed slopes were used to identify factors associated with ELFU accounting for clustering of participants according to their PrEP initiation study/context (PrEP Brasil, PrEParadas, ImPrEP and PrEP SUS). Results Among 1,463 participants, the median age was 29 years (interquartile range 24-36), 83% self-identified as MSM, 17% as TGW, 24% were black, 37% mixed-black/pardo and 30% had < 12 years of education. Fifteen percent reported transactional sex, 59% reported CAI, 67% binge drinking, 33% substance use, and 15% had a syphilis diagnosis. Overall, 137 participants (9.7%) had ELFU. Younger age (18-24 years) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.9, 95%CI:1.2-3.2), TGW (aOR 2.8, 95%CI:1.6-4.8) and education < 12 years (aOR 1.9, 95%CI:1.2-2.9) were associated with greater odds of ELFU. Conclusion TGW, young individuals and those with lower education were at higher risk of PrEP ELFU. Our results suggest that the development of specific strategies targeting these populations should be a priority, through policies that aim to reduce the incidence of HIV infection.

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ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the factors associated with loss to follow-up in tuberculosis cases among adults in Brazil in 2020 and 2021. Method: Retrospective cohort with secondary data from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System. A total of 24,344 people diagnosed with tuberculosis whose information was complete in the database were included. Adjusted odds ratios and confidence intervals were estimated by binary logistic regression. Results: Higher odds of loss to follow-up were observed for males, non-white ethnicity/color, with lower education level, homeless or deprived of liberty, who used drugs, alcohol and/or tobacco, with admission due to recurrence or re-entry after abandonment, and with unknown or positive serology for HIV. On the other hand, older age, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, deprivation of libertyand supervised treatment were associated with lower odds of loss to follow-up. Conclusion: Demographic, socioeconomic and clinical-epidemiological factors were associated with the loss to follow-up in tuberculosis cases, which reiterates the various vulnerabilities intertwined with the illness and treatment of this disease. Therefore, there is a need to promote strategies aimed at adherence and linkage to the care for groups most vulnerable to loss to follow-up in tuberculosis treatment in Brazil.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar los factores asociados a la pérdida de seguimiento de los casos de tuberculosis entre adultos en Brasil en 2020 y 2021. Método: Cohorte retrospectiva con datos secundarios del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Declaración Obligatoria de Brasil. Se incluyeron un total de 24.344 personas diagnosticadas con tuberculosis cuya información estaba completa en la base de datos. Las razones de probabilidad ajustadas y los intervalos de confianza se estimaron mediante regresión logística binaria. Resultados: Se observaron mayores posibilidades de perder el seguimiento para el sexo masculino, de etnia/color no blanco, con baja escolaridad, sin hogar, que usaban drogas, alcohol y/o tabaco, con ingreso por recidiva o reingreso tras abandono, y con serología desconocida o positiva para VIH. Por otro lado, la edad avanzada, la forma extrapulmonar de tuberculosis, la privación de libertad y el tratamiento supervisado se asociaron con menores probabilidades. Conclusión: Factores demográficos, socioeconómicos y clínico-epidemiológicos se asociaron a la pérdida del seguimiento de los casos de tuberculosis, lo que reitera las diversas vulnerabilidades entrelazadas con la enfermedad y el tratamiento de esta enfermedad. Por lo tanto, existe la necesidad de promover estrategias dirigidas a la adherencia y la vinculación a la atención de los grupos más vulnerables a la pérdida del tratamiento de seguimiento de la tuberculosis en Brasil.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados à perda de seguimento dos casos de tuberculose entre adultos no Brasil em 2020 e 2021. Método: Coorte retrospectiva com dados secundários provenientes do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação do Brasil. Foram incluídas 24.344 pessoas diagnosticadas com tuberculose cujas informações estavam completas no banco de dados. Razões de chances ajustadas eintervalos de confiança foram estimados por regressão logística binária. Resultados: Observaram-se maiores chances de perda de seguimento para pessoas do sexo masculino, deetnia/cor não branca, combaixa escolaridade, em situação de rua, que faziamuso de drogas, álcool e/outabaco, com entrada porrecorrênciaou reingressoapós abandono, e com sorologia desconhecida oupositiva para HIV. Por outro lado, a idade mais avançada, a forma extrapulmonar da tuberculose, a privação de liberdade eo tratamento supervisionado associaram-se a menores chances. Conclusão: Fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e clínico-epidemiológicos estiveram associadosà perda de seguimento dos casos de tuberculose, o que reitera as diversas vulnerabilidades imbricadas ao adoecimento e ao tratamento dessa doença. Portanto, constata-se a necessidade depromoção de estratégias que visem à adesão e à vinculação ao cuidado dos grupos mais vulneráveis à perda de seguimento do tratamento para tuberculoseno Brasil.