Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá
BackgroundThe foot transit of migrant peoples originating from the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through the Darién Forest (DF) in Eastern Panamá towards North America has increased in recent years from approximately 30,000 people/year to >133,000 in 2021. In the DF,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.953979/full |
| _version_ | 1811215586428977152 |
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| author | Jennifer Toller Erausquin Jennifer Toller Erausquin Joanne Sánchez Anyi Yu Pon Mónica Jhangimal Eugenia Millender Yudith Peña Winroy Ng Adelys Reina Candy Nakad Joselid Quintana Roberto Herrera Veces Grace Vistica Grace Vistica Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Gonzalo Cabezas-Talavero Jennifer Katz Juan Miguel Pascale Juan Miguel Pascale Fátima Rodríguez-Álvarez Amanda Gabster Amanda Gabster Amanda Gabster |
| author_facet | Jennifer Toller Erausquin Jennifer Toller Erausquin Joanne Sánchez Anyi Yu Pon Mónica Jhangimal Eugenia Millender Yudith Peña Winroy Ng Adelys Reina Candy Nakad Joselid Quintana Roberto Herrera Veces Grace Vistica Grace Vistica Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Gonzalo Cabezas-Talavero Jennifer Katz Juan Miguel Pascale Juan Miguel Pascale Fátima Rodríguez-Álvarez Amanda Gabster Amanda Gabster Amanda Gabster |
| author_sort | Jennifer Toller Erausquin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe foot transit of migrant peoples originating from the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through the Darién Forest (DF) in Eastern Panamá towards North America has increased in recent years from approximately 30,000 people/year to >133,000 in 2021. In the DF, there is no food/housing provision nor healthcare access. Very little is known of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among this population. This study used rapid epidemiological methods to describe the SRH situation among migrant peoples in transit through the DF.MethodsThis cross-sectional study randomly selected migrant people in transit (men and women) at a Migrant Reception Station in Darién, Panamá, between January 4–11, 2022. Data collection included a self-applied questionnaire (≥18 years); clinical screening (≥12 years); and HCG, treponemal antibodies, and HIV(I/II) lateral-flow tests with blood samples (≥12 years). Descriptive analyses were used to report findings.ResultsIn all, 69 men and 55 women participated in the self-applied questionnaire, 70 men and 51 women in clinical screening; 78 men and 63 women in HCG, treponemal antibody and HIV testing. Overall, 26.1% (18/69) men and 36.4% (20/55) women reported sexual intercourse within the past month. The last sex partner was casual among 43.0% (21/49) of men and 27.8% (10/36) of women; of those, 42.9% (9/21) of men and 80.0% (8/10) of women reported this sex was condomless. Among women, 20.0% (11/55) tested positive for pregnancy; 5 of these pregnancies were planned. Of those screened, a reproductive tract infection symptom was reported by 5.7% (4/70) of men and 58.8% (30/51) of women. A total of 32.7% (18/55) of men and 18.2% (8/44) of women reported no prior HIV testing. Of 78 men, HIV and treponemal antibodies were found among 1.3% (n = 1) and 2.6% (n = 2), and among 63 women, 3.2% (n = 2) and 3.2% (n = 2), respectively.ConclusionsThis rapid epidemiological assessment found high recent sexual activity, low condom use with casual partners, and a need for increased HIV and syphilis testing and treatment. There is a need for increased testing, condom provision, and SRH healthcare access at migrant reception stations that receive migrant peoples in transit through Panamá. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:25:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0004582cd584fcd9a09e88db2bbdcf2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-3153 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T06:25:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Reproductive Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b0004582cd584fcd9a09e88db2bbdcf22022-12-22T03:44:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Reproductive Health2673-31532022-11-01410.3389/frph.2022.953979953979Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, PanamáJennifer Toller Erausquin0Jennifer Toller Erausquin1Joanne Sánchez2Anyi Yu Pon3Mónica Jhangimal4Eugenia Millender5Yudith Peña6Winroy Ng7Adelys Reina8Candy Nakad9Joselid Quintana10Roberto Herrera Veces11Grace Vistica12Grace Vistica13Justo Pinzón-Espinosa14Justo Pinzón-Espinosa15Justo Pinzón-Espinosa16Justo Pinzón-Espinosa17Justo Pinzón-Espinosa18Gonzalo Cabezas-Talavero19Jennifer Katz20Juan Miguel Pascale21Juan Miguel Pascale22Fátima Rodríguez-Álvarez23Amanda Gabster24Amanda Gabster25Amanda Gabster26Department of Public Health Education, School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United StatesCenter of Population Sciences for Health Equity, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United StatesComplejo Hospitalario Arnufo Arias de Madrid, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, PanamáCenter of Population Sciences for Health Equity, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United StatesCommunity Development Network of the Americas, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, PanamáInstituto de Medicina Tropical, Laboratorio de Protozoarios de Biología Molecular, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, VenezuelaCommunity Development Network of the Americas, Panamá City, PanamáCommunity Development Network of the Americas, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, PanamáTulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United StatesCenter of Population Sciences for Health Equity, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United StatesSant Pau Mental Health Group, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IBB-San Pau), Hospital de la San Creu i Sant Pau, Universisat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain0Department of Clinical Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Panamá, Panamá City, Panamá1Institut d’Investigació i Innovació Parc Tauli (I3PT), Sabadell, SpainCommunity Development Network of the Americas, Panamá City, PanamáCommunity Development Network of the Americas, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, Panamá2Faculty of Medicine, University of Panamá, Panamá City, PanamáGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, PanamáCenter of Population Sciences for Health Equity, College of Nursing, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United StatesGorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panamá City, Panamá3National Research System of Panamá (SNI), Panamá, PanamáBackgroundThe foot transit of migrant peoples originating from the Caribbean, South America, Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through the Darién Forest (DF) in Eastern Panamá towards North America has increased in recent years from approximately 30,000 people/year to >133,000 in 2021. In the DF, there is no food/housing provision nor healthcare access. Very little is known of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among this population. This study used rapid epidemiological methods to describe the SRH situation among migrant peoples in transit through the DF.MethodsThis cross-sectional study randomly selected migrant people in transit (men and women) at a Migrant Reception Station in Darién, Panamá, between January 4–11, 2022. Data collection included a self-applied questionnaire (≥18 years); clinical screening (≥12 years); and HCG, treponemal antibodies, and HIV(I/II) lateral-flow tests with blood samples (≥12 years). Descriptive analyses were used to report findings.ResultsIn all, 69 men and 55 women participated in the self-applied questionnaire, 70 men and 51 women in clinical screening; 78 men and 63 women in HCG, treponemal antibody and HIV testing. Overall, 26.1% (18/69) men and 36.4% (20/55) women reported sexual intercourse within the past month. The last sex partner was casual among 43.0% (21/49) of men and 27.8% (10/36) of women; of those, 42.9% (9/21) of men and 80.0% (8/10) of women reported this sex was condomless. Among women, 20.0% (11/55) tested positive for pregnancy; 5 of these pregnancies were planned. Of those screened, a reproductive tract infection symptom was reported by 5.7% (4/70) of men and 58.8% (30/51) of women. A total of 32.7% (18/55) of men and 18.2% (8/44) of women reported no prior HIV testing. Of 78 men, HIV and treponemal antibodies were found among 1.3% (n = 1) and 2.6% (n = 2), and among 63 women, 3.2% (n = 2) and 3.2% (n = 2), respectively.ConclusionsThis rapid epidemiological assessment found high recent sexual activity, low condom use with casual partners, and a need for increased HIV and syphilis testing and treatment. There is a need for increased testing, condom provision, and SRH healthcare access at migrant reception stations that receive migrant peoples in transit through Panamá.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.953979/fullsexual and reproductive health (SRH)migrant health caresexual behaviorsexually transmitted infection (STI)Latin America & Caribbean |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Toller Erausquin Jennifer Toller Erausquin Joanne Sánchez Anyi Yu Pon Mónica Jhangimal Eugenia Millender Yudith Peña Winroy Ng Adelys Reina Candy Nakad Joselid Quintana Roberto Herrera Veces Grace Vistica Grace Vistica Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Justo Pinzón-Espinosa Gonzalo Cabezas-Talavero Jennifer Katz Juan Miguel Pascale Juan Miguel Pascale Fátima Rodríguez-Álvarez Amanda Gabster Amanda Gabster Amanda Gabster Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá Frontiers in Reproductive Health sexual and reproductive health (SRH) migrant health care sexual behavior sexually transmitted infection (STI) Latin America & Caribbean |
| title | Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá |
| title_full | Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá |
| title_fullStr | Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá |
| title_short | Sexual and reproductive health and access: Results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through Darién, Panamá |
| title_sort | sexual and reproductive health and access results of a rapid epidemiological assessment among migrant peoples in transit through darien panama |
| topic | sexual and reproductive health (SRH) migrant health care sexual behavior sexually transmitted infection (STI) Latin America & Caribbean |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2022.953979/full |
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