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Introduction: The challenges related to the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections present more complex factors in remote and hard-to-reach areas. The use of self-collection devices that facilitate the obtaining of a biological sample with high quality for sensitive molecular tests have been examined. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and acceptance of the Evalyn® Brush (Rovers® Medical Devices) for detection of T. vaginalis among women living in the riverside communities of Amazonas, Brazil. Methodology: The study included 300 riverside women. They received instructions for self-collection, carried out the task, and then answered a questionnaire on the use of the device. T. vaginalis was detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction, using primers TVK3/TVK7. Results: The mean age of the women was 35.8 years, and most of them presented low schooling, low income, agricultural activity and lived in a marital union. All samples were positive for human genomic DNA (100%) and the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection was 5.6% (n = 17). Of the 300 women, 293 (97.7%) indicated that they liked the use of the device, 287 (95.7%) reported having had no difficulty in handling it, 265 (88.3%) did not feel any type of discomfort and 228 (76%) said they preferred the self-collection to the collection made by the professional, mainly due to privacy and comfort. Conclusions: The Evalyn® Brush proved reliable as a device for the collection of biological samples for molecular analysis and was well-accepted by women. Its use can be indicated in remote and hard to reach places.

Use of different Taq DNA polymerases for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in cervical samples O uso de diferentes Taq DNA polimerases para a detecção de Chlamydia trachomatis em amostras cervicais El uso de diferentes Taq DNA polimerasas para la detección de Chlamydia trachomatis en muestras cervicales

Women living in rural areas of Amazonas - the riverine - have difficulty accessing adequate health care, aggravating their vulnerability in the face of various pathological processes, such as cervical cancer and sexually transmitted infections. Strategies that expand coverage of screening and early diagnosis are welcome. To evaluate the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in riverside women from Coari City, Amazonas, in samples obtained by self-collection and to verify the acceptance of this method among the participants. Fifty eight riverside communities were visited, with a “house-to-house” approach. The samples were obtained with a COARI® brush (Kolplast®) and the diagnosis of pathogens was made by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Four hundred and nineteen sexually active women aged between 18 and 70 years old (34.4 ± 12.1) participated in the study. The prevalence of CT in this population sample was 1.1% and that of HPV was 15.7%. We observed a low prevalence of CT and a high prevalence of HPV among participating women, in addition to a good acceptance of self-collection among them.

Between 2017 and 2019 I went through the experience of depression and consequently I developed anxiety. In the beginning, in the months of November and December 2017, I found myself in a deep despair, not knowing how to identify what was happening. As an intervention, I went through consultations with the psychologist, where I had conversations, writing and positive affirmations. After these consultations I improved and got out of my depressed state. Awareness in the consultations with the psychologist made me realize how far I was from who I am and from this contact with a professional I was able to gain clarity about my condition and learned techniques to maintain my self-care constant.