Person:
Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria

Birth Date

1976-09-17

ORCID

0000-0002-4083-8401

Scopus Author ID

57243393500

Afiliación

Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
Universidad de Cuenca, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Cuenca, Ecuador

País

Ecuador

Organizational Units

Organizational Unit

Facultad de Ciencias Médicas

La Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad de Cuenca fue creada en el año 1867, convirtiéndose en una de las facultades más antiguas. La Facultad de Ciencias Médicas es un lugar donde la pasión por la salud y el compromiso con el bienestar se fusionan para formar profesionales altamente capacitados en diversas disciplinas del área de la salud. Nos enorgullece ofrecer un amplio programa académico de calidad que abarca varias áreas importantes para el bienestar de nuestra comunidad. Ofrecemos un entorno de aprendizaje enriquecedor y vanguardista, con docentes altamente capacitados y recursos actualizados. Valoramos la vinculación con lo colectivo y la investigación científica, con compromiso social al igual que ética. Nuestros graduados son reconocidos por su excelencia y están preparados para afrontar los desafíos de un mundo en constante evolución.

Job Title

Profesor (T)

Last Name

Abril Ulloa

First Name

Sandra Victoria

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 31

Preventing overweight and obesity among preschool children: lessons learned in Cuenca, Ecuador
(2022) Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Romo, Matthew L; Morales Avilez, Diana Elizabeth
Introduction: Childhood overweight and obesity are major public health problems globally, including in Ecuador, and there is increasing interest in intervening as early as possible. We previously developed and evaluated a behavioural and educational intervention aiming to improve diet and physical activity habits among children at municipal preschools in Cuenca, Ecuador, after which it was implemented. Objective: To describe some of the key lessons learned in the process of intervention development, evaluation, and implementation. Methods: We conducted program evaluation using a survey questionnaire with open-ended questions with the coordinators, teachers, and kitchen staff of the preschools that participated in the intervention. Results: Human resource changes were a threat to the continued success of the intervention; therefore, these changes need to be anticipated and peer training emphasized. Careful consideration also needs to be given to impact on preschool staff workload. Teachers and other stakeholders like administrators should take ownership of the intervention and play a leadership role, distinct from that of researchers. Regarding the intervention itself, we identified that both fidelity and adaptability were critical for continued success. Conclusion: Lessons learned from our setting may be useful to inform the design, evaluation, and implementation of sustainable preschool-based interventions aiming to improve diet and physical activity habits elsewhere.
Designing the pre-class and class to implement the flipped learning model in a research methodology course
(2020) Pinos Vélez, Verónica Patricia; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Moscoso Orellana, Blasco Danilo; Carrión Álvarez, Galo Iván; Urgilés Cárdenas, José Eduardo; Carrión Andrade, Galo Bernardo; Quinde Herrera, Karina Sandra
The use of new technologies in university education is indispensable for promoting the autonomous work and motivation of a new generation of students who use technology frequently and skillfully. For these reasons, integrated technology into teaching-learning processes is needed. Our study focused on the implementation of the Flipped Learning model (FL) in the Research Methodology course. The content and the activities for the pre-class and class were designed to develop the skills and competencies in the students and to propose a research design. For the first execution, open-access videos were used. After analyzing the first execution, the results showed the need to make personal videos, that include the exact content, making them more attractive for the students as well as to use strategies to ensure that the students prepare the pre-class appropriately. In conclusion, the model encourages students to include technologies as learning tools, adapt their schedules to take better advantage of classes, and apply the knowledge taught in videos to their classwork.
Healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions regarding health care of indigenous pregnant women in Ecuador.
(2022) Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria
Background: Pregnancy is an important life experience that requires uniquely tailored approach to health care. The socio-cultural care practices of indigenous pregnant women (IPW) are passed along the maternal line with respect to identity, worldview and nature. The cultural differences between non-indigenous healthcare professionals (HPs) and IPW could present a great challenge in women’s health care. This article presents an analysis from a human rights and gender perspective of this potential cultural divide that could affect the health of the IPW in an Andean region of Ecuador with the objective of describing the health challenges of IPWs as rights holders through the experiences and perceptions of HP as guarantors of rights. Methods: We conducted 15 in-depth interviews with HPs who care for IPW in Chimborazo, Pichincha provinces of Ecuador. We utilized a semi-structured interview guide including questions about the experiences and perceptions of HPs in delivering health care to IPW. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis in Spanish and translated for reporting. Results: We found disagreements and discrepancies in the Ecuadorian health service that led to the ignorance of indigenous cultural values. Common characteristics among the indigenous population such as illiteracy, low income and the age of pregnancy are important challenges for the health system. The gender approach highlights the enormous challenges: machismo, gender stereotypes and communication problems that IPWs face in accessing quality healthcare. Conclusions: Understanding the diverse perspectives of IPW, acknowledging their human rights particularly those related to gender, has the potential to lead to more comprehensive and respectful health care delivery in Ecuador. Further, recognizing there is a gender and power differential between the provider and the IPW can lead to improvements in the quality of health care delivery and reproductive, maternal and child health outcomes. © 2022, The Author(s).
Compra y consumo de alimentos después del confinamiento por la pandemia de COVID-19: percepciones de adultos en Cuenca, Ecuador
(2022) Morocho Pillco, Gladys Carolina; Mendez Criollo, Maria Estefani; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Espinoza Mejía, Jorge Mauricio
lntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic shocked the world population causing changes in eating habits, food purchase and consumption, physical activity, emotional state, among others, due to the economic impact and the measures applied to prevent the virus's spread. Objective: To analyze the adult's perception about the food purchase, consumption, and preparation, practiced after the confinement by the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was carried out. Twenty adults from the urban and rural areas of Cuenca participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until saturation. They were transcribed verbatim and analyzed manually. Results: Food purchase and consumption have changed from the confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AII participants indicated that they had difficulty accessing food due to their low purchasing power. Participants from rural areas had access to natural foods of their own crops. Conclusions: The participants in general had difficulties accessing food with good nutritional quality, which could worsen the situation of food insecurity that existed in Ecuador befare the Pandemic. More studies are necessary to generate strategies focused on improving the food situation of the population at the local and national levels.
Corrigendum to “Eating healthy”: distrust of expert nutritional knowledge among elderly adults [Appetite 165 (1 October 2021) 105289] (Appetite (2021) 165, (S0195666321001963), (10.1016/j.appet.2021.105289))
(2022) Suarez Ontaneda, Maka; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Torres Carrasco, Maria Elissa; Encalada Torres, Lorena Esperanza; Kuritzky, Amy; Morales Avilez, Diana Elizabeth
The authors regret to inform that the affiliation of the author María Elissa Torres is wrong, she made this research and writing as part of Universidad de Cuenca, in Cuenca, Ecuador not in UDLA, Quito, Ecuador as it is published. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Mejorando la visibilidad de la publicación del sistema de educación superior de Ecuador.
(2016) Feyen, Jan; Milia Null, Matias Null; Van Hoof, Hubert B; Quinde Herrera, Karina Sandra; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Bojorque Iñeguez, Jaime Asdrúbal
This article reports on a comparative study between the publication productivity of Ecuador’s leading Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) (as reported in the SCOPUS journal/proceedings database; https://www.elsevier.com/solutions/scopus) and the publication efforts of similar universities in SouthAmerica and Western Europe when those universities converted from a “teaching-only” to a “teaching and research” focus. The authors highlight the causes of Ecuador’s research and publication paucity and suggest remedial strategies which focus on adjusting the profile and activities of Ecuador’s HEIs to better meet the skills gap in the 21st century economy; economy driven by innovation and knowledge. The article proposes that Ecuador’s HEIs make teaching collaborative and more affordable, stimulate faculty to examine society-relevant problems in teams, educate and encourage faculty to publish in peer-reviewed journals and enhance effectiveness and efficiency so that a stronger teaching-researchservice nexus emerges; all even though Ecuador has entered a period of economic hardship with dwindling funds for higher education.
Ensuring traceability and Orchestration in the food supply chain
(Springer, 2020) Espinoza Mejía, Jorge Mauricio; Saquicela Galarza, Víctor Hugo; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria
Ensure traceability and orchestration of the participants in the food supply chain can help improve the food production and reduce the distribution of unsafe or low-quality products. This article provides some insights about the design of a high-level architecture to support a semantic blockchain platform that ensures traceability and orchestration of the food systems. The design involves two layers that cover: (a) the decentralized orchestration of the participants, (b) the semantic modeling of the data and processes involved, and (c) the storage and integrity of the data. To deal with the platform design, it is analyzed the operation and attributes of the food supply chain management and it is discussed how the combination of Semantic and Blockchain technologies can address the platform features.
Ferritin levels and risk of metabolic syndrome: Meta-analysis of observational studies
(Biomed Central Ltd., 2014-05-21) Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria
Background: Elevated ferritin levels have been associated with single cardiovascular risk factors but the relationship to the presence of metabolic syndrome is inconclusive.The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational studies was to estimate the association between serum ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome in adults. Methods. The Pubmed, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for epidemiological studies that assessed the association between ferritin levels and metabolic syndrome and were published before September 2013. There were no language restrictions. Two investigators independently selected eligible studies. Measures of association were pooled by using an inverse-variance weighted random-effects model. The heterogeneity among studies was examined using the I 2 index. Publication bias was evaluated using the funnel plot. Results: Twelve cross-sectional, one case-control and two prospective studies met our inclusion criteria including data from a total of 56,053 participants. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the metabolic syndrome comparing the highest and lowest category of ferritin levels was 1.73 (95% CI: 1.54, 1.95; I2 = 75,4%). Subgroup analyses indicate that pooled OR was 1.92 (95% CI: 1.61, 2.30; I 2 = 78%) for studies adjusting for C-reactive protein (CRP), and 1.52 (95% CI:1. 36, 1.69; I2 = 41%) for studies that did not adjust for CRP (P = 0.044). This finding was remarkably robust in the sensitivity analysis. We did not find publication bias. Conclusions: The meta-analysis suggests that increased ferritin levels are independently and positively associated with the presence of the metabolic syndrome with an odds ratio higher than 1.73. © 2014Abril-Ulloa et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Demographic characteristics, nutritional status, dietary and physical activity habits, helicobacter pylori infection, and intestinal parasitosis among children at municipal preschools in Cuenca, Ecuador
(2018) Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria; Romo, Mathew; Orellana Paucar, Adriana Monserrath; Huiracocha Tutivén, María de Lourdes
Ecuador is a country in nutritional transition. National data show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity more than triples from the preschool to school-aged years, while stunting remains prevalent. A cross-sectional study in the municipal preschools in Cuenca was conducted to better understand the contributing factors to this nutritional transition. Of the 97 children in the sample population, 5.3% were overweight or obese and 8.5% were stunted. Despite no underweight children, 19.0% of the parents or caregivers considered their child to be underweight. Most households had some degree of food insecurity (71.4%). Parents reported that most children drank water daily at home (70.5%), but according to the teachers, less than half drank water at school daily (41.5%). Parents and teachers, respectively, reported that 89.5% and 34.7% of the children consumed vegetables daily and 70.5% and 57.9% consumed fruit daily at home or school. About three-quarters of the parents and teachers reported that children dedicated ≥1 hour daily to physical activity, at home and school. Half of the parents reported that their child spent at least 2 hours per day watching the television, using an electronic tablet or computer. Stool examination showed that 26.1% of children were positive for Helicobacter pylori antigen and 19.3% for intestinal parasites. This study provided insight into potential areas to focus health education and promotion among this population, for example, in diet and physical activity habits. However, other important factors including poverty related risk factors, such as household food insecurity, and high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and intestinal parasitosis, should be considered simultaneously in such efforts.
Socioeconomic status and nutritional status as predictors of food insecurity in older adults: a case study from southern Ecuador
(2022) Bedoya Ortega, Maria Elisa; Wong de balzan , Sara Null; Alvarado Romero, Samantha Natali; Encalada Torres, Lorena Esperanza; Encalada Torres, Janneth Olivia; Abril Ulloa, Sandra Victoria
While life expectancy is increasing due to scientific advancement, quality of life in aging depends, among other factors, on the nutritional status and socioeconomic status of older adults. To determine socioeconomic status and its association with nutritional status as a predictor of food insecurity among older adults in southern Ecuador, a cross-sectional study of 188 older adults in urban areas and 212 in rural areas was conducted. Nutritional status, food insecurity, and socioeconomic status were measured. Data were analyzed using SPSS v 15.0 for descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis. Of the older participants, 59% had malnutrition, the majority women, and 24.7% were in poverty. Underweight was associated with low socioeconomic status for adults between 65 and 74 years old (OR = 7.710; CI 95% = 1.691–35.147), while obesity was associated with low socioeconomic status and non-manual labor (OR = 3.048; CI 95% = 1.268–7.326). Over 80% of older adults living in homes without children younger than 18 and at low socioeconomic status had food insecurity. The prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity points to widespread nutritional problems, especially in rural areas, that are significantly associated with low socioeconomic status. This demonstrates the need for multidisciplinary programs and government policies that can contribute to reducing food insecurity among the highly vulnerable older population.