Spatial distribution, determinants and trends of full vaccination coverage in children aged 12-59 months in Peru: A subanalysis of the Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey

Objective To assess the spatial distribution, trends and determinants of crude full vaccination coverage (FVC) in children aged 12-59 months between 2010 and 2019 in Peru. Design, setting and analysis A cross-sectional study based on the secondary data analysis of the 2010 and 2019 Peruvian Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) was conducted. Logit based multivariate decomposition analysis was employed to identify factors contributing to differences in FVC between 2010 and 2019. The spatial distribution of FVC in 2019 was evaluated through spatial autocorrelation (Global Moran's I), ordinary kriging interpolation (Gaussian process regression) and Bernoulli-based purely spatial scan statistic. Outcome measure FVC, as crude coverage, was defined as having completely received BCG; three doses of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, and polio vaccines; and measles vaccine by 12 months of age. Participants A total of 5 751 and 14 144 children aged 12-59 months from 2010 and 2019 DHSs, respectively, were included. Results FVC increased from 53.62% (95% CI 51.75% to 55.49%) in 2010 to 75.86% (95% CI 74.84% to 76.85%) in 2019. Most of the increase (70.39%) was attributable to differences in coefficients effects. Family size, visit of health workers in the last 12 months, age of the mother at first delivery, place of delivery and antenatal care follow-up were all significantly associated with the increase. The trend of FVC was non-linear and increased by 2.22% annually between 2010 and 2019. FVC distribution was heterogeneous at intradepartmental and interdepartmental level. Seven high-risk clusters of incomplete coverage were identified. Conclusions Although FVC has increased in Peru, it still remains below the recommended threshold. The increase of FVC was mainly attributed to the change in the effects of the characteristics of the population. There was high heterogeneity across Peruvian regions with the presence of high-risk clusters. Interventions must be redirected to reduce these geographical disparities.Revisión por pare

Associated factors, inequalities, and spatial distribution of the use of modern contraceptive methods among women of reproductive age in Peru: a population-based cross-sectional study

Background: The use of contraceptive methods in Peru has remarkably increased in recent decades. Nevertheless, despite the completeness and accessibility of family planning methods, modern contraceptive methods utilization in Peru remains below the South American average. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the factors associated with modern contraceptive use, as well as the presence of inequalities and the spatial distribution in Peruvian women aged 15–49 years in 2019. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using information from the 2019 Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey. We performed descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and Poisson multiple regression. Inequalities were estimated through concentration curves and Erreygers’ normalized concentration index. Spatial analysis included choropleth map, Global Moran’s I, Kriging interpolation and Getis-Ord-Gi* statistic. Results: The prevalence of modern contraceptive use was 39.3% among Peruvian women of reproductive age. Modern contraceptive use was directly associated with youth (aPR 1.39), women having their first sexual intercourse before the age of 18 (aPR 1.41), and being married but not together (aPR 1.87). In addition, speaking Quechua or Aymara (aPR 0.87) and having no children (aPR 0.59) were inversely associated with utilization of modern contraceptives. We found the presence of inequalities in the use of contraceptive methods (pro-rich distribution), although the magnitude was low. Spatial analysis unveiled the presence of a clustered distribution pattern (Moran’s Index = 0,009); however, there was inter-departmental and intra-departmental heterogeneity in the predicted prevalence of the use of modern contraceptives. In addition, significant hot and cold spots were found in Peru. Conclusion: Two out of five Peruvian women of reproductive age used modern contraceptives. It was associated with younger women’s age, younger age at first sexual intercourse, being married or cohabitant, among others. No substantial inequality was found in modern contraceptive use. The prevalence was heterogeneous at the intra- and inter-departmental level. Those departments located in the south, south-east, and north-east had the lowest prevalence. Therefore, nonfinancial barriers must be tackled through multi- and cross-sectoral efforts and continue to universally provide modern contraceptives.Revisión por pare

Factores sociodemográficos y nutricionales asociados a anemia en niños de 1 a 5 años en Perú

Objetivo: Determinar los factores sociodemográficos y nutricionales asociados a la anemia en niños de 1 a 5 años de Perú según la Encuesta Nacional Demográfica y de Salud Familiar (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés Demographic and Health Survey). Metodología: Para determinar los posibles factores sociodemográficos y nutricionales asociados a la anemia, se hizo un subanálisis de la DHS 2017, tomando en cuenta un intervalo de confianza del 95% y considerando los parámetros de complejidad de la encuesta. Se describieron las frecuencias relativas en el análisis univariado. Para el análisis bivariado se empleó el test de chi cuadrado para las variables categóricas y t-Student para las variables continuas. Para el modelo de regresión múltiple, se realizó una regresión de Poisson cruda y ajustada con el método de selección de variables tipo backward. Principales resultados: La prevalencia de anemia fue de 38.5%. Los factores independientemente asociados fueron quintil de riqueza bajo (RP(a): 1,23; IC95%: 1,0-1,4), ningún grado de instrucción o grado de instrucción primaria de la madre (RP(a): 1,25; IC95%: 1,0-1,5), edad de la madre menor de 19 años (RP(a): 1,34; IC95%: 1,1-1,7), lugar del parto no institucionalizado (RP(a): 1,24; IC95%: 1,1-1,5), no consumo de antiparasitarios (RP(a): 1,13; IC95%:1,0-1,3) y altitud mayor o igual a 4000 msnm (RP(a): 1,45; IC95%: 1,2-1,8). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de anemia en niños de 1 a 5 años en el 2017 fue moderada. Existen factores sociodemográficos y nutricionales asociados a dicha condición

Access to HIV/STI testing among male and female Venezuelan migrants in Peru: evidence from a nationwide survey

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major global public health issues. Migrants represent a vulnerable group that faces multiple barriers to access to healthcare services, including HIV/STI testing. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with access to HIV/STI testing in male and female Venezuelan migrants in Peru. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving secondary data analysis of the 2022 Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru Survey. The study was conducted in the eight most populated cities inhabited by Venezuelan migrants and refugees. For each city, the sampling design was probabilistic, stratified, and independent. The outcome variable was whether participants had access to HIV or other STI testing during their stay in Peru. Statistical analysis was stratified by sex owing to potential effect modification. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated using generalized linear models Poisson family with log link function. Confidence intervals were calculated to 95%. Results: A total of 3,723 male and 3,984 female migrants were included. Access to HIV/STI testing among male and female migrants was 19.85% and 25.16%, respectively. Among male migrants, being LGBTI, health insured, and married or cohabiting were associated with increased access to HIV/STI testing. Among females, those aged 18–44 years, those who were married or cohabiting and were health insured, and those residing for more than 1 year in Peru were significantly more likely to have access to HIV/STI testing. Moreover, physical/mental disability and unemployed status were associated with a lower probability of HIV/STI testing in females. Conclusions: Only two in ten Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Peru were screened for HIV/STI, with fewer males than females. Sex-specific sociodemographic, health-related, and migration-related variables were independently associated with access to HIV/STI testing

Altitude and excess mortality during COVID-19 pandemic in Peru

We have read with interest the short communication published by Segovia-Juarez et al., 2020 in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology establishing that high altitude reduces the infection rate of COVID-19 but not the case fatality rate in the Peruvian setting. We support this hypothesis, however there could be an important number of under registered deaths on account of a low rate of diagnostic tests performed per inhabitant and mostly in symptomatic patients (Pasquariello and Stranges, 2020).Revisión por pare

Rural and urban disparities in anemia among Peruvian children aged 6-59 months: a multivariate decomposition and spatial analysis

Introduction: Anemia is a global public health issue that affects mainly children aged less than 5 years. In Peru, despite the reduction in the prevalence of anemia between 2010 and 2018, anemia remains a major concern, especially in high-risk zones such as rural areas. Several sociodemographic factors have been associated with anemia in children; however, components contributing to the urban–rural gap have not been previously assessed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the determinants of the difference in anemia prevalence between urban and rural areas, and its spatial distribution in Peruvian children aged 6–59 months. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2019 Peruvian Demographic Health Survey. The study population included 18 846 children aged 6–59 months. A multivariate decomposition analysis for non-linear response model was performed to identify the factors contributing to the gap in the prevalence of anemia across urban and rural areas. Global Moran's I autocorrelation, Ordinary Kriging interpolation and Bernoullibased purely spatial scan statistics were employed to assess the spatial pattern of anemia. Results: Nationwide, the prevalence of anemia in Peru was 29.47% (95%CI 28.63–30.33). In rural areas, it was 38.25%, and in urban areas 26.39%. The decomposition analysis revealed that 88.61% of the difference in the prevalence of anemia between urban and rural areas was attributed to the difference in the respondents’ characteristics. Wealth index, mother's education, mother's employment status, number of living children and mother's age were key determinants contributing to the rural–urban gap. Spatial heterogeneity of anemia prevalence in childhood was observed at both inter and intradepartmental level. The SaTScan spatial analysis identified six significant cluster areas with high prevalence of anemia in childhood. Conclusion: A considerable gap of anemia prevalence between urban and rural areas was found. Targeted interventions are necessary to reduce geographic disparities.Revisión por pare

Amiloidosis cardiaca secundaria a macroglobulinemia de waldenström

Introduction: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a hematological neoplasm belonging to the group of monoclonal gammopathies, which includes systemic symptoms and those related to an increase in M paraprotein. Objective: To describe a case of cardiac amyloidosis associated with macroglobulinemia. Clinical case: Male patient who was admitted for asthenia, dysphonia, and who, during his evolution, developed progressive dyspnea, heart failure and pleural effusion. Additionally, echocardiography showed myocardial granular pattern, while pleural biopsy was positive for Congo red staining. Subsequently, he received treatment with bortezomib, dexamethasone and rituximab, with favorable evolution. Conclusions: In this disease, early diagnosis is an important advantage for survival. Therefore, its management is palliative of cardiac manifestations. The present case shows a diagnostic challenge, in which the less frequent etiologies of heart failure must be taken into account.Revisión por pare

Spatial and socioeconomic inequalities in the access to safe drinking water in Peruvian households

"Access to safe drinking water has increased in Peru over the last decades, from 47% (2008) to 52% (2018). Nevertheless, such access would differ according to socioeconomic and regional factors. Thus, this study aimed to assess the socioeconomic inequality in the access to safe drinking water and identify its spatial distribution. We conducted a cross-sectional study based on the secondary data analysis of the 2021 Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey. Access to safe drinking water was a dummy variable categorised as safe if the residual chlorine concentration was 0.5 mg/L. Nationwide, 29.22% of households had access to safe drinking water. A pro-rich inequality in access to safe drinking water was observed. The spatial distribution was clustered. Significant hotspots were found in the south and centre of the country; however, cold spots were found in most areas. SaTScan analysis identified 32 and 63 significant clusters at high and low risks of having access to safe drinking water, respectively. In conclusion, approximately one out of four Peruvian households has access to safe drinking water, which was mostly concentrated among the wealthier households. Intra- and interdepartmental inequalities in access to safe drinking water were found, with several high-risk clusters.

Inequalities in infant vaccination coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study in Peru

Objective: To identify the associated factors and assess the inequalities of full vaccination coverage (FVC) among Peruvian infants aged 12–23 months during the COVID-19 pandemic in a nationally representative sample. Methods: We carried out a population-based cross-sectional study based on a secondary data analysis using the 2021 Peruvian Demographic Health Survey (DHS) in infants aged 12 to 23 months. The sampling design was probabilistic, multistage, stratified, and independent at both departmental and area of residence levels. FVC was defined according to the WHO definition. We performed generalized linear models (GLM) Poisson family log link function to estimate crude (aPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR). Also, for inequality assessment, we calculated the concentration curve (CC), concentration index (CI), and Erreygers normalized concentration index (ECI). Results: We included 4,189 infants in our analysis. Nationwide, the prevalence of FVC was 66.19% (95% CI: 64.33–68). Being younger, having a mother with no education or primary education, belonging to a large family, having no access to mass media, having had six or fewer ANC visits, and having a mother whose age was under 20 at first delivery were inversely associated with FVC. Meanwhile, living in the Highlands or on the rest of the coast, and living in rural areas were directly associated with FVC. We found a pro-rich inequality in FVC based on wealth-ranked households (CI: 0.0066; ECI: 0.0175). Conclusion: FVC has dropped among Peruvian infants aged between 12 and 23 months. There were several factors associated with FVC. It was more concentrated among the better-off infants, although in low magnitude.Revisión por pare

Factors associated with not receiving the primary series and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine among Venezuelan migrants in Peru: A population-based cross-sectional study

Background: Ensuring broad COVID-19 vaccination coverage among migrants is a global public health concern. Thus, our study aimed to assess the factors associated with not receiving the primary series and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine among Venezuelan migrants in Peru. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary data analysis of the 2022 Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru Survey. Our population included Venezuelan migrants and refugees over 18 years old living in Peru with complete information for the variables of interest. Two outcome variables were assessed: not receiving the primary series and not receiving the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Crude and adjusted prevalences were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 7,727 Venezuelan adults were included in our study, of whom 6,511 completed the primary series. The overall COVID-19 vaccination coverage of the primary series was 84.17%, whilst the coverage of the booster dose was 28.06%. Being younger, uninsured, illegally-staying, and having a low educational level were associated with both outcomes. Conclusion: Several sociodemographic and migration-related variables were associated with both outcomes. Governmental policies prioritizing vaccination among Venezuelan migrants are needed to ensure broad coverage in this vulnerable group