Prevalence and factors associated with not receiving the booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in adults in Latin America and the Caribbean

"Background: Booster doses have been described as effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths from the new variants. However, its coverage is heterogeneous in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), one of the regions most affected by the pandemic. We aimed to assess the factors associated with not receiving a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine booster dose in adults from LAC. Methods: We analyzed a secondary database compiled by the University of Maryland and Facebook assessing the global impact of COVID-19. We included Facebook users over 18 years of age who resided in LAC and responded to the survey between February 13, 2022, and March 14, 2022. We evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, food, and economic insecurity, mental health, and vaccination-related practices. We calculated crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: The sample included 154,841 adults from 20 LAC countries. 33.7% (n = 46,459) reported not receiving the COVID-19 booster vaccine. Being under 75 years old, having a college, high school, pre-university, primary, or lower education, having no or 1 to 2 comorbidities, living in a town, having food insecurity, depressive symptoms, and having had COVID-19, were associated with a higher prevalence of not receiving the booster dose. In contrast, being female or non-binary and having anxiety symptoms were associated with a lower prevalence of not receiving the booster dose. Conclusions: Approximately three out of 10 adults surveyed in LAC reported not having received the booster vaccine. Authorities must design campaigns that promote receiving a booster dose considering the factors found.

Gender Differences in Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms During the First Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Latin America and the Caribbean

"Background: Previous studies have suggested that the pandemic impact on mental health could vary according to gender. We aimed to evaluate the gender influence in the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries in the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis employing the Facebook–COVID-19 Symptom Survey developed by the University of Maryland. We categorized gender as men, women, and non-binary. The outcomes were the presence of anxiety or depressive symptoms, measured with two adapted questions extracted from the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). We used generalized linear models from the Poisson family, considering the survey’s complex sampling. We calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and explored interactions with gender using the adjusted Wald test. Results: We included 1,338,320 adults from LAC countries; 48.0, 50.6, and 1.4% were men, women, and non-binary participants, respectively. The overall prevalence of anxiety or depressive symptoms was 44.8 and 46.6%, respectively. We found interactions between gender and the rest of the independent variables. In the non-binary group, the association between age and anxiety symptomatology was lost after an age of 55 years. Furthermore, whereas living in a town was associated with a lower prevalence of anxiety and depression symptomatology in men and women, this did not happen among non-binary individuals. Compliance with physical distancing was associated with a lower prevalence of anxiety and depression symptomatology among women (anxiety: PRa = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.97–0.99; p < 0.001, depression: PRa = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.95–0.97; p < 0.001) and only anxiety in non-binary participants (anxiety: PRa = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.88–0.98; p = 0.005). This was not evidenced among men participants (anxiety: PRa = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.96–1.01; p = 0.199, depression: PRa = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.96–1.00; p = 0.084). In addition, compliance with handwashing was associated with a higher prevalence of anxiety symptomatology among men (PRa = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.05–1.11; p < 0.001) and women participants (PRa = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01–1.05; p = 0.016). Conclusion: Approximately 4 out of 10 participants had anxiety or depressive symptoms. Women and non-binary gender people had more symptoms of anxiety or depression. The factors associated with these symptoms varied according to gender. It is essential to evaluate gender-related strategies to improve mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence of parents' non-intention to vaccinate their children and adolescents against COVID-19: A comparative analysis in Colombia and Peru

"We aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with parents’ non-intention to vaccinate their children and adolescents against COVID-19 in Colombia and Peru. We performed a secondary anal- ysis using a database generated by the University of Maryland and Facebook (Facebook, Inc). We Included adult (18 and over) Facebook users residing in LAC who responded to the survey between May 20, and November 5, 2021. We Included sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, mental health, eco- nomic and food insecurity, compliance with mitigation strategies against COVID-19, and practices related to vaccination against this disease. We estimated crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with their respective 95 %CI. We analyzed a sample of 44,678 adults from Colombia and 24,302 from Peru. The prevalence of parents’ non-intention to vaccinate their children and adolescents against COVID-19 was 7.41 % (n = 3,274) for Colombia and 6.64 % (n = 1,464) for Peru. In Colombia, age above 35 years old, com- pliance with physical distancing, use of masks, having economic insecurity, anxiety symptoms, having a chronic condition or more comorbidities, and being vaccinated were associated with a higher probability of vaccinating children and adolescents against COVID-19. In Peru, female gender, compliance with phys- ical distancing, use of masks, having economic insecurity, anxiety symptoms, having a chronic condition or more comorbidities, having had COVID-19, and being vaccinated were associated with a higher prob- ability of vaccinating children against COVID-19. Living in a town, a village, or a rural area was associated with a higher prevalence of non-intention to vaccinate children and adolescents against COVID-19. About 9 out of 10 parents in Colombia and Peru intend to vaccinate their children and adolescents against COVID-19. This intention is associated with some factors which are similar between the two countries, as well as other factors and variations among the different regions of each country.

COVID-19 symptomatology and compliance with community mitigation strategies in Latin America early during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Community mitigation strategies (CMS) have demonstrated to be effective in the reduction of transmission and incidence of COVID-19, especially in the population with symptoms associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the presence of COVID-19 symptoms and adherence to CMS in Latin American adults. Methods: We carried out a secondary analysis of a database developed by the University of Maryland and Facebook social network during the COVID-19 pandemic. We included Latin American adults that used the Facebook platform and participated in a survey conducted from April 23 to May 23, 2020. The principal outcome variable was reported compliance with the three main CMS (physical distancing, use of face masks, and hand washing). The exposure variable included symptoms suspicious for COVID-19 defined as the presence of three or more symptoms of an acute clinical case of COVID-19. We performed generalized linear models of the Poisson family with a logarithmic link function to evaluate the association between the presence of COVID-19 symptoms and reported compliance with CMS. We calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: We analyzed 1,310,690 adults from Latin America; 48.1% were male and 42.9% were under 35 years of age. The prevalence of suspicious symptoms of COVID-19 was 18.5% and reported compliance with the three CMS was 45.3%. The countries with the highest proportion of reported compliance with the three CMS were Peru, Bolivia and Panama, while those with the lowest reported compliance were Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras. In the adjusted model, people with suspicious symptoms for COVID-19 had a 14% lower compliance with the three CMS (aPR = 0.86; 95%CI: 0.85–0.87; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Less than half of the participants complied with the CMS, and those presenting suspicious symptoms for COVID-19 had lower reported compliance with the three CMS.University of MarylandRevisión por pare

Rheological and functional properties of dark chocolate with partial substitution of peanuts and sacha inchi

Chocolate is a widely consumed product, due to the contribution of fats and antioxidant compounds; the addition of other components makes it possible to increase the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, although they can affect its rheological properties. The influence of the partial addition of peanut paste and Sacha Inchi on the rheological and functional properties of dark chocolate was evaluated. Cocoa beans, peanuts, and Sacha Inchi were refined in order to obtain the cocoa paste (PC), peanut paste (PM), and Sacha Inchi paste (PSI). Then, mixtures between 0 to 20% of PM and PSI were formulated, and the rheological properties were evaluated at 30, 40, and 50 C; these were adjusted to mathematical models. Functional groups were identified by FTIR in ATR mode, and it was observed that the partial addition of PM and PSI did not show significant changes in the shear stress and apparent viscosity of the mixture, although they did show dependence on temperature. The Herschel–Bulkley model showed a better adjustment (R2 > 0.999), reporting behavior index values, n < 1.0, and indicating pseudo-plastic behavior for pastes and formulations. The yield limit ty and the consistency index kH increased significantly with the addition of PM and PSI, but they decreased with increasing temperature. The activation energy show values between 13.98 to 18.74 kJ/mol, and it increased significantly with the addition of PM and PSI. Infrared analysis evidenced the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids, coming mainly from PSI and PM. The addition of PM and PSI does not influence the rheological properties and allows for an increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids

The influence of anthropogenic activities on the concentration of pesticides, physicochemical and microbiological properties in the Chumbao river, Andahuaylas, Perú

The province of Andahuaylas is located in the region of Apurimac, a Peruvian city located in the Andes. Andahuaylas has three important districts: San Jerónimo, Andahuaylas and Talavera. These areas are highly populated, and their buildings are close to the Chumbao River. This research aimed to determine the influence of anthropogenic activities on the concentration of pesticides, physicochemical and microbiological characteristics in the Chumbao River. Five agricultural activities, 19 organochlorine pesticides, and 25 organophosphorus pesticides were studied. Eighteen physicochemical properties and two microbiological properties were also studied at seven sampling points along the Chumbao River during the rainy and dry seasons. Several veterinary and agricultural products were identified in the agricultural activities studied. However, no significant concentration values of organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides were found; no weed control products were found. In the case of livestock farming, albendazole and ivermectin are frequently used as anthelmintics. Organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides are used to control flies and other ectoparasites. Several pesticides have been identified in the surveys in the case of quinoa, potato, and corn crops. Some of the physicochemical and microbiological properties are above environmental quality standards according to current Peruvian regulations; these properties increase at points where wastewater is discharged directly into the river. The study evidenced a progressive deterioration of water quality in the Chumbao River caused by anthropic activities in the basin. These may cause infectious and parasitic diseases in the urban population of the Chumbao river valley

Insights from Water Quality of High Andean Springs for Human Consumption in Perú

The headwaters of the high Andean basin in Peru accumulate water from the mist, rain, snow, and hail, and it is transported superficially and underground to low-lying areas, mostly used for drinkable purposes. The natural water in these areas might be altered due to legal and illegal mining extraction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the water quality for human consumption. Seventeen water samples were examined from Andahuaylas (A), San Jerónimo (S), Talavera (T), and Chiara (CH) districts located between 2813 and 4004 m altitude in the Andes. We used physic ochemical, microbiological, and metal parameters, and the results were compared to permissible levels established by the WHO and ECA-Peru to examine samples collected in the dry and rainy seasons in 2019. Application of principal component analysis (PCA) identified areas and conditioning parameters. Extractive mining activity influences the quality of springs due to the presence of metals, especially antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), values of which are higher than values permissible for human consumption, being higher in the dry season (p < 0.05). In addition, the presence of cations and particulate matter affects physico-chemical parameters, for example turbidity. PCA showed that parameters for water characterization are season-independent, and water quality in the springs would be conditioned by the presence of metals, especially in Andahuaylas and Talavera zones, as well as the parameters that are associated with dissolved solids in the water (turbidity and fluorides). A frequent monitoring program of springs and groundwater is recommended, with the purpose to protect water from contamination and guarantee safe water availability in low-lying and urbanized areas

BIM en el diseño y construcción de plantas agroindustriales

Actualmente en el Perú existe un déficit en infraestructura productiva, en especial en industrias que se dediquen a la transformación de materias primas, lo cual es un problema a la hora de abastecer mercados internacionales y por tanto una barrera al desarrollo económico, en el presente artículo de revisión, se analiza la aplicación del BIM (building information modelling) en el diseño y construcción de plantas agroindustriales. En términos generales el BIM es el modelado de información para la construcción, se aplica ampliamente en el mundo y el país no es la excepción, se trata de un modelo tecnológico para la gestión eficiente de los recursos de un proyecto, utilizando diferentes herramientas virtuales que permiten una optimización de tiempos y costos, además se logra un trabajo colaborativo entre todos los “stakeholders”. La aplicación del BIM en el diseño y ejecución de plantas agroindustriales es posible, debido a que es una actividad que se desarrolla de manera multidisciplinaria y utiliza ingeniería básica, conceptual y de detalle, se reconoce que la fase más importante es el diseño, debido a que en ella es donde se intercambian más ideas y el flujo de información es más dinámica, durante la fase de ejecución los modelos 4D y 5D son apropiados para implementarlos en naves agroindustriales que utilizan módulos y retículas en su estructura. Finalmente, se conocen algunas experiencias de su implementación en plantas agroindustriales del Perú, la literatura actual recomienda su uso en diferentes tipos de proyectos, junto a otras metodologías modernas como el PMI, NEC, G2G, XR entre otros

Consumption of Herbal Supplements or Homeopathic Remedies to Prevent COVID-19 and Intention of Vaccination for COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean

Users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) have a lower intention to receive vaccines. Furthermore, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region are among the most affected areas by the COVID-19 pandemics and present a high proportion of CAM users. Therefore, this study evaluates the association between the consumption of herbal supplements or homeopathic remedies to prevent COVID-19 and the intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in the LAC region. We conducted a secondary data analysis of a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) survey with Facebook to assess COVID-19 beliefs, behaviours, and norms. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using generalized linear models of the Poisson family with the log link function. The prevalence of the use of products to prevent COVID-19 was the following: consumption of herbal supplements (7.2%), use of homeopathic remedies (4.8%), and consumption of garlic, ginger, and lemon (11.8%). An association was found between using herbal supplements (19.0% vs. 12.8%; aPR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.30–1.58), the use of homeopathic remedies (20.3% vs. 12.3%; aPR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.25–1.98), and the consumption of garlic, ginger, and lemon (18.9% vs. 11.9%; aPR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.50–1.61) and non-intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. In the LAC population, there is an association between using herbal supplements, using homeopathic remedies and consuming garlic, ginger, and lemon to prevent infection by COVID-19 and non-intention to vaccinate against this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to design targeted strategies for groups that consume these products as preventive measures against COVID-19 to increase vaccination coverage and expand the information regarding transmission and prevention strategies for SARS-CoV-2.Revisión por pare

Factores asociados al resultado citológico positivo en pruebas de Papanicolau en mujeres atendidas en la Liga peruana de lucha contra el cáncer

Objetive: To evaluate the factors associated with a positive cervical cytology result in the Pap smear test in a sample of Peruvian women from Lima, Peru - 2013. Material and Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study including women from 21 to 64 years and we used the Pap smear test to evaluate cervical cytology. We included sociodemographic and medical history variables obtained from medical records of the patients. We elaborated generalized linear models from Poisson family with robust variances to evaluate the factors associated with positive cytology. The association measure reported was the prevalence ratio (PR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: We analyzed 11110 women with a mean age of 41.5 ± 10.9 years and a prevalence of a positive Pap smear test of 2.8%. In the adjusted model, we found that women between 21 and 30 years old (aPR=1.97; 95%CI:1.30-3.00), 31 to 40 years (aPR=2.56; 95%CI:1.76 -3.72) and 41 to 50 years (aPR=2.16; 95%CI:1.47-3.17), single (aPR=1.41; 95%CI:1.10-1.83), widowed or divorced (aPR=1.90; 95%CI:1.27-2.87), with a sexual life onset before 16 years (aPR=1.30; 95%CI:1.01- 1.68) or between 16 and 19 years (aPR=1.69; 95%CI:1.22-2.36) had a greater prevalence of a positive cervical cytology result. Conclusions: Cervical cancer is a public health problem in Peru, then, identifying the factors associated will allow us to improve screening strategies and prioritize groups at higher risk.Objetivo: Evaluar los factores asociados a un resultado de citología cervical positiva en la prueba de Papanicolau en una muestra de mujeres peruanas en Lima, Perú - 2013. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico que incluyó a mujeres con edades entre 21 a 64 años y empleó la prueba de Papanicolaou para evaluar la citología cervical. Se incluyó factores sociodemográficos y antecedentes de la mujer obtenidos de la historia clínica de las pacientes. Se realizaron modelos lineales generalizados de familia Poisson con varianzas robustas para evaluar los factores asociados a la citología positiva. La medida de asociación reportada fue la razón de prevalencia (RP) con sus respectivos intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC95%). Resultados: Se incluyeron a 11110 mujeres en el análisis con una edad media de 41,5±10,9 años y la prevalencia de un resultado positivo en la prueba de Papanicolau fue de 2,8%. En el modelo ajustado, se halló que tener entre 21 a 30 años (RPa=1,97;IC95%:1,30-3,00), 31 a 40 años (RPa=2,56;IC95%:1,76-3,72) y 41 a 50 años (RPa=2,16;IC95%:1,47-3,17), ser soltera (RPa=1,41;IC95%:1,10-1,83), viuda o divorciada (RPa=1,90;IC95%:1,27-2,87), haber tenido inicio de vida sexual antes de los 16 años (RPa=1,30;IC95%:1,01-1,68) o entre los 16 a 19 años (RPa=1,69;IC95%:1,22-2,36) se asoció a una mayor probabilidad de presentar un resultado de citología cervical positivo. Conclusiones: El cáncer de cuello uterino representa un problema de salud pública en Perú, por lo que identificar sus factores asociados es útil para mejorar las estrategias de tamizaje, priorizando grupos de mayor riesgo