Post-Traumatic Stress Associated with Telework-Related Job Limitation in Latin America

During the pandemic, there has been evidence of work limitations during telework, which are believed to cause mental health problems. Our objective was to assess the association between perceived work limitations during telework and posttraumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Latin America in 2020. Exposure was measured by self-reporting using a self-perception questionnaire; the SPRINT-E questionnaire was used for outcome measurements. Generalized linear models were applied. Of 1329 participants, 15.2% (n = 202) had posttraumatic stress. In a multivariate analysis, the highest frequency of posttraumatic stress was found among those with moderate depression or more (PR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.03–1.61), moderate or more anxiety (PR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.61–3.41), and moderate or more stress (PR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.46–4.12). In conclusion, there is an association between perceived work limitations during telework and posttraumatic stress in Latin American workers. For this reason, it is recommended that occupational physicians, companies, and institutions assess the frequency of posttraumatic stress and monitor the mental health of workers.National Institute of Mental HealthRevisión por pare

Consumption of traditional alcoholic beverages in children from a rural village in Northern Peru, 2017 [version 2; referees: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

Introduction: Alcoholic beverages have a proven impact on neuronal development and other areas of the body, primarily the heart, kidneys and liver, which is why their consumption in children is prohibited. However, there are traditional drinks that have alcohol content (Chicha de Jora-Clarito); artisanal drinks of traditional origin with alcoholic content in Peru. The aim of this study was to characterize the consumption of traditional alcoholic beverages in children of a rural village in Northern Peru. Methods: This study was an analytical cross-sectional study. Mothers were recruited by census sampling and reported the consumption by their children of two traditional drinks with alcoholic content: Chicha de Jora (Ch) and Clarito (Cl), which are derived from the fermentation of maize. The frequency of consumption, accessibility and perception of consumption risk were described. Results: Data were collected about 300 children, 61% (183) of whom consumed Ch. and 31% (92) of whom consumed Ch and Cl. Regarding drink accessibility, the majority of mothers said that these drinks were cheap (Ch: 69.0% and Cl: 60.7%). Additionally, the vast majority of families sometimes consumed or always consumed such beverages (Ch: 81.3% and CI: 65.7%). One in three mothers perceived Ch and Cl as being nutritious and helping their children grow. 25% of mothers perceived that there was no risk to their children from the consumption of the beverages, whereas >60% said that there could be a risk due to the beverages’ alcohol content. Conclusions: Our study found that traditional beverages containing alcohol are consumed frequently by children in a village in Northern Peru. Mothers provide accessibility to the beverages and perceive the risk the drinks have, which will more accurately evaluate this risk. We advise that future studies concerning the intervention of these attitudes are performed, for a better future and development of children

"Validity of a scale of Latin American perception of fear and concern transmitted by the media during the pandemic (MED-LAT-COVID-19)"

"Introduction: The pandemic has caused fear, especially due to the daily disseminated news; however, there is not an instrument to measure this fear in multiple realities. Objective: To validate a scale for Latin American perception of fear and concern transmitted by the media during the pandemic. Methodology: This is an instrumental study. The survey was based on an instrument which was pre-validated in Peru and submitted to 15 experts in almost 10 countries. Subsequently, thousands of people were surveyed in 13 Latin American countries, whose answers were used for descriptive statistics for validation. Results: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) generated two re-specifications, where four items were eliminated from the original scale. With these changes, the global goodness of fit (absolute and incremental) were satisfactory (CFI ¼ 0.978; TLI ¼ 0.964; GFI ¼ 0.976; AGFI ¼ 0.949; RMSEA ¼ 0.075 and RMR ¼ 0.029). The first factor measures the media exaggeration (three questions); the second, the fear transmitted by the media (three questions); and the third, the fear transmitted by others different from the media (two questions). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was higher than 0.70 for the scale and its factors. Conclusion: The MED-LAT-COVID-19 scale reported a good adjustment. It has eight items in three factors, which could be measured in an isolated way, or along with other tests that assess mental health in the current pandemic context.

Factores asociados a la percepción de problemas presentados en la consulta médica en cuatro ciudades del Perú

Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue determinar los factores asociados a la percepción de problemas presentados en la consulta médica en cuatro ciudades del Perú. Material y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico, analítico y transversal, realizado entre mayo-junio del 2015, en sedes hospitalarios de cuatro ciudades peruanas (Lima, Ucayali, Piura e Ica). Se utilizó la escala PREMEPA para medir las características de la consulta médica, además, se consignó los datos del médico. El análisis estadístico buscó asociaciones y valores p, mediante los modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados: Fueron 804 encuestados, el 57% fueron mujeres (459), la edad promedio fue 45 años (rango de 26–59). Lima fue la ciudad con mayor frecuencia de problemas presentados durante la consulta externa (35%). En el análisis multivariado, disminuyó la frecuencia de problemas presentados durante la consulta externa una mejor atención (RPa: 0,7; IC95%: 0,63,09), trato (RPa: 0,5; IC95%: 0,4-0,6) y explicación por parte de los médicos tratantes (RPa: 0,7; IC95%: 0,6-0,8), ajustado por el sexo del médico, la especialidad y el tener algún antecedente de problemas con un médico. Conclusiones: Se encontró que ciertas características del trato del médico durante la consulta pueden generar la percepción de problemas por parte de los usuarios, por lo que esto debería ser tomado en cuenta para generar programas de capacitación y sensibilización de las distintas instituciones de salud

Agudeza visual baja según residir en una ciudad rural del norte del Perú: estudio de casos y controles

Introduction In Peru, there are few studies which show that they might be a difference between school children in rural areas and the ones from non-rural areas, this is necessary because it has been shown that the place of residence is an influential exogenous factor in the development of low visual acuity. Likewise, the influence of environment on the development of visual errors and low visual acuity has been demonstrated. Methodology Case-control study between child population of an urban and a rural area (Piura and Joras); prior informed consent of their parents. The primary variable was the visual acuity, qualified with the principles of Snellen (sensitivity 85%, specificity 96%) 20/0 was considered as optimal and normal visual acuity was considered to 20/25. Values below were low visual acuity. Results 1,094 were surveyed. 50.0% (488) were female, and the median age was 9 years (interquartile range: 7-10 years). 22.6% (221) of the children had low visual acuity. In bivariate analysis, the age of children (p = .001), the degree coursing (p <.001) and city of residence (p = .005) were associated with low visual acuity of children. The multivariate analysis found that non-rural children had 1.55 (95% CI: 1.14 to 2.11, p-value = .005) more chances of having low visual acuity, adjusted for sex, age and degree academic growth of children. Conclusions It is concluded that children living non-rural residences have more low visual acuity in the northern Peru.Revisión por pare

Perception and factors associated with the possibility of treating patients with COVID-19 in recently graduated physicians at Peru

En diversas partes del mundo, incluido Perú, existe déficit de recursos humanos para la atención de los pacientes COVID-19, por lo que, se está reclutando a los médicos recién egresados. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico, mediante una encuesta virtual se preguntó acerca de la posibilidad de ser reclutado para la atención de pacientes con Coronavirus, así como, otras percepciones de esta posibilidad (obteniendo un Alpha de Cronbach: 0,86); se obtuvo estadística analítica. Resultados: De 352 encuestados, el 54% manifestó que si aceptaría ser reclutado. En el análisis multivariado, se encontró que a más percepción fatalista de la enfermedad aceptaría menos ser reclutado en un hospital (p<0,001); sin embargo, si se sentirían bien capacitados (p<0,001), cómodos apoyando en hospitales (p=0,015), capaces de atender en forma general (p<0,001) y podrían trabajar en un lugar con muchos casos (p<0,001); ajustado por dos variables. Conclusión: Si bien no hubo una gran mayoría que quisiese ser reclutados, si esto pasaría, se tendrían que adaptar y manifestaron que estarían cómodos y capacitados atendiendo a pacientes con esta patología