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Objective: This study aims to identify factors associated with excessive screen time among preschoolers in Lima, Peru. Methods: Cross‐sectional analysis from a 2019 panel study in Lima, Peru, was conducted focusing on women, aged 18 and above, who are mothers of 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds in mid‐high and mid‐low districts. There were two outcome variables: excessive TV and excessive electronic devices screen time, defined as ≥ 1 h of screen exposure for each one. Explored factors included the mother's age, education and wealth index and the children's age, sex, physical activity, day care attendance and ultra‐processed food consumption. Crude (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were estimated for the association between associated factors and excessive screen time using the GLM Poisson of with a logarithmic link. Results: Excessive TV screen time and electronic devices prevalence was 74% and 36.9%, respectively. For TV screen time, a high wealth index (aPR 1.13; 95%CI: 1.03–1.23) and children's age (aPR 1.18; 95%CI: 1.08–1.29 for 4 years, PR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.07–1.28 for 5 years) were significant. For electronic devices, significant associations included mothers with more than 3 children (aPR 0.77; 95%CI: 0.62–0.96), being single (aPR 1.27; 95%CI: 1.01–1.58) and a high wealth index (aPR 1.38; 95%CI: 1.13–1.68). Furthermore, significant associations were found between excessive electronic device screen time and consumption of candies and chocolates (aPR 1.38; 95%CI: 1.08–1.77). Conclusions: Seven out of 10 preschool children exceeded the recommended television screen time. Certain characteristics of the children, their mothers and the family's socio‐economic situation are related to excessive television screen time and excessive electronic device screen time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The co-occurrence of chronic diseases and acute infectious events exacerbates disability and diminishes quality of life, yet research in Low- and Middle-Income countries is scarce. We aimed to investigate the relationship between infectious events and multimorbidity in resource-constrained settings. Methods: We conducted a sequential mixed-method study in Lima and Tumbes, Peru, with participants having multimorbidity from the CRONICAS Cohort Study. They completed a questionnaire on the occurrence, treatment, and health-seeking behaviour related to acute infectious events. Qualitative interviews explored the perceptions and links between multimorbidity and acute infectious events for a subgroup of participants. Findings: Among individuals with multimorbidity, low awareness of chronic conditions and poor medication adherence. The cumulative incidence for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, the most reported acute conditions, was 2.0 [95%CI: 1.8–2.2] and 1.6 [1.2–1.9] events per person per year, respectively. Individuals with cancer (6.4 [1.6–11.2] events per person per year) or gastrointestinal reflux (7.2 [4.4–10.1] events per person per year) reported higher cumulative incidence of infectious events than others, such as those with cardiovascular and metabolic conditions (5.2 [4.6–5.8] events per person per year). Those with three or more chronic conditions had a slightly higher cumulative incidence compared with individuals with two conditions (5.7 [4.4–7.0] vs 5.0 [4.4–5.6] events per person per year). Around 40% of individuals with multimorbidity sought healthcare assistance, while others chose drugstores or didn't seek help. Our qualitative analysis showed diverse perceptions among participants regarding the connections between chronic and acute conditions. Those who recognized a connection emphasized the challenges in managing these interactions. Interpretation: Our study advances understanding of multimorbidity challenges in resource-limited settings, highlighting the impact of acute infections on patients' existing multimorbidity burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and factors associated with the use of drugs without evidence for the prevention of COVID-19 in Peruvians without symptoms or diagnosis, using the National Household Survey (ENAHO) 2021. Methods: A secondary analysis was made of the ENAHO 2021. We evaluated participants older than 18 years who did not undergo any test to diagnose COVID-19 and used any drug to prevent COVID-19. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated to determine the associated factors. Results: Among the 69,815 participants analyzed, the prevalence of taking a drug 4 weeks prior to the survey was 5.64%. Factors associated with drug consumption were: age 30-59 years (aPR 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-1.65); having a higher education (aPR 1.73; 95% CI:1.28-2.33); having a chronic disease (aPR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.26-1.56); not having poverty status (aPR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.26-1.56); living in an urban area (aPR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.31-1.99). Meanwhile, living in the highlands (aPR 0.77; 95% CI: 0.60-0.97) and not having a landline, cell phone, television or internet at home (aPR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.98) were protective factors from unnecessary drug consumption. Conclusion: It is concerning that even after one year of living with the pandemic and having refuted the utility of medications such as ivermectin and azithromycin, these drugs are still widely consumed by a sector of the population without symptoms or a diagnosis of COVID-19. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate and implement public health measures that address this problem, considering the associated factors to reduce this consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the socioeconomic inequalities and factors associated with the use of modern contraceptive methods (MCM) in the population of sexually active women of childbearing age in Ecuador. This was an analytical observational study, based on a secondary data analysis of the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT). Information on 19,106 sexually active, married, or cohabiting women between the ages of 15 and 49 were included. Concentration curves (CC) and Erreygers concentration indices (ECI) were calculated, taking into account the use of MCM as the dependent variable and the wealth index as the independent variable. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using generalized linear models of the Poisson family. We found that 92.8% of the women surveyed used some type of MCM in the last month. A higher educational level presented a significant pro-rich concentration in the use of MCM (EIC: 0.05; p = 0.004). On the other hand, women belonging to the age group of 20 to 29 years (ECI: −0.027; p = 0.027), women with no job (ECI: −0.025; p = 0.004), and non-indigenous women (EIC: −0.031; p < 0.001), presented a pro-poor concentration. Factors significantly associated with MCM use were age, marital status, occupation, parity, ethnicity, area of residence, and living on the coast. In Ecuador, there are socioeconomic inequalities at different levels of population subgroups in women of childbearing age. Measures to promote the use of MCM are required, focusing on groups that present inequality, taking into account the factors associated with their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze the association between food insecurity and mental health in Venezuelan migrants and refugees residing in Peru using data from the Survey Directed at the Venezuelan Population Residing in the Country (ENPOVE) conducted in 2022. The analysis included 7739 Venezuelan adults. The presence of mental health problems was self-reported, and household food insecurity was measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The study found that 4 out of 10 participants lived in households with moderate to severe food insecurity, and around 10% reported experiencing some mental health problem in the last month. The study identified a positive association between living in households with moderate to severe food insecurity and having some mental health problem compared to living in households without food insecurity. The findings suggest that food insecurity is a common problem among the Venezuelan migrant population residing in Peru, and measures are required to address this problem and mitigate its consequences on mental health and other health problems. The study highlights the need for international organizations to provide assistance and support to these populations and ensure adequate and sustainable follow-up of food insecurity at the national level. It is also necessary to implement early detection tests for mental health problems in the migrant population, especially in individuals exposed to food insecurity. This study provides relevant evidence for addressing public health in the Venezuelan migrant population residing in Peru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that vaccination coverage against COVID-19 has made great progress in Peru, there is still a quarter of the population that has not been fully vaccinated. This study aims to determine the factors associated with complete vaccination in Peruvian adults. An analysis of the National Household Survey 2022 in Peru was performed. Prevalence ratios with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated to assess the factors associated with vaccination with three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 58,471 participants were included in the study and 75.8% of the surveyed population were found to have received full vaccination. Significant differences in complete coverage were observed according to sex, age, educational level, ethnicity, poverty status, and geographic location. In the adjusted analysis, individuals aged 60 years or older, those with higher educational attainment, the non-poor, and those living in urban areas were more likely to be fully vaccinated. Native individuals and people who live in households without media are less likely to be fully covered. These results highlight the importance of considering demographic and socioeconomic factors when analyzing COVID-19 vaccination coverage. Additional strategies are needed to address vaccination gaps and ensure better vaccination coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to determine the prevalence of household food insecurity (FI) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Secondary analysis was performed using the waves 1 to 3 of the 2020 COVID-19 High Frequency Phone Surveys in 13 LAC countries. The countries with the highest FI in the first wave were Honduras (60.3%), Peru (58.1%) and Ecuador (57.9%). Likewise, the countries with the greatest differences in the prevalence of FI between the first and last waves in percentage points (PP) were Peru (−29), Guatemala (−27.7) and Bolivia (−21.8). LAC countries face a great burden of FI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Peru, Venezuelan migrants and refugees have been exposed to food shortages before their emigration. This problem could have worse outcomes in vulnerable populations (such as people with disabilities); however, the literature on the basic needs of this population is still scarce. The objective was to determine the association between the presence of disability and the unmet need for access to food in the household of the Venezuelan migrant and refugee population residing in Peru. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Second Survey of the Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru (ENPOVE 2022). The outcome variable was unmet need for food, while the independent variable was the presence of disability. Poisson log generalized linear regression models (crude and adjusted for potential confounding variables) were fitted to evaluate the association between the variables of interest, reporting prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 7739 migrants and refugees from Venezuela were included. The proportion of unmet need for access to food in the household was 45.2%, while the proportion of disability was 2.1%. People with disabilities were found to be more likely to have an unmet need for access to food at home (adjusted PR [aPR]: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.08–1.46; p = 0.003). According to our findings, almost half of Venezuelan households were found to have an unmet need for access to food. In addition, Venezuelan migrants and refugees with disabilities were more likely to have an unmet need for this basic need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the influence of the nutritional traffic light (NTL) on the decision to purchase processed foods using information from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) 2018 of Ecuador, a cross-sectional and analytical study based on a secondary analysis of the information from the ENSANUT 2018 was performed. We collected data from 25,932 participants 18 years of age or older who knew or had seen the NTL, and for whom complete information on the variables of interest for the study was available. The "Influence of the NTL on the purchase decision of processed foods" was the outcome variable of the study. Generalized linear models of the Poisson family, with log link, were used to assess the association between socioeconomic factors and outcome, using crude (PR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and a p-value < 0.05. Participants who understood the NTL (aPR: 2.49; 95% CI: 2.19–2.83), with a higher educational level (aPR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.09–1.61), women (aPR 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.10), and who had a partner (aPR 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.14) were more likely to be influenced by the NTL when deciding to purchase processed foods, compared to people who did not understand the NTL, who had no educational level or who only attended a literacy center, were men, and those without a partner. The inhabitants of the coastal region (aPR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88–0.97), the Amazon (aPR 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88–0.98), and the insular region (aPR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.68–0.84) had few probabilities of being influenced by the NTL in the decision to purchase processed foods, in comparison with the residents of the highlands. Similarly, compared to non-poor people, poor people had a lower probability of being influenced by the NTL (aPR 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82–0.97). Factors associated with the influence of NTL on the decision to purchase processed foods were identified. It is recommended to reformulate and focus awareness strategies for using the NTL to purchase processed foods by taking into account the associated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Determine the association between intimate partner violence against Peruvian women and adequate regulation of the emotions and behaviors of children between 24 and 59 months old. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed secondary data obtained from the ENDES-2019. The dependent variable was the regulation of emotions and behaviors in 24 to 59-month-old children. The independent variable was partner violence (physical, sexual, verbal or psychological) against mothers at some point in their life. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated and adjusted with their 95% confidence interval (CI) to evaluate the association between intimate partner violence and adequate regulation of emotions and behaviors. Results: Data from 8,473, 15 to 49-year-old mothers and their children aged 24 to 59 months were analyzed. Intimate partner violence was reported by 57.1% of the women, and 31.6% of the children showed adequate regulation of emotions and behaviors. The probability of children of mothers who were victims of intimate partner violence adequately regulating their emotions and behaviors was low (aPR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.75–0.88), with an aPR = 0.82 (95% CI: 0.76–0.89) and an aPR = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76–0.93) for those with mothers suffering psychological or physical violence, respectively, with no differences in children of mothers suffering sexual violence by their partner. Conclusions: Six out of 10 Peruvian women have suffered partner violence at some point in their life, and only three out of 10 children between 24 and 59 months old adequately regulate their emotions and behaviors. Children of mothers suffering physical and verbal or psychological violence by their partners were less likely to regulate their emotions and behaviors adequately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]