Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder risk post-COVID-19 in 12 countries in Latin America: a cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Latin America was the region most affected by COVID-19 in the second quarter of 2020, and consequently, the impact on mental health requires evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by bereavement due to COVID-19 in 12 countries in Latin America. Methods: The current study was an analytical cross-sectional study. Validated tests were applied for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), questions about the respondent's condition or their environment, and demographic questions, as well as the length of the mourning period of suffering. Results: The outcomes demonstrated that the PTSD risk increased for women (p < 0.001), when a friend or acquaintance had COVID-19 (p = 0.002), when a close relative died from COVID-19 (p = 0.010), having severe depression (p <0.001), severe anxiety (p <0.001), severe stress (p <0.001), residing in Chile (p <0.001), Paraguay (p <0.001), Bolivia (p <0.001), Costa Rica (p <0.001) or El Salvador (p = 0.005). On the other hand, there was less risk of PTSD at an older age (p <0.001) or if respondents had a sentimental partner (p = 0.025). In the case of severe PTSD, there was a greater gender risk for women (p <0.001), a close relative dying from COVID-19 (p = 0.017), having severe depression (p <0.001), severe anxiety (p <0.001), severe stress (p <0.001), residing in Chile (p <0.001), Paraguay (p <0.001), Bolivia (p <0.001) and Costa Rica (p = 0.002). It was also observed that there was less risk of severe PTSD at an older age demographic (p <0.001). Discussion: It can be concluded that the percentages of PTSD are high in its clinical presentation as severe, especially among Latin American women.

Factores asociados a inadecuadas prácticas de distanciamiento social durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en Perú / Factors associated to inadequate practices of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru

Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados a inadecuadas prácticas de distanciamiento social durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en Perú. Material y métodos. Se administró una encuesta en línea dirigida para adultos de diversas regiones del Perú seleccionados mediante un muestreo por bola de nieve, la encuesta incluía una escala para la medición de prácticas de distanciamiento social, el uso de la información, el afrontamiento emocional frente al coronavirus y características sociodemográficas. Se realizó un análisis bivariado y multivariado utilizando razones de prevalencia cruda (RP) y ajustadas (RPa) con intervalos de confianza al 95 % por medio de modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados. Se incluyeron 377 personas de los cuales el 55,4 % fueron hombres y 77,5 % residían fuera de Lima, el 35 % de los encuestados tuvo inadecuadas prácticas de distanciamiento social lo que estuvo asociado con tener primaria o secundaria incompleta (RPa 1,41, IC 95 %: 1,11 a 1,81), inadecuado uso de la información (RPa 2,82, IC 95 %: 1,98 a 4,05) e inadecuado afrontamiento emocional frente al coronavirus (RPa 1,76, IC 95 %: 1,27 a 2,42). Conclusión. Personas con menor grado de instrucción, inadecuado uso de la información y con un negativo afrontamiento emocional frente al coronavirus tienen mayor probabilidad de inadecuadas prácticas de distanciamiento social.

Objective: To determine the factors associated with inadequate social distancing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. Material and methods. A targeted online survey was administered to adults from various regions of Peru selected by snowball sampling. The survey included a scale for measuring social distancing practices, use of information, emotional coping with the coronavirus, and sociodemographic characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed using crude (PR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals by means of generalized linear models. Results. We included 377 people of whom 55.4 % were men and 77.5 % resided outside Lima, 35 % of the respondents had inadequate social distancing practices which was associated with having incomplete primary or secondary school (RPa 1.41, 95 % CI: 1.11 to 1.81), inadequate use of information (PRa 2.82, 95 % CI: 1.98 to 4.05) and inadequate emotional coping in the face of coronavirus (PRa 1.76, 95 % CI: 1.27 to 2.42). Conclusion. People with lower educational level, inadequate use of information and negative emotional coping with coronavirus are more likely to have inadequate social distancing practices.