Modification of eating habits and lifestyle during COVID-19 in university students from Mexico and Peru.

Objective: It was to evaluate changes in lifestyle habits and health behavior among university students in Peru and Mexico during periods of confinement associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify possible relationships between these changes and sociodemographic variables, health status, and technology consumption. Methods: It was a quantitative, observational, and cross-sectional study conducted among a population of 739 Mexican students and 305 Peruvian students, most of whom were women (n =778, 74.5%) and non-graduates (n =921, 88.2%). The questionnaire scale for changes in lifestyles during the quarantine period has been previously validated. Results: The association between sociodemographic factors and dimensions of change in healthy lifestyles was evaluated, and it was shown that gender and country of residence were significant for all dimensions of healthy lifestyle (p < 0.05), except for the level of education, which did not show significance about the change in the dimensions of media consumption (p = 0.875) and physical activity (p = 0.239). Within the dimensions mentioned, it can be stated that women are more likely than men to change their eating habits (adjusted prevalences (aPR) = 1.08, p < 0.001), media consumption (aPR = 1.04, p < 0.001), and physical activity (aPR = 1.02, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, participants from Peru are more likely than participants from Mexico to change physical activity (aPR = 1.14, p < 0.001) and media consumption (aPR = 1.22, p < 0.001). Finally, graduate students were more likely than undergraduate students to change eating habits (aPR = 1.09, p = 0.005) and unhealthy habits (aPR = 1.06, p = 0.030). Conclusion: It was concluded that there were lifestyle changes in Mexican and Peruvian university students in their eating habits, physical activity, internet consumption, and food delivery.

Research policies and scientific production: A study of 94 Peruvian universities.

Studies of research policies and scientific production are essential for strengthening educational systems and achieving objectives such as quality improvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of research policies on the scientific production of public and private Peruvian universities. An observational, descriptive, secondary analysis study of the research policies of 92 universities and two graduate schools licensed by the National Superintendence of Higher Education of Peru (SUNEDU) was conducted for the period from 2016-2020. Scientific publications from educational institutions were collected from Scopus and Web of Science for the study period, and researchers certified by the National Council of Science and Technology of Peru (CONCYTEC) were divided by group and level. Multiple regression analysis was performed using two models. The analysis indicated that research policies did not influence scientific production in Scopus or Web of Science in either 2019 or 2020 (Model I) but that type of management (p < 0.01), number of National Scientific, Technological, and Technological Innovation Registry (RENACYT) researchers (p < 0.001) and 2016 scientific production (p < 0.001) did influence production when these variables were incorporated into the model (Model II). However, time of licensing and management type had no effects. The number of research policies implemented by Peruvian universities and licensed graduate schools was not large. Therefore, it is recommended that project funding policies, research training, and research collaboration be strengthened and that the management capacity of research centers and institutes be increased.

Factores asociados al riesgo e intento suicida en estudiantes de medicina de una universidad privada de Lima / Factors associated to suicidal attempt among medical students of a private university in Lima

Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de vida de la conducta suicida y los factores asociados al riesgo e intento suicida en estudiantes del primer año de medicina de una universidad privada de Lima. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal. Muestra no probabilística, censal, consideró los 134 (98,5% de la totalidad) estudiantes del primer año de medicina de la Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener (Lima, Perú) que aceptaron participar previa firma del consentimiento informado. Se utilizaron instrumentos validados en el ámbito latinoamericano. Las asociaciones se buscaron con el análisis bivariado (p<0,05). Resultados: La prevalencia de vida del pensamiento suicida, deseos de morir e intento suicida en la muestra estudiada fue 34,3%, 22,4% y 19,4% respectivamente, siendo el riesgo suicida de 32,1%. El análisis bivariado demostró la asociación estadísticamente significativa del riesgo suicida principalmente con la disfunción familiar grave (p<0,001), probable depresión (p<0,001) y probable ansiedad (p=0,001), por otro lado, el intento suicida se asoció significativamente con probables depresión (p<0,05) y ansiedad (p<0,05); pensamiento homicida (p<0,001), riesgo de violencia (p=0,005), disfunción familiar grave y sospecha de problemas con el alcohol (p<0.05). Conclusiones: La población de estudiantes del primer año de medicina de la Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener (Lima, Perú) constituye un grupo de riesgo respecto a la conducta suicida, la cual, además, se asocia a otros problemas de salud mental.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidal attempts among first year medical students of a private university in Lima. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 134 (98.5% of the total number of students) first year medical students of Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener (Lima, Perú) who consented to participate in the study. A bivariate analysis was carried-out (p<0.05). Results: the prevalence of life time suicidal attempt, wish to die and suicidal attempt was 34.3%, 22.4% and 19.4%. The suicidal risk was 32.1%. Bivariate analysis identified severe family dysfunctionality (p<0.001); probable depression (p<0.001), on the other hand the suicidal attempt was associated with probable depression (p<0.05), anxiety (p<0.05), homicidal thinking (p<0.001), violence risk (p=0.005), severe family dysfunctionality and alcohol drinking suspicion (p<0.05). Conclusions: First year medical students at Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener (Lima, Perú) are at risk of suicidal attempts, which is associated to other mental health problems.