Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Maternal Immunization Among Pregnant/Postpartum Women and Health Care Professionals in Peru.

INTRODUCTION: For pregnant women, vaccination with inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) is recommended. In Peru, uptake is nonetheless low. A study was conducted to identify factors affecting maternal vaccination coverage. The study's primary objectives were to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding maternal immunization among pregnant/postpartum women and health care professionals (HCPs). The secondary objective was to determine the vaccination coverage and the impact of Ministry of Health (MOH) recommendations. METHODS: An observational multicenter, cross-sectional survey study was conducted from February 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 in five cities in Peru. Two surveys were conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning maternal immunization: one among pregnant/postpartum women and one among HCPs. RESULTS: Participants were 668 pregnant/postpartum women with a mean age of 29.6 years and 219 HCPs-mostly midwives (46.6%) and obstetricians/gynecologists (44.7%). Of the pregnant/postpartum women, 66.9% knew that, in general, vaccinations are given for prevention, and 98.5% believed vaccines are important. Nonetheless, 69.6% of pregnant/postpartum women had poor or moderate knowledge of maternal vaccination. Disease knowledge of influenza (89.1%) and tetanus (87.0%) was high, while knowledge of pertussis (37.7%) was low. Women agreed/strongly agreed that they would get vaccinated with Tdap if a doctor (96.3%), midwife (88.9%), or nurse (72.0%) recommended it. Of the HCPs, 81.3% routinely recommended Tdap vaccination for pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: To enhance vaccine acceptance in pregnant women in Peru, we must improve knowledge of the diseases, MOH recommendations, and benefits of the offered vaccinations. HCPs could provide this vaccination knowledge and information along with their vaccination recommendation as the pregnant/postpartum women indicated they would take the vaccines if recommended by their HCPs. Our findings are important for the successful implementation of maternal immunization programs in Peru.

Acute Gastroenteritis Morbidity and Mortality Trends Following Universal Rotavirus Vaccination in Children in Peru: Ecological Database Study with Time-Trend Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Rotavirus (RV) infection is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children worldwide. It is responsible for around 25% of gastroenteritis (GE) cases, 33% of hospitalized GE cases, and an annual mortality rate of 113.4/100,000 in children < 5 years of age in Peru. RV infant vaccination is recommended by the World Health Organization and provides the best public health strategy to manage the disease. Universal RV vaccination was introduced in Peru in 2009. METHODS: Trends in GE ambulatory visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in children < 5 years of age are described in the pre-vaccination (2004-2008) versus post-vaccination (2010-2018) periods. Time-trend analysis was performed (using generalized linear regression models) to assess the impact of vaccination nationwide and by region after adjusting for variables. RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2011, vaccination coverage increased to over 80% in Peru. In infants < 1 year of age, GE ambulatory cases, hospitalizations, and deaths decreased in the post-vaccination period by 40.3%, 46.2%, and 55.5%, respectively (and in children < 5 years of age, by 34.4%, 41.9%, and 54.3%, respectively) compared with the pre-vaccination period. Results of the multivariate time-trend analysis also found significant decreases in the post-vaccination period of 10.7% (GE ambulatory cases), 17.2% (GE hospitalizations), and 37.3% (GE mortality) in children < 5 years of age. Data analyzed by region varied, with Costa and Sierra regions generally in line with the national findings; however, some findings were less robust for Selva due to fewer available data. CONCLUSION: After 9 years of RV vaccination in Peru, there appears to be a statistically significant positive impact of vaccination, in terms of reducing GE-related mortality, hospitalizations, and ambulatory visits in infants and young children. For policymakers to understand regional differences and future vaccination needs, continued improvement in surveillance is needed.

Carga económica de la varicela en niños en Perú, entre 2011 y 2016 / Economic Burden of Varicella in Children in Peru from 2011 to 2016

Objetivo: Describir las complicaciones más frecuentes y la carga económica asociada con la varicela en el Perú. Material y métodos: Estudio multicéntrico de revisión de historias clínicas de pacientes de 1 a 14 años con diagnóstico de varicela entre 2011 y 2016. El uso de recursos de atención médica (URAM) asociados con la varicela, los costos unitarios y la pérdida de trabajo se utilizaron para estimar los costos directos e indirectos, presentados en USD ($). Los datos de costos y URAM se combinaron con estimaciones de carga de enfermedad para calcular el costo total anual de la varicela en el Perú. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 179 niños con varicela (101 ambulatorios, 78 hospitalizados). Entre los pacientes ambulatorios, el 5,9 % presentó una o más complicaciones, en comparación con 96,2 % de pacientes hospitalizados. El URAM incluyó el uso de medicamentos de venta libre (72,3 % frente a 89,7 % de pacientes ambulatorios y hospitalizados, respectivamente), medicamentos con receta (30,7 % frente a 94,9 %) y análisis y procedimientos (0,0 % frente a 80,8 %). Los costos directos e indirectos por caso ambulatorio fueron $36 y $62 respectivamente y por caso hospitalizado fueron $548 y $222. El costo anual total asociado con la varicela se estimó en $13 907 146. Conclusión: La varicela está asociada con complicaciones clínicas importantes y elevado URAM en Perú, lo que respalda la necesidad de implementación de un plan de vacunación universal. (AU)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and economic burden associated with varicella in Peru. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review study of patients aged 1-14 years with a varicella diagnosis between 2011 and 2016. Healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with varicella, unit costs, and work loss were used to estimate direct and indirect costs, presented in USD ($). The cost and HCRU data was combined with estimates of varicella disease burden to estimate the overall annual costs of management of varicella in Peru. Results: A total of 179 children with varicella (101 outpatients, 78 inpatients) were included. Among outpatients, 5.9% experienced ≥1 complication, compared with 96.2% of inpatients. HCRU estimates included use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications (72.3% vs. 89.7% of outpatient and inpatients, respectively), prescription medications (30.7% vs. 94.9%), tests/procedures (0.0% vs. 80.8%). Among outpatients, direct and indirect costs per case were $36 and $62, respectively; among inpatients, respective costs were $548 and $222. The total annual cost associated with varicella was estimated at $ 13 907 146. Conclusion: Varicella is associated with substantial clinical complications and high HCRU in Peru, supporting the need for implementation of a routine childhood varicella vaccination plan. (AU)

Possible vertical transmission of Bartonella bacilliformis in Peru.

A 22-day-old male was admitted with a 2-day history of irritability, dyspnea, jaundice, fever, and gastrointestinal bleeding. A thin blood smear was performed, which showed the presence of intraerythrocyte bacteria identified as Bartonella bacilliformis, and subsequently, the child was diagnosed with Carrion's disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by specific polymerase chain reaction. The child was born in a non-endemic B. bacilliformis area and had not traveled to such an area before hospitalization. However, the mother was from an endemic B. bacilliformis area, and posterior physical examination showed the presence of a wart compatible with B. bacilliformis in semi-immune subjects. These data support vertical transmission of B. bacilliformis.