Determinants of adolescent pregnancy in indigenous communities from the Peruvian central jungle: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy carries a high risk of severe health issues for both the mother and the newborn. Worldwide, 21 million adolescents give birth every year, with high percentages in Latin America. Most of the risk factors are met in indigenous communities, which is an underrepresented and poorly studied population. We aimed to assess the determinants of adolescent pregnancy in indigenous communities from the Peruvian central jungle. METHODS: Through a case-control study, female adolescents aged 13 to 19 years old from seven indigenous communities of the Peruvian central jungle were interviewed. Adolescents with (cases) and with no (controls) pregnancy history, such as current pregnancy, children and abortion, fulfilled our eligible criteria. Our instrument explored: sociodemographic, adolescent and family characteristics, as well as perceptions of adolescent pregnancy. We performed a penalized maximum likelihood logistic regression analysis to obtain Odds Ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: We enrolled 34 cases and 107 controls. Overall, 53.9% were 15 to 19 years old. We found a significant association of being 15-19 years old (OR = 6.88, 95% CI 2.38-19.86, p < 0.0001) and an elementary school level of instruction (OR = 5.59, 95% CI 1.95-16.06, p = 0.001) with the risk of adolescent pregnancy. A marginal statistical significance between having five to six siblings and adolescent pregnancy was also reported (OR = 2.70, 95% CI 0.85-8.61, p = 0.094). Furthermore, adolescents with sexual and reproductive health communication with parents had a lower risk of adolescent pregnancy (OR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06-0.47, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that public health and educational efforts should be age-specific focused within indigenous communities of the Peruvian central jungle, encouraging parents to talk about sexual and reproductive health topics with adolescents.

Worldwide, 21 million adolescents give birth every year, with high percentages in Latin America and rural areas. Indigenous communities are mainly located in rural areas and are exposed to multiple risk factors of adolescent pregnancy. We aimed to find the factors that have an influence on adolescent pregnancy in indigenous communities from the Peruvian central jungle. We conducted a case­control study identifying female indigenous adolescents from the Peruvian central jungle with or without pregnancy history. Our survey explored sociodemographic, adolescent and family characteristics, as well as perceptions of adolescent pregnancy. Being 15 to 19 years old, having an elementary educational level, and five to six siblings increased the risk of adolescent pregnancy. On the other hand, adolescents with sexual and reproductive health communication with parents had a lower risk of adolescent pregnancy. Furthermore, eight out of ten adolescents opposed to sexual intercourse at an early age. Public health and educational efforts should be age-specific focused within indigenous communities of the Peruvian central jungle, encouraging parents to talk about sexual and reproductive health with adolescents.

Ansiedad y calidad de sueño en estudiantes de medicina: ¿Existe una relación con la anemia? / Anxiety and poor sleep quality in medical students. Is there a relationship with anemia?

Introducción: Los estudiantes de medicina suelen ser vulnerables a sufrir trastornos de salud mental como la ansiedad y una mala calidad de sueño. Ambos pueden repercutir negativamente en su conducta alimentaria, lo cual podría generar problemas de anemia a mediano o largo plazo durante su carrera. Objetivo: Conocer la prevalencia de ansiedad y mala calidad de sueño y evaluar la asociación con la presencia de anemia en estudiantes de medicina de una universidad pública peruana. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico realizado en 80 estudiantes de medicina del primer al cuarto año. Usamos el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck (BAI) y el Índice de Calidad de Sueño de Pittsburgh (ICSP) para evaluar síntomas de ansiedad y la calidad de sueño, respectivamente. Incluimos también data sociodemográfica, académica y conductual. Así mismo, determinamos la presencia de anemia a través de la obtención de hemoglobina, siguiendo los procedimientos estipulados por el Ministerio de Salud. Resultados: Encontramos que el porcentaje de ansiedad y mala calidad de sueño fueron de 62,5 por ciento y 63,7 por ciento, respectivamente. Ser mujer (RPa: 1,39; 95 por ciento CI: 1,01-1,91) y tener anemia moderada (RPa: 1,31; CI 95 por ciento: 1,06-1,64) se asociaron a tener ansiedad. Por su parte, los factores asociados a una mala calidad de sueño fueron estar en Clínicas (RPa: 1,54; CI 95 por ciento: 1,17-2,02) y tener anemia moderada (RPa: 1,52; CI 95 por ciento: 1,09-2,11). Conclusión: La ansiedad y la calidad de sueño fueron problemas frecuentes en los estudiantes de medicina evaluados. Tener anemia moderada fue un factor asociado para ambos casos(AU)

Introduction: Medical students are often vulnerable to mental health disorders such as anxiety and poor sleep quality. Both can have a negative impact on their eating behavior, which could generate middle- and long-term anemia-related problems during their studies. Objective: To identify the prevalence of anxiety and poor sleep quality and to evaluate the association with anemia in medical students of a Peruvian public university. Material and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study in 80 medical students from the first to the fourth year. We used the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess anxiety symptoms and sleep quality, respectively. We also included sociodemographic, academic, and behavioral data. Likewise, we determined the presence of anemia by obtaining hemoglobin results, following the procedures stipulated by the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Results: We found a percentage of anxiety and poor sleep quality of 62.5 percent and 63,7 percent , respectively. To be female (RPa: 1,39; 95 percent CI: 1,01-1,91) and to have moderate anemia (PRa: 1,31; 95 percent CI: 1,06-1,64) were associated with anxiety. On the other hand, the factors associated with poor sleep quality were to be located in Clinics (PRa: 1,54, 95 percent CI: 1,17-2,02) and to have moderate anemia (PRa: 1,52, CI95 percent : 1,09-2,11). Conclusion: Anxiety and sleep quality were frequent problems in the medical students studied. Moderate anemia was an associated factor for both cases(AU)

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre tuberculosis en estudiantes de una universidad peruana / Knowledge, attitudes and practice about TV in students from a Peruvian University

Introducción: la tuberculosis es la enfermedad infecciosa más importante del ser humano por su alta incidencia mundial, constituyendo un problema de salud pública. Los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre ella han sido evaluados en estudiantes universitarios y profesionales de ciencias de la salud, pero otros han sido desatendidos. Objetivos: evaluar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre tuberculosis en estudiantes que no pertenecen a ciencias de la salud de una universidad peruana. Métodos: estudio transversal analítico, se encuestó estudiantes de la Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú usando un cuestionario estructurado. Luego se caracterizó cada una de las secciones y buscó diferencias según las características de los alumnos mediante los modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados: de 631 estudiantes, 54,7 por ciento fueron mujeres, 66,6 por ciento obtuvo puntaje bajo en la prueba de conocimientos; 47,7 por ciento señaló que el agente etiológico es un virus, 74,9 por ciento desconoce el término tuberculosis latente y solo 29,6 por ciento conoce que la medida correcta para tratarla es no dejar de tomar las pastillas. Los medios de comunicación fueron la principal fuente de información (55,0 por ciento). Predominó un puntaje alto en la evaluación de actitudes (66,7 por ciento) y prácticas (55,8 por ciento). No hubo diferencias de los conocimientos y prácticas según las características de los alumnos (p>0,05). Conclusiones: los programas de educación sanitaria deberían ser reforzados para mejorar los conocimientos de los estudiantes universitarios y de otros centros similares(AU)

Introduction: Tuberculosis is the most important infectious disease in the human being due to its high global incidence, constituting a public health concern. The knowledge, attitudes and practices about it have been evaluated in university students and health sciences professionals, but others have been neglected. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices about tuberculosis in students who do not belong to health sciences of a Peruvian university. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study that included students from the National University of Central Peru who were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Then each section was characterized and the differences were found according to the characteristics of the students and through the generalized linear models. Results: Out of 631 students, 54.7 percent were women, 66.6 percent scored low on the knowledge test; 47.7 percent reported that the etiologic agent is a virus, 74.9 percent are unaware of the term latent tuberculosis. while only 29.6 percent know that the correct measure to treat it is not to stop taking the pills. The media was the main source of information (55.0 percent). A high score was predominant in the assessment of attitudes (66.7 percent) and practices (55.8 percent). There were no differences in knowledge and practices, according to the characteristics of the students (p>0.05). Conclusions: Health education programs should be strengthened to improve the knowledge of university students and other similar centers(AU)

Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre tuberculosis en estudiantes de una universidad peruana / Knowledge, attitudes and practice about TV in students from a Peruvian University

Introducción: la tuberculosis es la enfermedad infecciosa más importante del ser humano por su alta incidencia mundial, constituyendo un problema de salud pública. Los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre ella han sido evaluados en estudiantes universitarios y profesionales de ciencias de la salud, pero otros han sido desatendidos. Objetivos: evaluar conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre tuberculosis en estudiantes que no pertenecen a ciencias de la salud de una universidad peruana. Métodos: estudio transversal analítico, se encuestó estudiantes de la Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú usando un cuestionario estructurado. Luego se caracterizó cada una de las secciones y buscó diferencias según las características de los alumnos mediante los modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados: de 631 estudiantes, 54,7 por ciento fueron mujeres, 66,6 por ciento obtuvo puntaje bajo en la prueba de conocimientos; 47,7 por ciento señaló que el agente etiológico es un virus, 74,9 por ciento desconoce el término tuberculosis latente y solo 29,6 por ciento conoce que la medida correcta para tratarla es no dejar de tomar las pastillas. Los medios de comunicación fueron la principal fuente de información (55,0 por ciento). Predominó un puntaje alto en la evaluación de actitudes (66,7 por ciento) y prácticas (55,8 por ciento). No hubo diferencias de los conocimientos y prácticas según las características de los alumnos (p>0,05). Conclusiones: los programas de educación sanitaria deberían ser reforzados para mejorar los conocimientos de los estudiantes universitarios y de otros centros similares(AU)

Introduction: Tuberculosis is the most important infectious disease in the human being due to its high global incidence, constituting a public health concern. The knowledge, attitudes and practices about it have been evaluated in university students and health sciences professionals, but others have been neglected. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and practices about tuberculosis in students who do not belong to health sciences of a Peruvian university. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study that included students from the National University of Central Peru who were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Then each section was characterized and the differences were found according to the characteristics of the students and through the generalized linear models. Results: Out of 631 students, 54.7 percent were women, 66.6 percent scored low on the knowledge test; 47.7 percent reported that the etiologic agent is a virus, 74.9 percent are unaware of the term latent tuberculosis. while only 29.6 percent know that the correct measure to treat it is not to stop taking the pills. The media was the main source of information (55.0 percent). A high score was predominant in the assessment of attitudes (66.7 percent) and practices (55.8 percent). There were no differences in knowledge and practices, according to the characteristics of the students (p>0.05). Conclusions: Health education programs should be strengthened to improve the knowledge of university students and other similar centers(AU)