Assessment of Obsessive Thoughts About COVID-19 in 7 Latin American Countries: Structure and Measurement Invariance of the Obsession With COVID-19 Scale.

The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of the Obsession with COVID-19 Scale (OCS) among seven Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Although the OCS has been used in several countries and languages, there is a need for approaches that better integrate the cross-cultural equivalence of the scale. A total of 3185 people participated in the study. The results indicated the presence of a unidimensional structure and good reliability indices for the OCS in each country. The alignment method indicated that the OCS is an invariant measure of COVID-19 obsession among the populations of seven Latin American countries. The findings based on IRT analysis indicated that all OCS items had adequate discrimination and difficulty parameters. The findings contribute to the understanding of the internal structure of the scale in different countries at the same time, something that has been pending evaluation.

Variations in the Prevalence of Childhood Anemia by Ethnicity Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru.

We aimed to determine the variations in the prevalence of childhood anemia according to the ethnic group before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. Secondary analysis of the Demographic and Family Health Survey during 2016-2021. The outcome variable was anemia, and the exposure variable was maternal ethnicity. Also, we included sociodemographic and clinical confounding variables. We constructed generalized linear models of the Poisson family with a logarithmic link function. We evaluated 85,905 records; 30.34% had anemia, 50.83% were mestizo, 25.98% were Quechua, and 2% were Aymara. Compared with mestizos, Quechua children (PR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07-1.15; p < 0.001), Aymara (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.27-1 .44; p < 0.001), natives of the Amazon (PR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.12-1.28; p < 0.001) and those who belonged to other indigenous peoples (PR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.05-1.57; p = 0.013) had a higher prevalence of childhood anemia. On the contrary, compared to mestizos, white children had a lower prevalence of anemia (PR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.89-0.99; p = 0.019). During the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to mestizos, only Quechua (PR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.08-1.23; p < 0.001) and Aymara (PR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.23-1.55; p < 0.001) had a higher prevalence of childhood anemia. Except for Afro-descendants, children from 6 to 59 months of age who belong to an ethnic minority had a higher probability of having childhood anemia than mestizos. However, only Quechua and Aymara children had higher odds of anemia during the COVID-19 pandemic than mestizos.

Modelling lung diffusion-perfusion limitation in mechanically ventilated SARS-CoV-2 patients.

This is the first study to describe the daytime evolution of respiratory parameters in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients. The data base refers to patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Arequipa Hospital (Peru, 2335 m) in 2021. In both survivors (S) and non-survivors (NS) patients, a remarkable decrease in respiratory compliance was observed, revealing a proportional decrease in inflatable alveolar units. The S and NS patients were all hyperventilated and their SatO2 was maintained at >90%. However, while S remained normocapnic, NS developed progressive hypercapnia. We compared the efficiency of O2 uptake and CO2 removal in the air blood barrier relying on a model allowing to partition between diffusion and perfusion limitations to gas exchange. The decrease in O2 uptake was interpreted as diffusion limitation, while the impairment in CO2 removal was modelled by progressive perfusion limitation. The latter correlated with the increase in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and plateau pressure (Pplat), leading to capillary compression, increased blood velocity, and considerable shortening of the air-blood contact time.

Network analysis of pandemic fatigue symptoms in samples from five South American countries.

BACKGROUND: Pandemic fatigue generates low motivation or the ability to comply with protective behaviors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. AIMS: This study aimed to analyze the symptoms of pandemic fatigue through network analysis in individuals from five South American countries. METHOD: A total of 1,444 individuals from Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay participated and were evaluated using the Pandemic Fatigue Scale. The networks were estimated using the ggmModSelect estimation method and a polychoric correlation matrix was used. Stability assessment of the five networks was performed using the nonparametric resampling method based on the case bootstrap type. For the estimation of network centrality, a metric based on node strength was used, whereas network comparison was performed using a permutation-based approach. RESULTS: The results showed that the relationships between pandemic fatigue symptoms were strongest in the demotivation dimension. Variability in the centrality of pandemic fatigue symptoms was observed among participating countries. Finally, symptom networks were invariant and almost identical across participating countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to provide information on how pandemic fatigue symptoms were related during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pandemic Grief and Suicidal Ideation in Latin American Countries: A Network Analysis.

This study aimed to characterize the network structure of pandemic grief symptoms and suicidal ideation in 2174 people from eight Latin American countries. Pandemic grief and suicidal ideation were measured using the Pandemic Grief Scale and a single item, respectively. Network analysis provides an in-depth characterization of symptom-symptom interactions within mental disorders. The results indicated that, "desire to die," "apathy" and "absence of sense of life" are the most central symptoms in a pandemic grief symptom network; therefore, these symptoms could be focal elements for preventive and treatment efforts. Suicidal ideation, the wish to die, and the absence of meaning in life had the strongest relationship. In general, the network structure did not differ among the participating countries. It identifies specific symptoms within the network that may increase the likelihood of their co-occurrence and is useful at the therapeutic level.

Mortality from COVID-19 in Amazonian and Andean original indigenous populations of Peru.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mortality rates from COVID-19 among indigenous populations of the Amazon and Andean regions of Peru during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. METHODS: Secondary analysis of 33,567 data from the COVID-19 Notification System of the National Epidemiology Center, Prevention and Control of Diseases (CDC-Peru), from the years 2020-2022. The variables were age, sex, belonging to the Andean or Amazonian ethnic group, number and type of symptoms and risk conditions, abnormal findings in chest X-rays, year of data collection for hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Poisson family generalized linear regression models with logarithmic linkage and robust variance were used to establish differences in mortality between ethnic groups. Crude and adjusted risk ratio (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: 33,567 participants with an average age of 33.6 years were included, 44.4 % were men and 70.2 % belonged to the Amazonian ethnic group. Most of those affected by COVID-19 presented 2 symptoms (38.8 %), 4.8 % presented some risk condition, 1451 (4.3 %) were hospitalized, and 433 (1.3 %) died. The adjusted analysis showed that the Andean group, compared to the Amazonian, tended to have a higher probability of death, and this association was statistically significant, RR =7.6, 95 % CI (5.5-10.5). CONCLUSIONS: Patients from Andean indigenous communities had an almost 8 times higher risk of death from COVID-19.

Relationship Between Fear of Monkeypox and Intention to be Vaccinated Against Monkeypox in a Peruvian Sample. The Mediating Role of Conspiracy Beliefs About Monkeypox.

The present study evaluated the predictive capacity of fear of Monkeypox (MPX) on the intention to be vaccinated against MPX and the influence of conspiracy beliefs as a mediating variable in this relationship in 516 Peruvian sample with an average age of 27.10 years participated. Monkeypox Fear Scale, MPX Conspiracy Beliefs Scale and a single item of intention to be vaccinated against MPX were used. Statistical analyses have included estimation of descriptive statistics for all variables in the model tested and Structural Equation Modeling to predict intention to be vaccinated against monkeypox. It has been found that fear has a positive impact on conspiracy beliefs about MPX and intention to be vaccinated against MPX. Finally, conspiracy beliefs are negatively related to intention to be vaccinated. As for indirect effects, both are statistically significant. The model explains 11.4% of the variance in beliefs and 19.1% in intention to be vaccinated. It is concluded that fear of MPX played an important role, both directly and indirectly, in the intention to be vaccinated against MPX, having conspiratorial beliefs about MPX as a mediating variable. The results have important implications for public health practices aimed at combating doubts about MPX vaccination.

Impact of COVID-19 on quality of life in Peruvian older adults: construct validity, reliability and invariance of the COV19-Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QoL) measurement.

The aim of the present study was to translate into Spanish and evaluate the psychometric evidence of the Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QoL) applied to a sample of Peruvian older adults (N = 298; 58.1% women, 41.9% men, mean age 65.34 years [SD = 11.33]). The study used techniques from the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT). The findings confirmed the single factor structure of the COV19-QoL, high internal consistency reliability, measurement invariance by gender, and all items demonstrated adequate discrimination and difficulty indices. In this sense, the items allow adequate discrimination between low, medium and high levels of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life. In addition, a greater perceived impact of the pandemic on quality of life is necessary to answer the higher response options of the COV19-QoL. In conclusion, the COV19-QoL is a valid measurement scale of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of Peruvian older adults.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID-|19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. METHODS: A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. RESULTS: The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. CONCLUSION: The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.

Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19, Conspiracy Beliefs About Vaccines and Intention to Vaccinate Against COVID-19: A Cross-National Indirect Effect Model in 13 Latin American Countries.

The present study explored the predictive capacity of fear of COVID-19 on the intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the influence in this relationship of conspiracy beliefs as a possible mediating psychological variable, in 13 Latin American countries. A total of 5779 people recruited through non-probabilistic convenience sampling participated. To collect information, we used the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Vaccine conspiracy beliefs Scale-COVID-19 and a single item of intention to vaccinate. A full a priori Structural Equation Model was used; whereas, cross-country invariance was performed from increasingly restricted structural models. The results indicated that, fear of COVID-19 positively predicts intention to vaccinate and the presence of conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines. The latter negatively predicted intention to vaccinate against COVID-19. Besides, conspiracy beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines had an indirect effect on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 in the 13 countries assessed. Finally, the cross-national similarities of the mediational model among the 13 participating countries are strongly supported. The study is the first to test a cross-national mediational model across variables in a large number of Latin American countries. However, further studies with other countries in other regions of the world are needed.

The Monkeypox Fear Scale: development and initial validation in a Peruvian sample.

BACKGROUND: Fear is one of the basic emotions generated during periods of infectious diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and validate a scale that assesses monkeypox fear, the Monkeypox Fear Scale (MFS). METHODS: A total of 451 Peruvians participated (61% women and 39% men), with a mean age of 28.31 years (SD = 9.72). based on procedures from classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT). Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT) procedures were used. RESULTS: The results showed that MFS has a two-factor structure related to emotional and physiological fear factors (χ2 = 41.87; df = 12; p < .001; CFI = .99; TLI = .99; RMSEA = .074 [IC90% .051-.100]). In addition, the physiological and emotional factors showed good reliability. Measurement invariance analysis showed that the factor structure of the MFS is strictly invariant between male and female groups. Finally, the discrimination and difficulty parameters of the items show adequacy. In addition, the scale seems to be more accurate in measuring high levels of fear of monkeypox. CONCLUSION: The MFS has adequate psychometric evidence to assess fear of monkeypox in the Peruvian population. These findings may guide future studies related to the consequences of monkeypox on mental health.

Frequency of Correct Mask Use Among Pedestrians in High-Flow Indoor Public Spaces: A Multicenter Analysis in the First and Second Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to describe the variation in the frequency of correct mask use among pedestrians in the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in high-flow indoor public spaces from different geographic and social settings in Peru. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional exploratory study among pedestrians in Lima (the capital city) and other coastal and highland cities in Peru. Pedestrians were directly observed by trained medical students in 2 high-flow indoor areas at different times in November 2020 (first wave) and October 2021 (second wave). Primary outcomes included the frequencies of mask use and correct use. We applied multinomial logistic models and estimated crude and adjusted relative prevalence ratios for sex, age, obesity, and location. Additionally, we used binomial generalized linear models to estimate prevalence ratios in crude and adjusted models. RESULTS: We included 1996 participants. The frequency of mask use was similar in both years: 96.9% in 2020 and 95.5% in 2021. However, the frequency of correct mask use significantly decreased from 81.9% (95% CI, 79.4-84.3) in 2020 to 60.3% (95% CI, 57.2-67.3) in 2021. In 2020, we observed an increase in the probability of misuse in the cities of Lima (aRP: 1.42; P = .021) and Chiclayo (aPR: 1.62, P = .001), whereas, in 2021, we noted an increase in the probability of misuse in the cities of Lima (aRP: 1.72; P < .001) and Piura (aPR: 1.44; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The correct mask use decreased during the second wave, although no significant overall variations were observed in mask use in pedestrians between both periods. Also, we found regional differences in correct mask use in both periods.

Workplace Violence Against Physicians Treating COVID-19 Patients in Peru: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge to health systems that has revealed shortcomings and increased unmet demands. Such situations might exacerbate workplace violence (WPV) against physicians, as has been reported in several parts of the world. METHODS: To identify the frequency and characteristics of WPV suffered by physicians attending COVID-19 patients in Peru, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with an online survey of 200 physicians. RESULTS: Of the survey respondents, 84.5% had suffered some type of WPV; 97.6% of these suffered nonphysical violence. Suffering more than one incident of violence was reported by 75.7% of respondents. The primary aggressor was a patient's family member or caregiver. Violence occurred most frequently in critical areas inside the health service facility, such as COVID-19 triage, tents, and hospital units, although it also occurred during teleconsultations. Multiple shortcomings of the health services were perceived as the main trigger of violence. Being a female physician (odds ratio [OR] = 2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-5.83) and working in a COVID-19 ICU (OR = 5.84, 95% CI = 1.60-21.28) were the main factors associated with WPV. CONCLUSION: Violence against physicians attending COVID-19 patients in Peru is common. The perceived factors that contribute most to violence are linked to deficiencies in health services.

Alopecia and severity of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Peru.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COVID-19 severity and androgenic alopecia in patients hospitalized in the Surgery Service of Honorio Delgado Espinoza Hospital in Arequipa, Peru. A cross-sectional study was performed in male patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Alopecia, clinical characteristics, treatment, and evolution were collected. In all, 98 patients were included; median age was 55 years old (range 18-89), 32.7% with comorbidities, and 45.9% with androgenic alopecia. The severity of COVID-19 infection was moderate to severe in 13.2% of patients without alopecia, and in 88.9% of patients with alopecia (p>0.001). In the logistic regression model analysis, patients with alopecia had a higher risk of presenting moderate to severe symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR: 80.2; 95% CI 16.2-397.7). In conclusion, the severity of infection was statistically significant in patients over 60 years old and those with alopecia.

[Childhood anemia in populations residing at different geographical altitudes of Arequipa, Peru: A descriptive and retrospective study]. / Anemia infantil en poblaciones que residen a diferentes altitudes geográficas de Arequipa, Perú: estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the characteristics of anemia in children living at different geographical altitude in the Arequipa Region of Peru. METHODS: We did a descriptive and retrospective study. The population consisted of 106 499 children under five years of age living in the Arequipa Region at different geographical altitude and receiving care by the Ministry of Health of Arequipa. Of these, 32 454 had anemia (30.5%). Socio-demographic data related to age, province, and beneficiary of the Comprehensive Health System program, home visits, and growth and development were obtained, in addition to data regarding anemia such as frequency, hemoglobin, and severity. RESULTS: The results were categorized by the geographical altitude of origin of children under 0 to 59 months of age and hemoglobin levels according to geographical altitude. Of the sample studied, the frequency of anemia at different geographical altitudes of Arequipa in children under five for the 2017 to 2019 period was: 18.7% at 0 to 999 meters above sea level; 29.6% at 1000 to 1999 meters; 31.6% at 2000 to 2999 meters; 42.9% at 3000 to 3999 meters; and 54.4% at 4000 to 4999 meters. There was a higher prevalence of anemia when the geographic altitude correction factor was used. CONCLUSIONS: A significant statistical relationship (p < 0.05) was observed between the corrected hemoglobin according to the World Health Organization parameters and the altitude at which children with anemia live: the higher the geographical altitude, the greater the anemia in children. Supplementation programs should be included during home visits and at the time of evaluation of children's growth and development.

OBJETIVO: Identificar si existe una relación estadística entre el diagnóstico de anemia en niños y vivir a distintas altitudes geográficas de la Región Arequipa, Perú. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo. La población estuvo constituida por 106 499 niños y niñas menores de cinco años que viven en la Región Arequipa a distintas altitudes geográficas, de los cuales presentaron anemia 32 454 que corresponde al 30,5%, atendidos por el Ministerio de Salud de Arequipa. Se tomaron datos sociodemográficos relacionados con edad, provincia, beneficiario del programa de Sistema Integral de Salud (SIS), de visitas domiciliarias, de Control de Crecimiento y Desarrollo (CRED); además de datos vinculados a la anemia como frecuencia, hemoglobina y severidad. RESULTADOS: Los resultados fueron categorizados según la altitud geográfica de procedencia de los niños y niñas de 0 a 59 meses de edad y los niveles de hemoglobina según la altitud geográfica. De la muestra estudiada, la frecuencia de anemia a diferentes altitudes geográficas de Arequipa en niños menores de cinco años para el período de 2017 a 2019 fue de 18,7% entre 0 y 999 metros sobre el nivel del mar; 29,6% entre 1000 y 1999 metros; 31,6% entre 2000 y 2999 metros; 42,9% entre 3000 y 3999 metros, y 54,4% entre 4000 y 4999 metros sobre el nivel del mar. Hubo mayor prevalencia de anemia cuando se utilizó el factor de corrección por altitud geográfica. CONCLUSIONES: Se observó una relación estadística significativa (p < 0,05) entre la hemoglobina corregida según parámetros de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y la altitud en la que viven los niños con anemia, es decir, a mayor altitud geográfica mayor anemia en niños. Los programas de suplementación deben tener correspondencia con las visitas domiciliarias y la evaluación del crecimiento y desarrollo de los niños.

Insuficientes políticas universitarias sobre integridad científica y su relación con la denegación de licenciamiento institucional

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la relación existente entre las políticas institucionales sobre integridad científica y la obtención de licenciamiento en universidades peruanas. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo de observación documental y análisis de la normativa peruana sobre evaluación de la calidad universitaria, licenciamiento de universidades, normativa de integridad científica y resoluciones de denegación de licencias de funcionamiento de universidades. Se encontró que, de las 48 universidades y 2 escuelas de postgrado que no demostraron en su evaluación el cumplimiento de las Condiciones Básicas de Calidad, bajo el Modelo de Licenciamiento Institucional, 32 universidades y 1 escuela de postgrado (66%) han sido observadas por presentar deficiencias en aspectos relacionados con políticas de integridad científica requisitas. El estudio concluye en que la política universitaria de integridad científica es un criterio importante para recibir el Licenciamiento Institucional en el sistema universitario peruano.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between institutional policies on scientific integrity and licensing of Peruvian universities. It is a descriptive study analyzing Peruvian regulations on university quality assessment, university licensing (accreditation), scientific integrity regulations and the denial of university operating licenses. It was found that, of the 48 universities and 2 graduate schools that did not meet the Basic Quality Conditions under the Peruvian Institutional Licensing Model, 32 universities and 1 graduate school (66%) had deficiencies related to required scientific integrity policies. The study concludes that universities' scientific integrity policies are an important criterion for receiving Institutional Licensing in the Peruvian university system.

Protección de datos de salud: el reto de la armonización legislativa en América Latina / Health data protection: the challenge of legislative harmonization in Latin America

RESUMEN La protección de datos personales en los sistemas de salud requiere de medidas y procedimientos especiales para asegurar que la privacidad de la información no sea vulnerada. Los avances en la tecnología digital y el acceso a la transmisión en tiempo real de datos personales, familiares, clínicos y de laboratorio de los pacientes y/o sujetos de estudio, puede comprometer la protección de esta información. La privacidad de los datos personales en salud en tiempos de pandemia ha significado un reto mayor, es por ello que se presenta esta contribución especial que tiene por objetivo, identificar los resguardos éticos y normativos en materia de protección de datos, para garantizar el pleno respeto de los derechos de privacidad de las personas y la confidencialidad de sus datos, bajo el contexto de la atención en salud, sobre todo en condiciones de crisis sanitaria; como la vivida durante la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. Se propone además una armonización legislativa en América Latina, sobre la privacidad y la protección de datos personales.

ABSTRACT The protection of personal data in health systems requires special measures and procedures to ensure that the privacy of the information is not violated. Advances in digital technology and access to real-time transmission of personal, family, clinical, and laboratory data of patients and/or study subjects may compromise the protection of this information. The privacy of personal data in health in times of pandemic has meant a greater challenge, that is why this unique contribution is presented, whose objective is to identify the ethical and regulatory safeguards in terms of data protection to guarantee full respect for the privacy rights of people and the confidentiality of their data, under the context of health care, especially in conditions of health crisis, such as the one experienced during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. It also proposes a legislative harmonization in Latin America, on privacy and protection of personal data.

Impact of COVID-19 on quality of life in Peruvian older adults: construct validity, reliability and invariance of the COV19-Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QoL) measurement

Abstract The aim of the present study was to translate into Spanish and evaluate the psychometric evidence of the Impact on Quality of Life (COV19-QoL) applied to a sample of Peruvian older adults ( N = 298; 58.1% women, 41.9% men, mean age 65.34 years [SD = 11.33]). The study used techniques from the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT). The findings confirmed the single factor structure of the COV19-QoL, high internal consistency reliability, measurement invariance by gender, and all items demonstrated adequate discrimination and difficulty indices. In this sense, the items allow adequate discrimination between low, medium and high levels of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on quality of life. In addition, a greater perceived impact of the pandemic on quality of life is necessary to answer the higher response options of the COV19-QoL. In conclusion, the COV19-QoL is a valid measurement scale of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of Peruvian older adults.

Cross-cultural invariance of the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Assessment Scorecard to measure the perception of government actions against COVID-19 in Latin America

Abstract Objectives The present study aimed to evaluate the measurement invariance of a general measure of the perception of governmental responses to COVID--19 (COVID-SCORE-10) in the general population of 13 Latin American countries. Methods A total of 5780 individuals from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries selected by non-probabilistic snowball sampling participated. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed and the alignment method was used to evaluate invariance. Additionally, a graded response model was used for the assessment of item characteristics. Results The results indicate that there is approximate measurement invariance of the COVID-SCORE-10 among the participating countries. Furthermore, IRT results suggest that the COVID-SCORE-10 measures with good psychometric ability a broad spectrum of the construct assessed, especially around average levels. Comparison of COVID-SCORE-10 scores indicated that participants from Cuba, Uruguay and El Salvador had the most positive perceptions of government actions to address the pandemic. Thus, the underlying construct of perception of government actions was equivalent in all countries. Conclusion The results show the importance of initially establishing the fundamental measurement properties and MI before inferring the cross-cultural universality of the construct to be measured.