Prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in eight high-altitude cities in Peru during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a retrospective, cross-sectional study

Food insecurity and sociodemographic factors in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective

To understand the association of food insecurity with sociodemographic factors in a sample population in Latin America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in 10 countries in Latin America using an online survey through various digital platforms from October 14, 2020 to February 15, 2021. Statistical analysis of data was performed by applying descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results

Of a total of 6 357 surveys, 58.2% of respondents experienced food security, 29.3% were slightly food insecure, 9.2% were moderately food insecure, and 3.3% were severely food insecure. Concerning the association food insecurity and sociodemographic variables, there is a significant association in the variables studied, including area of residence, education level, occupation, number of persons in the household, household with children younger than 10 years of age, and socioeconomic level.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that sociodemographic factors associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America were rural residence; complete and incomplete basic and secondary schooling; occupation (homemaker, unemployed, and self-employed); low, medium-low, and medium socioeconomic level; household with more than four persons; and household with children younger than 10 years of age.

Socio-demographic, migratory and health-related determinants of food insecurity among Venezuelan migrants in Peru

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the factors associated with food insecurity (FI) among Venezuelan migrants residing in Peru. Secondarily, to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study based on secondary data analysis of the 2022 Venezuelan Population Residing in Peru Survey (ENPOVE-2022, from the Spanish acronym) was conducted. FI was measured with the FIES, whose properties were tested using the Rasch model. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to estimate relative prevalence ratios with their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals.

SETTING

This survey was conducted in February and March 2022 in the eight cities most populated by Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Peru.

PARTICIPANTS

Venezuelan migrants and refugees over the age of 18 years living in Peru.

RESULTS

A total of 7727 participants were included. Rasch reliability was adequate (0·73). The prevalence of mild, moderate and severe FI was 36·71 %, 31·14 % and 10·48 %, respectively. Being aged 25-34 and 35-44 years, unemployed, uninsured, having no formal education or secondary, illegal status, living in a dwelling with 2-4 and more than 4 people, presenting one or more than one chronic disease, residing in Peru for 0-6 months and perceived discrimination were associated with a higher probability of moderate FI. Furthermore, having secondary education, being unemployed, uninsured, never married, illegal, residing in Tumbes, presenting one or more than one chronic disease and perceived discrimination were significantly associated with severe FI.

CONCLUSION

Four out of ten Venezuelan migrants residing in Peru presented moderate to severe FI. The FIES showed adequate psychometric properties. Differences in the socio-demographic, health and migratory factors associated with FI levels were found. Inter-sectoral and multi-sectoral interventions are needed and should be focused on addressing the determinants of FI.

Food insecurity in Piura, Peru, in the context of post-earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction

Piura, located in a seismic zone, faces challenges related to food security. The aim of this study was to analyze aspects related to food insecurity in the region following the 6.1-magnitude earthquake that occurred in 2021, within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A secondary analysis was performed in 177 people exposed to the earthquake in Piura. Food insecurity was assessed with the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Its association with insomnia, resilience, anxiety/depressive symptoms, and general variables were determined using generalized linear models.

Results

Food insecurity was observed in 31.1% (95% CI: 24.3-38.4) of participants. This prevalence was higher in people with mild (PR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.12-2.70) and moderate (PR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.09-2.22) anxiety symptoms, severe depressive symptoms (PR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.24-6.03), and previous exposure to the El Niño Phenomenon (PR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.06-2.81). An income higher than 5000 Peruvian soles (approximately 1300 US dollars) was associated with a lower prevalence of food insecurity (PR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13-0.40).

Conclusions

Overall, three out of 10 individuals experienced food insecurity after the 2021 earthquake in Piura. Food insecurity may be aggravated by mental disorders, previous exposure to the El Niño phenomenon, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our study contributes to the field by exploring a range of variables related to food insecurity in a unique context: post-earthquake and during the COVID-19 health emergency in Peru. These findings enhance our understanding of food insecurity at the regional level and highlight the need for preventive food security programs in seismic events.

Post-Traumatic Stress Associated with Telework-Related Job Limitation in Latin America

During the pandemic, there has been evidence of work limitations during telework, which are believed to cause mental health problems. Our objective was to assess the association between perceived work limitations during telework and posttraumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Latin America in 2020. Exposure was measured by self-reporting using a self-perception questionnaire; the SPRINT-E questionnaire was used for outcome measurements. Generalized linear models were applied. Of 1329 participants, 15.2% (n = 202) had posttraumatic stress. In a multivariate analysis, the highest frequency of posttraumatic stress was found among those with moderate depression or more (PR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.03-1.61), moderate or more anxiety (PR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.61-3.41), and moderate or more stress (PR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.46-4.12). In conclusion, there is an association between perceived work limitations during telework and posttraumatic stress in Latin American workers. For this reason, it is recommended that occupational physicians, companies, and institutions assess the frequency of posttraumatic stress and monitor the mental health of workers.

Depression and opinion of dental students regarding the hybrid learning model during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The global spread of COVID-19 forced schools at all educational levels to close, which was repeated in more than 60 countries. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of dental students world wide. This study hypothesizes that the prevalence of depression in dental students from El Salvador is higher than that reported in studies from Europe, Asia, and North America.

METHODS

This study was an online cross-sectional survey performed at the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Salvador. The PHQ-9 questionnaire was applied to know the level of depression of the students, and a questionnaire focused on learning the opinion of the students on the hybrid teaching model adopted. Approximately 450 students participated in both questionnaires.

RESULTS

Regarding the levels of depression present in the students, 14% had minimal depression, 29% had medium depression, 23% had moderate depression and, 34% had severe depression. The students had an excellent opinion regarding the hybrid learning model.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of depression in dental students in El Salvador seems to be higher than that reported in studies in non-Latin American countries. Therefore, universities must generate care plans for mental health to avoid these harmful effects on students during future contingencies.

Depression and anxiety in peruvian military personnel during the pandemic context: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, increased workload and stress could have increased mental health problems (anxiety and depression) in military personnel. However, the number of studies in military members is scarce, especially in regard to mental health. The objective of this study was determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression and anxiety in Peruvian military personnel.

METHODS

We undertook an analytical cross-sectional study. The survey was distributed face to face between November 02 and 09, 2021, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among the military personnel. We used some instruments to measure depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD-7), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), food insecurity (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, HFIAS), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaires, IPAQ-S), resilience (abbreviated CD-RISC), and fear of COVID-19 scale. The exclusion criteria included those who did not completely fill out the evaluation instruments.

RESULTS

We analyzed the data of 615 military personnel that participated in the survey. Of them, 93.7% were male and the median age was 22 years old. There was a prevalence of 29.9% and 22.0% in regard to depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. In addition, it was found that being married (PR: 0.63; 95% IC: 0.42-0.94), having a relative with mental health problems (PR: 2.16), having experienced food insecurity (PR: 1.48), insomnia (PR: 2.71), fear of COVID-19 (PR: 1.48), and a high level of resilience (PR: 0.65) were factors associated with depression. In regard to anxiety, the factors associated were working for more than 18 months since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (PR: 0.52), a high level of resilience (PR: 0.50; 95% IC: 0.33-0.77), insomnia (PR: 3.32), fear of COVID-19 (PR: 2.43).

CONCLUSION

We found a prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety of 29.9% and 22.0%, respectively. In regard to the factors that attenuate depression, we can mention being married and having resilience; and among the aggravating factors, having a relative with mental health problems, food insecurity, insomnia, and fear of COVID-19. Finally, anxiety increased through working time, insomnia, and fear of COVID-19.