Adolescents In Peru Research Articles

Trend, Associated Factors and Concordance of Obesity by Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Waist-Height Ratio in Adolescents. An Analysis of a 4-Year National Survey

Introduction: Regarding diagnosis, identifying reliable anthropometric measures to detect adolescent obesity is fundamental. However, in this age group has different definitions, either according to the body mass index (BMI), the waist circunference (WC) and the waist-height ratio (WHtR), making the measurement of this inaccurate.
 Objective: This study analyzed the prevalence, trends, and factors associated with obesity in Peruvian adolescents using data from the Demographic and Health Survey (ENDES) for 2019-2022.
 Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted on 14,330 adolescents aged 15 to 19. The response variable was obesity, defined in three different ways. General obesity was assessed using the BMI was ≥ 2 standard deviations. 2) Abdominal obesity was defined through WC, with cutoff points ≥ 80.5 cm in men and ≥ 81 cm in women. 3) The relevant indicator for obesity was the WHtR, with a cutoff point ≥ 0.5. The associated factors to be evaluated were sex, age, natural region, marital status, education level, wealth, area of residence, alcohol consumption, and physical disability.
 Results: The study found that based on BMI, WC, and WHtR respectively, approximately 12.80%, 29.72%, and 24.27% of participants were considered obese. Significant associations were found between obesity and variables such as gender, natural region, marital status, wealth index, area of residence, education level, alcohol consumption, and physical disability.
 Conclusion: This research uncovered an alarmingly prevalence occurrence of obesity among adolescents in Peru with fluctuating patterns over time, emphasizing the need to tackle the interconnected issues contributing to this health concern. These findings can help inform and guide obesity prevention and control strategies in this population.

Prevalence and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy among sexually active adolescent girls in Peru: Evidence from Demographic and Family Health Survey, 2015-2019.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy among sexually active adolescents, and identify the factors associated with this problem. A population-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using pooled data from the Demographic and Family Health Surveys of Peru, 2015-2019. A total sample of 8850 adolescent girls aged 12 to 19 years who reported a history of sexual intercourse were included. To identify factors related to adolescent pregnancy, the study employed adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The aPR were obtained from a multivariable logistic regression model. The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy among sexually active adolescents in Peru was 30.9% (95%CI: 29.4-32.4%). In the multivariable analysis; being 17-19 years (aPR: 1.48; 95%CI:1.33-1.64), being married or cohabitant (aPR: 4.01; 95%CI: 3.48-4.61) and belonging to the Quechua ethnicity group (aPR: 1.16; 95%CI: 1.07-1.25), were associated with a higher prevalence. Conversely, the following factors were associated with a lower prevalence of pregnancy: being employed (aPR: 0.81; 95%CI: 0.76-0.86), being currently studying (aPR: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.38-0.49), belonging to the second (aPR: 0.91; 95%CI: 0.85-0.97), third (aPR: 0.81; 95%CI: 0.74-0.89), fourth (aPR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.69-0.91) and fifth (aPR: 0.59; 95%CI: 0.47-0.75) wealth quintile, initiating sexual relations in middle adolescente (aPR: 0.76; 95%CI: 0.69-0.83) or late adolescence (aPR: 0.40; 95%CI: 0.35-0.46), perceiving a future pregnancy as a problem (aPR: 0.77; 95%CI: 0.72-0.83) and having knowledge of the moment in the cycle when pregnancy can occur (aPR: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.77-0.92). Approximately three out of ten adolescents who initiated a sexual life had at least one pregnancy. Age, marital status, employment, education, wealth, ethnicity, age at first intercourse, knowledge of when in the cycle she may become pregnant, and perception of future pregnancy were associated with adolescent pregnancy. To decrease the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in Peru, it is imperative to enhance national policies concerning family planning and provide comprehensive sex education targeted at adolescents.

Quantifying the childhood and adolescent overnutrition attributable to specific risk factors: The Young Lives Study in Peru.

Launching priority actions demand a comprehensive appraisal of the size effect that risk factors have on the burden of overweight and obesity. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents, with special emphasis on the role of specific risk factors. Secondary analysis of data from the younger cohort of the Young Lives Study in Peru (2002-2017). The outcomes were: overweight and obesity, defined by the World Health Organization standards; whereas the exposures included caesarean birth, physical activity levels, sodas and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, snacks consumption, and maternal body mass index (BMI). We used multilevel Poisson regression models, considering the repetitive nature of data, to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and population attributable fractions (PAFs). A total of 2052 children, mean age 1 (SD 0.4) year, and 50% girls, were enrolled at baseline. After 14 (SD 0.5) years of follow-up, the incidence of overweight and obesity were 7.9 (95% CI 7.6-8.2) and 2.2 (95% CI 2.0-2.4) per 100 person-year, respectively. Maternal BMI (IRRs 3.51; PAF 31.8%), low physical activity (IRR 1.64; PAF 27.4%), caesarean birth (IRR 1.63; PAF 11.4%), almost daily snack consumption (IRR 1.60; PAF 32.1%), and almost daily consumption of sweetened beverages (IRR 1.47; PAF 26.0%) increased the risk of developing obesity. This study provides evidence on the risk of overweight and obesity attributable to diet habits, physical activity and the obesogenic niche among children and adolescents in Peru, which may guide the implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Índice de violencia en niños, niñas y adolescentes en el Perú en tiempos de pandemia

The present research sought to determine the rate of violence in children and adolescents in Peru in times of pandemic. A non-experimental, retrospective, descriptive, quantitative, non-experimental methodology was used for this research. The sample consisted of children and adolescents of both sexes at the national level, ranging in age from 0 to 17 years. Likewise, as a means of data collection, we used the gures provided by the Statistical Portal of the Aurora National Group of the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations based on the cases attended by the Women's Emergency Centers implemented at the national level, however, However, during the mandatory social connement due to the pandemic, these centers did not operate, so that in 2020 data were obtained by the Itinerant Emergency Teams, while in 2021 and 2022 data were taken from the Women's Emergency Centers, through health centers, police stations, regular and 24x7. Likewise, the research concluded that psychological violence is the predominant type of violence and that the most affected age group is 12 to 17 years old, while, in relation to gender, women are the most affected by violence in times of pandemic

Experiences of menstruation and schooling among female adolescents in Peru: Contributions from an ecological and gender perspective

This study focuses on the relationship between menstruation and the schooling experience of female adolescents in Peru from an ecological and gender approach. Qualitative data were collected from rural and urban areas through individual interviews and participatory activities with 277 participants, including adolescents and key informants. The participants were chosen through convenience sampling in 11 schools. The results were tripartite: (1) most adolescents experience fear and shame related to menstruation because of gender meanings about the menstrual body; (2) there is bullying and aggression associated with menstruation by male peers in the school grounds; and (3) the issues of menstruation in the institutional context are not sufficiently addressed in public policy, teacher training and provision of sanitation facilities. Therefore, a critical revision of the gender norms that place female adolescents at a disadvantage in school grounds is urgent in addition to improving water and sanitation infrastructure and maintenance.

How is Adolescents’ Time Allocation Associated with their Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy? Evidence from Four Developing Countries

Adolescents’ time allocation is an important determinant of non-cognitive skills formation, but evidence from developing countries is limited. This study builds upon two previous studies using data from four developing countries. I estimate how adolescents’ time allocation determines their self-esteem and self-efficacy – two measures of non-cognitive skills – and I show how these estimates are sensitive to trade-offs across different types of activities. In every country, an additional hour of domestic work that reduces time for school or study reduces children’s self-efficacy, significant for all countries except Peru. Work is most harmful for girls in India and Vietnam, but not for boys in Ethiopia. However, domestic or economic work that shifts time away from leisure is no more or less determinative of adolescents’ self-efficacy or self-esteem in all countries analyzed. Attending school and studying outside school improve both self-efficacy and self-esteem for adolescents in Peru, but are statistically insignificant in the other three countries. Overall, these findings are mainly relevant for self-efficacy compared to self-esteem. The harmful effects of adolescents’ work are contextual, depending on the activity substituted, and the country studied.

The ARMADILLO text message intervention to improve the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of adolescents in Peru: Results of a randomized controlled trial.

The ARMADILLO Study determined whether adolescents able to access SRH information on-demand via SMS were better able to reject contraception-related myths and misconceptions as compared with adolescents receiving pushed SMS or no intervention. This trial was an unblinded, three-arm, parallel-group, individual RCT with a 1:1:1 allocation. Trial registration: ISRCTN85156148. This study was conducted in Lima, Peru among participants ages 13-17 years. Eligible participants were randomized into one of three arms: Arm 1: access to ARMADILLO's SMS information on-demand; Arm 2 access to ARMADILLO SMS information pushed to their phone; Arm 3 control (no SMS). The intervention period lasted seven weeks. At baseline, endline, and follow-up (eight weeks following endline), participants were assessed on a variety of contraception-related myths and misconceptions. An index of myths-believed was generated. The primary outcome assessed the subject-specific change in the mean score between baseline and endline. Knowledge retention from endline to follow-up was also assessed, as was a 'content exposure' outcome, which assessed change in participants' knowledge based on relevant SMS received. In total, 712 participants were randomized to the three arms: 659 completed an endline assessment and were included in the primary analysis. Arm 2 participants believed fewer myths at endline compared with control arm participants (estimated subject-specific mean difference of -3.69% [-6.17%, -1.21%], p = 0.004). There was no significant difference between participants in Arm 1 vs. the control Arm, or between participants in Arm 1 vs. Arm 2. A further decrease in myths believed between endline and follow-up (knowledge retention) was observed in all arms; however, there was no difference between arms. The content exposure analysis saw significant reductions in myths believed for Arm 1 (estimated subject-specific mean difference of -9.47% [-14.83%, -4.11%], p = .001) and Arm 2 (-5.93% [-8.57%, -3.29%], p < .001) as compared with the control arm; however Arm 1's reduced sample size (n = 28) is a severe limitation. The ARMADILLO SMS content has a significant (but small) effect on participants' contraception-related knowledge. Standalone, adolescent SRH digital health interventions may affect only modest change. Instead, digital is probably best used a complementary channel to expand the reach of existing validated SRH information and service programs.

Do high aspirations lead to better outcomes? Evidence from a longitudinal survey of adolescents in Peru

Using a novel panel survey of relatively poor urban Peruvian adolescents, we explore the link between educational aspirations and propensity to invest in the future. Aspirations comprise hope and agency. We find remarkably high educational aspirations, even among relatively poor individuals and adolescents who were exposed to negative shocks, suggesting high levels of resilience. We also find high occupational aspirations and aspirations to migrate. High-aspiration respondents were also more likely to invest in their education and avoid risky behaviors. These are associations as we do not have enough data to establish causality, although we were able to control for within-person traits. Aspirations are stable over time and positively associated with personality traits such as self-efficacy and life satisfaction, which help explain their persistence over time. Our findings complement those of other recent studies that highlight the role of personality traits in addition to cognitive skills in long-term educational, health, and socioeconomic outcomes.

An Experimental Study Evaluating the Influence of Front-of-Package Warning Labels on Adolescent's Purchase Intention of Processed Food Products.

Front-of-package warning labels (WLs) are among the public health policies adopted by some countries, mainly in Latin-America, to tackle childhood obesity; however, their impact is still under review. The aim of this study was to assess, using an experimental design, whether WLs influence purchase intention of processed foods and identification of the healthiest products among adolescents in Peru, in May 2019, just before WLs mandatory implementation. Four hundred forty-nine adolescents from two public schools were randomly assigned to an experimental group (received three different processed products with either zero, one or two WLs, informing if they were high in sugar, sodium and/or saturated fats) or a control group (received the same products but unlabeled). Participants chose which product they would buy, and which they considered to be the healthiest. No differences between groups were found neither in purchase intention (p = 0.386) nor in the identification of the healthiest product (p = 0.322). In both groups, the most-selected product was always the healthiest of the triad (>40% in purchase intention and >80% in identification of the healthiest). Front-of-package WLs did not influence purchase intention, or identification of healthier products among adolescents from public schools in Peru. Mass media and educational campaigns should accompany the WLs implementation to help achieve the policy objective.

Nutrient profile of food products exempted from the application of front-ofpackage warnings during the first stage of the Healthy Eating Law in Peru: case studyPerfil nutricional de produtos alimentícios isentos da aplicação de advertências na parte frontal da embalagem durante a primeira etapa da Lei de Alimentação Saudável no Peru: estudo de caso

RESUMENObjetivo.Identificar el perfil nutricional de productos alimentarios eximidos de presentar uno o más sellos de advertencia nutricional en el frente del envase durante la primera etapa de vigencia de la Ley 30021 de Promoción de la Alimentación Saludable para Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes de Perú.Métodos.Se recolectaron datos de 188 productos desde puntos de venta de la ciudad de Lima. La muestra por conveniencia incluyó productos que hasta el 17 de septiembre de 2021 estaban eximidos por la legislación de presentar alguna de las advertencias para el azúcar, el sodio o las grasas saturadas. Se evaluó la proporción de productos que estarían obligados a aplicar uno o más sellos de advertencia a partir de la entrada en vigencia de la segunda etapa de la legislación. Se verificó cuántos productos eximidos de la aplicación de advertencias por la legislación contienen exceso de azúcar, sodio o grasas saturadas según los criterios de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS).Resultados.El 76,1% de los productos superaba al menos uno de los umbrales para el azúcar, el sodio o las grasas saturadas vigentes a partir de septiembre de 2021. La proporción de productos eximidos de presentar advertencias por la legislación y que contienen exceso de azúcar, sodio o grasas saturadas según la OPS será 4,2, 3,4 y 2,3 veces menor, respectivamente, a partir de la segunda etapa.Conclusión.Durante la primera etapa de vigencia de la ley, 58%, 42% y 28,2% de los productos eximidos de la presentación de advertencias contenían exceso de azúcar, grasas saturadas o sodio, respectivamente, según la OPS.

ONCOPEDS: A mobile application to improve early diagnosis and timely referral in childhood cancer in a low- and middle-income country-A pilot study.

Diagnosis delay in children and adolescents with cancer is a public health problem in Peru that leads to high rates of advanced disease and mortality. We aimed to assess the implementation feasibility and potential utility of ONCOpeds®, a mobile application that provides consultations with pediatric oncologists, in reducing the latency to diagnosis (LD) and referral time (RT) among children and adolescents in Peru diagnosed with cancer. A prospective pilot study was conducted in the region of Callao between November 2017 and April 2018. Primary and secondary care providers were trained on the use of ONCOpeds in five educational sessions. Patients younger than 18 years who resided in Callao and were diagnosed with cancer at four pediatric cancer units in Lima were analyzed by referral type: ONCOpeds facilitated or conventional. ONCOpeds was successfully installed in the smartphones of 78 primary and secondary care providers of Callao. During the study period, 23 new cases of cancer in children and adolescents from the region were diagnosed. Ten patients received ONCOpeds-facilitated referrals and 13 received conventional referrals. The RT decreased among those who received ONCOpeds-facilitated referrals by 66% (P=0.02); however, the LD did not significantly decrease with the use of ONCOpeds. The implementation of ONCOpeds was found to be feasible in this pilot study, having a potential utility in improving early diagnosis and referral in children and adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer. Directions for future research include multicenter studies with a larger population to further test the application's effectiveness.

Maternal Psychological Well-Being and Offspring’s Outcomes in Peru: A Quantitative Analysis

This paper examines the relationship between maternal psychological well-being and specific outcomes amongst children and adolescents in Peru. First, it assesses the impacts of maternal depression and life satisfaction on health and life satisfaction of children. Then, it evaluates the impacts of maternal psychological well-being on adolescent risk behavior. Prior research focuses predominately on effects in developed country contexts, but this paper aims to shed light on the impacts in an impoverished setting. Using panel data from the Young Lives Survey, the author finds that children’s self-reported life satisfaction and health positively associate with maternal life satisfaction and negatively associate with maternal depression. Furthermore, maternal life satisfaction predicts whether female adolescents smoke, while maternal depression predicts smoking and misinformation on pregnancy amongst males. The findings suggest that maternal depression and life satisfaction both affect reported health, happiness, and risk behaviors in offspring.

이중차이분석을 이용한 KOICA 페루 학교건강증진 사업의 청소년 정신건강사업 효과

이중차이분석을 이용한 KOICA 페루 학교건강증진 사업의 청소년 정신건강사업 효과

Directrices de Salud para implementar programas de educación de la sexualidad, con visión personalista, para adolescentes - Perú

La realidad nos muestra que la educación en la sexualidad está siendo abordada de forma deficiente ya sea porque es reducida a la simple genitalidad, dándole un enfoque biológico o cultural o porque los gobiernos pretenden impartir a los jóvenes en los colegios una educación sexual meramente instrumental trayendo como consecuencia una banalización de la sexualidad en los adolescentes. El objetivo de la presente investigación es establecer directrices de salud para la implementación de programas de educación de la sexualidad, con visión personalista, para adolescentes en el Perú, basada en la complementariedad o integridad.

Prevalence and correlates of insufficient physical activity in school adolescents in Peru.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo assess the prevalence and correlates of insufficient physical activity in adolescents in Peru.METHODSWe used a self-administered questionnaire developed from Global school-based Student Health Survey to collect information from secondary school students in North Lima and Callao in 2015. We carried out Poisson regression with robust variance using generalized linear models to estimate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of insufficient physical activity for its correlates.RESULTSWe have found that 78% of the adolescents did not meet the global recommendation of the World Health Organization on physical activity in the last week before the survey. Female respondents (APR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.04–1.21), respondents who perceived themselves as overweight (APR = 1.10, 95%CI 1.03–1.18), and respondents who consumed insufficient vegetables and fruits [no vegetables (APR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.06–1.59), no fruits (APR = 1.15, 95%CI 1.00–1.31) as compared to those who consumed ≥ 2 servings every day in the last seven days] were more likely to report insufficient physical activity. Adolescents who worked after school (APR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.84–0.99), had physical education classes five times per week (APR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.88–0.99), and had parental supervision (APR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.87–0.98) were less likely to report insufficient physical activity.CONCLUSIONSSex, work after school, perceived body weight, physical education class, parental support, and healthy dietary behaviors were associated with insufficient physical activity. Attempts to improve physical activity should look for ways to enhance leisure-time physical activity, parental support, physical education classes, healthy dietary behaviors, and normal body weight maintenance in adolescents with integrated efforts from the family and school.

Analysis of advertising in the multimedia environment of children and adolescents in Peru

ABSTRACTI examined advertising of healthy and unhealthy food and beverage products across television, Facebook, outdoors, and bodegas. I used content analysis to describe the types of advertised food products, the persuasive techniques of the advertisements of these products, and the portrayals of eating behaviors on food advertising. Findings revealed that food promotion was more prominent in point-of-purchase advertising and less on television. The three most common advertised products were sweets, sugary drinks, and fast-food restaurants, and the persuasive techniques most commonly associated with food and beverage advertisements were appeals to the flavor/taste/smell/texture, nutritional quality, competitive/unique, and newness of the product; only one emotional appeal stood out in one medium: family bonding was frequent on television. This study is one of the few that have collectively surveyed food advertising that children and adolescents are likely to find in their multimedia environment.

Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire to Estimate Intake among Children and Adolescents in Urban Peru.

Tools to assess intake among children in Latin America are limited. We developed and assessed the reproducibility and validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered to children, adolescents, and their caregivers in Lima, Peru. We conducted 24-h diet recalls (DRs) and focus groups to develop a locally-tailored FFQ prototype for children aged 0–14 years. To validate the FFQ, we administered two FFQs and three DRs to children and/or their caregivers (N = 120) over six months. We examined FFQ reproducibility by quartile agreement and Pearson correlation coefficients, and validity by quartile agreement and correlation with DRs. For reproducibility, quartile agreement ranged from 60–77% with correlations highest for vitamins A and C (0.31). Age-adjusted correlations for the mean DR and the second-administered FFQ were highest in the 0–7 age group, in which the majority of caregivers completed the FFQ on behalf of the child (total fat; 0.67) and in the 8–14 age group, in which both the child and caregiver completed the FFQ together (calcium, niacin; 0.54); correlations were <0.10 for most nutrients in the 8–14 age group in which the caregiver completed the FFQ on the child’s behalf. The FFQ was reproducible and the first developed and validated to assess various nutrients in children and adolescents in Peru.

Socio-Environmental and Behavioral Correlates of Having Ever Had Sexual Intercourse Among Adolescents in Peru: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

ABSTRACTObjective: We assessed the socio-environmental and behavioral correlates of having ever had sexual intercourse among Peruvian adolescents aged 12–18 years in Lima. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014. Result: Of 950 participants, 26.5% of males and 13.0% of females had ever had sexual intercourse. Early adolescents who ever had sexual intercourse had higher odds of being insulted, being involved in a fight, and smoking; whereas late adolescents having sexual experiences were more likely to be male and to report smoking, alcohol consumption, involvment in a fight, and having no/low parental understanding. Conclusion: An integrated approach is useful in addressing risk behaviors in adolescents.

성별에 따른 페루 청소년의 자살생각 관련 요인: 페루 도시빈민지역 학생 기초조사 결과를 중심으로

성별에 따른 페루 청소년의 자살생각 관련 요인: 페루 도시빈민지역 학생 기초조사 결과를 중심으로

Role of gender, family, lifestyle and psychological factors in self-rated health among urban adolescents in Peru: a school-based cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveWe examined the role of gender, family, lifestyle and psychological factors in self-rated health.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingA total of 970 randomly selected students from 11 secondary schools in Lima and Callao, Peru,...