Different Regions Of Peru Research Articles

A qualitative study on the social representations of populism and democracy in Peru

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the social representations of democracy, populism and the relationship between both concepts in a sample of citizens from different regions of Peru (n = 76). To this end, a qualitative research design was proposed, using in-depth interviews, which were analyzed from a discursive approach. The results show that democracy and populism are two closely related concepts in tension. On the one hand, the social representation of democracy is semantically poor, closely related to electoral behavior and is seen as a political system that, ideally, is positively valued. Populism, on the other hand, is seen as a political strategy based on the manipulation of citizens' needs in order to reach power using the democratic process of elections. The representation of populism in general is negative, and it is mentioned that it appears and acquires strength in the face of citizen dissatisfaction with democracy, when it cannot solve problems of poverty, corruption or exclusion. The representations of populism take up the constitutive components proposed by different authors on the topic (people, elites and democracy as a product of popular will), but the participants do not necessarily structure the relationships between these components as proposed in the academic literature. Finally, the results shows that respondents' experiences with democracy and populism in Peru act as important socializing forces that will frame how citizens relate to politics and the public.

Predictive Factors of Attitudes Towards Scientific Research in University Teachers in Peru

Scientific research is essential for university teachers and the university in general, since its main objective is to generate and disseminate knowledge. The objective of this study was to examine the factors that influence the attitudes of university lecturers in Peru towards scientific research. The study employed a quantitative methodology, focusing on an explanatory-predictive framework. A 28-item questionnaire related to university teachers' attitudes towards research was applied, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.9 reliability. The sample included the participation of 405 university teachers from different regions of Peru with 1 to 30 years of professional experience. Non-parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical techniques were applied for data processing. The results showed that the factors analysed (sex, years of experience, and region of origin) predicted the behavioural and cognitive dimensions but not the affective dimension. Teachers from the northern part of the country and Lima have prevalence in the behavioural and cognitive dimensions, and most teachers have a high level in the behavioural and cognitive dimensions but a low level in the affective dimension. The results are consistent with previous studies showing that attitudes towards research are influenced by factors such as age, research subject, participation in research activities, and social capital.
 
 Received: 10 June 2023 / Accepted: 25 November 2023 / Published: 5 January 2024

Multi-step ahead ozone level forecasting using a component-based technique: A case study in Lima, Peru

<abstract><p>The rise in global ozone levels over the last few decades has harmed human health. This problem exists in several cities throughout South America due to dangerous levels of particulate matter in the air, particularly during the winter season, making it a public health issue. Lima, Peru, is one of the ten cities in South America with the worst levels of air pollution. Thus, efficient and precise modeling and forecasting are critical for ozone concentrations in Lima. The focus is on developing precise forecasting models to anticipate ozone concentrations, providing timely information for adequate public health protection and environmental management. This work used hourly O$ _{3} $ data in metropolitan areas for multi-step-ahead (one-, two-, three-, and seven-day-ahead) O$ _{3} $ forecasts. A multiple linear regression model was used to represent the deterministic portion, and four-time series models, autoregressive, nonparametric autoregressive, autoregressive moving average, and nonlinear neural network autoregressive, were used to describe the stochastic component. The various horizon out-of-sample forecast results for the considered data suggest that the proposed component-based forecasting technique gives a highly consistent, accurate, and efficient gain. This may be expanded to other districts of Lima, different regions of Peru, and even the global level to assess the efficacy of the proposed component-based modeling and forecasting approach. Finally, no analysis has been undertaken using a component-based estimation to forecast ozone concentrations in Lima in a multi-step-ahead manner.</p></abstract>

Facebook addiction and sleep problems in peruvian university students after the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, studies have reported an increase in sleep problems and problematic use of social media platforms such as Facebook among university students. This study assessed Facebook addiction and sleep problems among Peruvian university students following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the factors associated with these issues. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 352 participants from different regions of Peru. The Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS-4) and the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) were used to assess sleep problems and Facebook addiction, respectively. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using a simple Poisson regression with robust variance. ResultsThe study found that 16.2 % of the participants were addicted to Facebook and 12.5 % reported sleep problems. The results also showed that older age (PR: 0.99; 95 % CI: 0.98–0.99) and physical activity (PR: 0.81; 95 % CI: 0.70–0.94) were associated with a lower likelihood of having sleep problems, while being physically active (PR: 0.55; 95 % CI: 0.33 to 0.90) was associated with a lower probability of having Facebook addiction problems. ConclusionsThe Peruvian university students who participated in this study reported sleep problems in one-eighth of the sample, and one in six university students reported Facebook addiction problems. The frequency of presenting Facebook addiction and sleep problems was lower in those with older age and engaging in physical activity.

A study: Semi-confirmatory factor analysis and reliability of the symptom assessment-45 questionnaire in Peruvian population

The study of psychopathological variables constitutes a valuable resource in the field of mental health, but even more so when there are evaluation support tools that facilitate its exploration. In addition, when these tools are valid and reliable, they provide optimal data, which guides towards a better intervention response, which is extremely necessary in the face of the reality that exists in terms of mental health needs. Therefore, this work seeks to analyze the evidence of the construct validity of SA-45, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. In addition, to find the reliability of the Symptom Assessment-45 Questionnaire (SA-45). The SA-45, and other measures (LOT-4, DASS-21) were applied to 1637 subjects from different regions of Peru, aged 18 to 65. Then, a semi-confirmatory factor analysis was performed by means of exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and an objective matrix with Procrustes rotation to identify the hypothesized dimensions. All nine dimensions hypothesized by previous studies were found to have favorable factor congruence coefficients (FCC-total >.85), adequate factor saturations (λ >.30), acceptable to high internal consistency alpha, omega, and ordinal alpha coefficients (>.70), and satisfactory goodness-of-fit (RMSEA = 0.004, RMSR = 0.021, FCC = 0.99, GFI = 1.000). Likewise, the validity in relation to other instruments such as the DASS-21 and the LOT-R reports Pearson correlation coefficients with medium and large effect sizes (r =.30 and r =.50) in their dimensions. The SA-45 is a theoretically and psychometrically supported instrument for use in young and adult populations.

Psychometric properties of the Stress Coping Scale Brief-COPE 28 in a Peruvian population

Background: The highly stressful events we are currently experiencing require great cognitive and emotional effort and affect the mental health of the population. In this sense, coping with stress provides evidence of how people use their resources to cope with or avoid stressful events, which requires validated and reliable instruments to measure accurately. Objective: To determine the psychometric properties of reliability and validity of the BRIEF COPE 28, Spanish version. Method: The design used was instrumental; 530 people participated, 60% men and 40% women, between 18 and 60 years old, from different regions of Peru, selected by non-probability convenience sampling. Results: It is evident that the alpha coefficient of coping styles ranges from α ordinal = 0.74 to 0.82; while in strategies it was between α ordinal = 0.59 to 0.90. In terms of internal structure, the four-factor model obtained a good fit SB-χ²/gl=1.836; CFI=0.92; TLI=0.90, SRMS=0.09 and RMSEA=0.10. A good fit was found with the ten coping strategies model SB-χ²/gl=1.902; CFI=0.96; TLI=0.95, SRMS=0.056, RMSEA=0.069. Conclusion: COPE 28 has good internal consistency; and the model with the four coping styles is inconclusive, while the model with ten strategies has adequate goodness of fit.

Quality and equity in the Peruvian education system: Do they progress similarly?

This study aims to understand the relationship between quality and equity in different regions of Peru. The academic results of students in Language and Mathematics in the second and fourth years of Primary Education from 2007 to 2018 were analysed. The results indicate improvements in the scores and a more homogeneous result distribution in the country, and show that area, poverty index, investment in education, permanence, and enrollment rates affect academic results and the coefficient of variation, and that the latter is also affected by subject and GDP. Lower scores are attributed to rural areas, with public centres presenting the greatest inequalities. Finally, slight increases in the socioeconomic index of families with fewer resources have an effect on score improvement.

Salud ambiental: una necesidad educativa para los médicos del Perú

The implementation of courses related to environmental health in undergraduate curricula favors the formation of physicians more committed to the impact of climate change on health. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of environmental health courses in Peruvian medical schools, as well as their comparison with air quality levels for each region of the country. Of 41 medical schools included, 26 (63.4%) of them included a course related to environmental health in their curriculum, and 2 (7.7%) of them included it as an optional course. Of the regions with a moderate/bad air quality index, 63% have medical schools with lecture courses on environmental medicine. It is necessary to standardize the methodology, contents and teaching resources, as well as the study of relevant topics such as climate change, in addition to its integration with the other courses of the medical career given the importance of environmental health in the different regions of Peru

Prostate Cancer Mortality in Peru: An Update from 2003 to 2017.

We estimated the mortality trends for prostate cancer in Peru and its geographical areas between 2003 and 2017. We obtained recorded prostate cancer deaths from the Peruvian Ministry of Health Database between 2003 and 2017. Age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 men-year were computed with the direct method using the world standard SEGI population. We estimated the annual percent change (APC) using the Joinpoint regression program. A total of 38,617 prostate cancer deaths were reported between 2003 and 2017, with a mortality rate ranging from 18.21 to 19.94 deaths per 100,000 men-year. Since 2006, Peru has experienced a decrease of 2.2 deaths per year, whereas the mortality rate in the coastal region has declined by 2.9% per year. The highlands and rainforest regions showed stable trends throughout the entire study period. According to provinces, only Moquegua had a significant decrease (APC: -6.0, 95%CI: -11.4, -0.2, p<0.05) from 2003 to 2017. Although mortality rates are decreasing, there is a high mortality burden by prostate cancer in Peru and by geographical regions, being mostly concentrated in the coastal region. The rainforest provinces deserve the most attention. Our findings suggest wide health care disparities among the different regions of Peru that need greater public health attention to reduce the burden of mortality by prostate cancer.

Perceptions of acceptance and reluctance to COVID-19 vaccination in Peru.

To explore factors that influence the acceptance or reluctance to COVID-19 vaccination using qualitative methods. Descriptive qualitative study conducted between April and June 2021. A semi-structured interview guide was used to explore the perceptions of participants from different regions of Peru regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The Health Belief Model was used as theoretical framework and its dimensions are: susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action. We interviewed 30 people, mostly were women. For the participants, the efficacy of vaccines is related to the country of origin of the vaccines; in addition, they consider that it is important to know the long-term effects on health after vaccination. The information received by governmental and health authorities can be a decisive factor for vaccination. People with the intention of not being vaccinated feel that vaccination promotion strategies violate their human rights. There is a group of people undecided or unsure about receiving COVID-19 vaccines who need to be encouraged according to their concerns and needs. Governmental and health authorities should work together to improve the confidence of the population and provide messages to clarify doubts about the efficacy and adverse reactions of vaccines.

Attitudes towards nursing research for students from different regions of Perú, 2020

The attitude towards research emphasizes the ability of pronunciation and understanding of the nursing student when carrying out research work, therefore the objective is to determine the attitude towards the research of nursing students from different regions of Peru. It is a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study, with a population of 149 nursing students from different regions of Peru, who responded to a survey with sociodemographic data and the scale of attitudes towards research. In the results, it was obtained that the attitude towards the research of nursing students, 95.3% have a moderately positive attitude towards research. In conclusion, teaching with respect to research should be strengthened so that they encourage the student to enhance their investigative capacities.

Underutilization and Quality Gaps in Blood Culture Processing in Public Hospitals of Peru.

Correct processing of blood cultures may impact individual patient management, antibiotic stewardship, and scaling up of antimicrobial resistance surveillance. To assess the quality of blood culture processing, we conducted four assessments at 16 public hospitals across different regions of Peru. We assessed the following standardized quality indicators: 1) positivity and contamination rates, 2) compliance with recommended number of bottles/sets and volume of blood sampled, 3) blood culture utilization, and 4) possible barriers for compliance with recommendations. Suboptimal performance was found, with a median contamination rate of 4.2% (range 0-15.1%), with only one third of the participating hospitals meeting the target value of < 3%; and a median positivity rate of 4.9% (range 1-8.1%), with only 6 out of the 15 surveilled hospitals meeting the target of 6-12%. None of the assessed hospitals met both targets. The median frequency of solitary blood cultures was 71.9% and only 8.9% (N = 59) of the surveyed adult bottles met the target blood volume of 8 - 12 mL, whereas 90.5% (N = 602) were underfilled. A high frequency of missed opportunities for ordering blood cultures was found (69.9%, 221/316) among patients with clinical indications for blood culture sampling. This multicenter study demonstrates important shortcomings in the quality of blood culture processing in public hospitals of Peru. It provides a national benchmark of blood culture utilization and quality indicators that can be used to monitor future quality improvement studies and diagnostic stewardship policies.

Phylogenomics reveals multiple introductions and early spread of SARS-CoV-2 into Peru.

Peru has become one of the countries with the highest mortality rates from the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). To investigate early transmission events and the genomic diversity of SARS‐CoV‐2 isolates circulating in Peru in the early COVID‐19 pandemic, we analyzed 3472 viral genomes, of which 149 were from Peru. Phylogenomic analysis revealed multiple and independent introductions of the virus likely from Europe and Asia and a high diversity of genetic lineages circulating in Peru. In addition, we found evidence for community‐driven transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 as suggested by clusters of related viruses found in patients living in different regions of Peru.

Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Peruvian Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Populations Using the tRNAleu-cox2 Intergenic Region.

Simple SummaryCurrently, the genetic diversity of Peruvian honey bee populations is unknown. Only two studies were carried out and suggest that many regions of Peru present Africanized honey bee colonies and a varied degree of Africanization. To molecularly characterize and know more about the genetic background of Peruvian honey bees, the highly polymorphic tRNAleu-cox2 was used. This study analyzed 512 colonies in three regions of Peru: Lima, Piura, and Junín. The results indicated that 65% colonies correspond to lineage A (African), 33.8% colonies to lineage C (Eastern European), and 1.2% colonies to lineage M (Western European). A total of 24 haplotypes were identified: 16 haplotypes belong to lineage A (sub-lineage AI (13), sub-lineage AIII (03)), lineage C (06), and lineage M (02), and 15 of them are for the first time reported and represented by A1t, A1u, A1w, A4p, A4q, A4s, A4t, A4u, A4v, A4w, 30d, A30e, A65, M7b, and M7c. Piura and Lima presented higher proportions of African haplotypes and lower proportions of haplotypes from lineage C than Lima. Very few haplotypes of lineage M were identified, whose presence could be due to accidental purchases or traces of honey bee introductions from lineage M in the 19th century. Hence, studies about the diversity and genetic structure of Peruvian honey bee populations are necessary to promote adequate, sustainable management and establish conservation and breeding programs.Mitochondrial DNA variations of Peruvian honey bee populations were surveyed by using the tRNAleu-cox2 intergenic region. Only two studies have characterized these populations, indicating the presence of Africanized honey bee colonies in different regions of Peru and varied levels of Africanization, but the current status of its genetic diversity is unknown. A total of 512 honey bee colonies were sampled from three regions to characterize them. Our results revealed the presence of European and African haplotypes: the African haplotypes identified belong to sub-lineage AI (13) and sub-lineage AIII (03), and the European haplotypes to lineages C (06) and M (02). Of 24 haplotypes identified, 15 new sequences are reported here (11 sub-lineage AI, 2 sub-lineage AIII, and 2 lineage M). Peruvian honey bee populations presented a higher proportion from African than European haplotypes. High proportions of African haplotype were reported for Piura and Junín, unlike Lima, which showed more European haplotypes from lineage C. Few colonies belonging to lineage M would represent accidental purchase or traces of the introduction into Peru in the 19th century.

Whole genome analysis of extensively drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Peru

Peru has the highest burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Americas region. Since 1999, the annual number of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Peruvian cases has been increasing, becoming a public health challenge. The objective of this study was to perform genomic characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains obtained from Peruvian patients with XDR-TB diagnosed from 2011 to 2015 in Peru. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 68 XDR-TB strains from different regions of Peru. 58 (85.3%) strains came from the most populated districts of Lima and Callao. Concerning the lineages, 62 (91.2%) strains belonged to the Euro-American Lineage, while the remaining 6 (8.8%) strains belonged to the East-Asian Lineage. Most strains (90%) had high-confidence resistance mutations according to pre-established WHO-confident grading system. Discordant results between microbiological and molecular methodologies were caused by mutations outside the hotspot regions analysed by commercial molecular assays (rpoB I491F and inhA S94A). Cluster analysis using a cut-off ≤ 10 SNPs revealed that only 23 (34%) strains evidenced recent transmission links. This study highlights the relevance and utility of WGS as a high-resolution approach to predict drug resistance, analyse transmission of strains between groups, and determine evolutionary patterns of circulating XDR-TB strains in the country.

Air Pollution Monitoring in Peru Using Satellite Data During the Quarantine Due to COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation at the international level is critical. COVID-19 is a type of pneumonia due to a coronavirus family. Due to this situation, like many countries, the Peruvian government has decreed mandatory social isolation, which was in effect through June 30, 2020. According to this decree, people were to stay at home and only go out to cover basic needs. After more than 50 days, some images and videos presented in different communication channels, show that animals and vegetation recover their space on the planet. Pollution reduction is probable too, which is vital for our ecosystem. However, there is no measurable way to quantify the impact of social isolation on air pollution in Peru. Thus, the present research work aims to show more objectively how much there has been a decrease in air pollution in Peru. The idea is to analyze the quantity of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, aerosol, carbon monoxide, methane, and clouds in the air. For this purpose, remote sensing data is used from the Copernicus Data Hub of the European Space Agency, specifically, the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite. The obtained results show a reduction in air pollution in different regions of Peru.

Tobamoviruses of two new species trigger resistance in pepper plants harbouring functional L alleles.

Tobamoviruses are often referred to as the most notorious viral pathogens of pepper crops. These viruses are not transmitted by invertebrate vectors, but rather by physical contact and seeds. In this study, pepper plants displaying mild mottle and mosaic symptoms were sampled in four different regions of Peru. Upon double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) tests, seven samples cross-reacted weakly with antibodies against pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), suggesting the presence of tobamoviruses. When employing RT-PCR, conserved primers amplified cDNA fragments of viruses from two putative new tobamovirus species in the samples. The complete genome of two representative isolates were, therefore, sequenced and analysed in silico. These viruses, which were tentatively named yellow pepper mild mottle virus (YPMMoV) and chilli pepper mild mottle virus (CPMMoV), shared highest nucleotide genome sequence identities of 83 and 85 % with bell pepper mottle virus (BpeMV), respectively. Mechanical inoculation of indicator plants with YPMMoV and CPMMoV isolates did not show any obvious differences in host ranges. These viruses were also inoculated mechanically on pepper plants harbouring different resistance L alleles to determine their pathotypes. Pepper plants carrying unfunctional L alleles (L0) to tobamoviruses were infected by all isolates and presented differential symptomatology for YPMMoV and CPMMoV. On the other hand, pepper plants carrying L1, L2, L3 and L4 alleles were resistant to all isolates, indicating that these viruses belong to pathotype P0.

Evidence of validity and factorial invariance of the Sternberg Love Scale Brief Spanish Version

This study aims to adapt, provide evidence of validity, analyze the invariance across gender, and estimate the reliability of the reduced version of the Sternberg's Triangular Love Scale (STLS-R). The sample size comprises 988 Peruvians (748 females and 240 males), who had been in a relationship for at least one month, and whose ages ranged from16 to 54 years old (M=21.29; SD=3.91). Before the statistical analysis, the semantic equivalence was tested through the translation-back translation method. The results indicate that the three-dimensional STLS-R model present satisfactory goodness-of-fit in the data (χ2 (87) = 177.14; χ2/df =2.04; CFI =.99; RMSEA=.03 [.02, .04]; SRMR = .03) which is invariant with respect to gender, and show acceptable reliability regarding intimacy (ω = .91), commitment (ω = .93) and passion (ω = .86). The overall results offer sufficient valid evidence and suggest that the scale can be used in further studies. However, its effectiveness should still be tested in different regions of Peru.

Evidence of validity and factorial invariance of the Sternberg Love Scale Brief Spanish Version

This study aims to adapt, provide evidence of validity, analyze the invariance across gender, and estimate the reliability of the reduced version of the Sternberg's Triangular Love Scale (STLS-R). The sample size comprises 988 Peruvians (748 females and 240 males), who had been in a relationship for at least one month, and whose ages ranged from16 to 54 years old (M=21.29; SD=3.91). Before the statistical analysis, the semantic equivalence was tested through the translation-back translation method. The results indicate that the three-dimensional STLS-R model present satisfactory goodness-of-fit in the data (χ2 (87) = 177.14; χ2/df =2.04; CFI =.99; RMSEA=.03 [.02, .04]; SRMR = .03) which is invariant with respect to gender, and show acceptable reliability regarding intimacy (ω = .91), commitment (ω = .93) and passion (ω = .86). The overall results offer sufficient valid evidence and suggest that the scale can be used in further studies. However, its effectiveness should still be tested in different regions of Peru.

Attitudes and perceptions towards the scientific search for extraterrestrial life among students of public and private universities in Peru

AbstractThe objective of this study was to identify attitudes towards the scientific search for extraterrestrial life among students from public and private universities in Peru. This research was inspired by similar studies, realized in Sweden, which used the same instrument adapting it to our reality. The process consisted of a survey of the Peruvian student population by targeting it in different regions of Peru. The sample consisted of 1237 students from different academic areas. The findings show that 92% of the students believe in the existence of life outside our planet, with differences between the subgroups surveyed.