Factors associated with adolescents' perception of four types of domestic violence in Honduras/Central America during the COVID-19 pandemic. (preprint)

Introduction: The confinement measures applied during the pandemic brought as a consequence an increase in domestic violence, this problem has not been investigated from the perspective of adolescents in Central America. Objective: To determine the factors associated with adolescents' perception of four types of domestic violence in Honduras during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: Cross-sectional analytical study, secondary database, inquired about the perception of four types of domestic violence during the highest peak of the first wave of the pandemic. A multivariate analysis including socio-familial variables was performed, and descriptive and analytical results were obtained. Results: Of the 3272 young people surveyed, verbal violence was associated with a basic educational level (p<0.001), alcohol consumption (p<0.001) and that the father (p=0.040), mother (p<0.001) or siblings (p<0.001) had suffered violence at home. For psychological violence, the father (p=0.031), the mother (p<0.001) or the siblings (p<0.001) had suffered domestic violence. For physical violence, basic education level (p=0.002), the father (p=0.005), the mother (p<0.001) or the siblings (p<0.001) had suffered violence at home. Sexual violence was associated with drug use in the last six months (p<0.001). Discussion: Multiple associations were found with four types of violence perceived by adolescents, which should serve to generate psychological support programs for this group, which has problems due to the stage of life they are in.  Conclusion: Honduran adolescents were exposed to four types of violence in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the associated factors were educational level, alcohol and other drug consumption, and a history of violence in the first degree of consanguinity.

Neck pain, dry eye and Sjogren's syndrome in Latin American students during the first wave of COVID-19: Frequencies and associated factors (preprint)

Introduction: Virtual classes brought many changes to the lives of students, not only the fact of being more exposed to screens, but also because of the repercussions. Aim: To determine the factors associated with suffering from neck pain, dry eye and Sjogren's syndrome in students in Latin America during the first wave of COVID-19. Methodology: Analytical cross-sectional study, using the COM and DEQ-5 scales, neck pain and dry eye/Sjogren's syndrome, respectively, were measured; socio-educational variables were associated with them. Discussion: Of the 3939 students, those who lived in Panama, Chile and Bolivia were the ones who suffered the most from these pathologies. These pathologies were associated with the greater number of hours of computer use (all values p<0,001) and sex (all values p<0,002), medical students had more frequent dry eye and Sjogren's syndrome (both p<0,031), Graduate students had more neck pain (p<0.001), but college students had less dry eye (p=0.025) and those at private universities had more neck pain (p=0.024). Discussion: Important results of these three pathologies were found, this serves so that students can be evaluated in depth in each university, for a specialized diagnosis and try to avoid medium and long-term consequences for the constant use of electronic devices. Conclusion: Neck pain, dry eye and Sjogren's syndrome in students were associated with more hours of computer use and female sex, medical students had more frequent dry eye and Sjpogren's syndrome, graduate students had more neck pain, university students had less dry eye and those from private universities had more neck pain.

Use of medicinal plants for COVID-19 prevention and respiratory symptom treatment during the pandemic in Cusco, Peru: A cross-sectional survey (preprint)

Background: The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru has led to people seeking alternative treatments as preventives and treatment options such as medicinal plants. This study aimed to assess factors associated with the use of medicinal plants as preventive or treatment of respiratory symptom related to COVID-19 during the pandemic in Cusco, Peru. Method: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted on general public (20- to 70-year-old) from August 31 to September 20, 2020. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire via Google Forms, it consisted of an 11-item questionnaire that was developed and validated by expert judgment using Aiken's V (Aiken's V > 0.9). Both descriptive statistics and bivariate followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with the use of medicinal plants for COVID-19 prevention and respiratory symptom treatment during the pandemic. Prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and a P-value of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. Results: A total of 1,747 respondents participated in the study, 80.2% reported that they used medicinal plants as preventives, while 71% reported that they used them to treat respiratory symptoms. At least, 24% of respondents used medicinal plants when presenting with two or more respiratory symptoms, while at least 11% used plants for malaise. For treatment or prevention, the multivariate analysis showed that most respondents used eucalyptus (p < 0.001 for both), ginger (p < 0.022 for both), spiked pepper (p < 0.003 for both), garlic (p = 0.023 for prevention), and chamomile (p = 0.011 for treatment). The respondents with COVID-19 (p < 0.001), at older ages (p = 0.046), and with a family member or friend who had COVID-19 (p < 0.001) used more plants for prevention. However, the respondents with technical or higher education used less plants for treatment (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant use of medicinal plants for both prevention and treatment, which was associated with several population characteristics and whether respondents had COVID-19.