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The research is focused on studying the impact of the crisis caused by COVID-19 on family food security. Various epistemological positions of some researchers are analyzed, as well as the reality revealed in the current scenario. Economic and social inequalities are addressed in their context. The study is based on a systematic review with a critical approach based on the method of analysis and synthesis. The results reveal that the pandemic associated with COVID-19 has aggravated the current economic and social crisis, and has put family food security at risk in different contexts.
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Active learning is an academic approach in which students participate actively in their learning process. The flipped classroom, problem-based learning, and project-based learning are some examples of active learning. The use of one of them can be restrictive, considering the several learning styles that students may have. Then, this study aims to show that the use of various active learning techniques improves the learning experience. For this, two groups of students participated in this research (nA = 58, nB = 58). They enrolled in the road design course from Civil Engineering at the Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja (Ecuador). The course was face-to-face but turn to remote mode due to CoViD-19. To reach the goal, six learning moments were planned for each topic: 1) watch the prerecorded lecture on YouTube, 2) based on the video, create a comic image, 3) grade the images of 2 of their classmates, 4) attend a synchronous virtual class to participate in a problemsolving session, 5) attend a synchronous virtual class to develop a road project (teamwork) and 6) prepare an infographic or presentation of the project's progress (also in teamwork). Data was collected through a voluntary survey at the end of the course. The failure rate and the grades obtained by the groups were also calculated. As a result, the students considered the course methodology was positive, rating it from 1 to 10 as 8.91 (A) and 9.17 (B). They develop a self-learning skill, on the same scale, 7.38 (A) and 7.70 (B). The study showed that with this combination of techniques, it is possible to reduce the failure rate, increase grades, and improve the learning experience.
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Background: Several international guidelines have highlighted the importance of ensuring the energy and protein intake of people with COVID- 19, but little is known about the nutritional risks for patients in critical conditions. There is still controversy if the modified Nutric score (mNUTRIC) is associated with higher mortality in patients with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the applicability of the mNUTRIC score to assess nutritional risks and mortality in these critically ill patients with COVID-19 to improve prognosis and clinical results. Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study carried out in three ICU specially equipped for COVID-19 at the Hospital Clinica San Francisco, Guayaquil, Ecuador. Critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted in these ICUs between March and May 2020 were the study population. The exclusion criteria were those under 18 years of age or with a length of stay in the ICU of less than 24 hours. The nutritional risk of each patient was assessed upon admission to the ICU using the mNUTRIC score, and a score ≥of 5 indicates a high nutritional risk. Mortality was calculated according to the results of the patients after 30 days of ICU hospitalization. The results were presented by descriptive statistical analysis. Results: A total of 97 COVID-19 patients were admitted to the ICU with a median age of 64 years, 68 men (70%). Based on the mNutric score at ICU admission, a low nutritional risk (< 4 points) was observed in 65% of critically ill patients with COVID-19, while a high nutritional risk (≥5 points) was observed in 34%. The ICU mortality at 30 days was significantly higher in the high nutritional risk group than the survivors (40% vs. 15%) Also this group was associated with more days in mechanical ventilation (median 11 days) and more days in ICU w(mean 13 days). Furthermore, it was observed that the patients who survived the ICU had a much higher nutritional risk than those who did not survive (84% vs 59%). Conclusion: A large percentage of critically ill COVID-19 patients were at low nutritional risk, as evidenced by the mNUTRIC score. However, patients at high nutritional risk at ICU admission showed significantly higher ICU mortality at 30 days than those who survived. Therefore, the mNUTRIC score may be an appropriate tool for assessing nutritional risk and prognosis for critically ill COVID-19 patients.
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With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020, much of work and professional life shifted to virtual environments. For many with existing and reliable access to digital devices, the internet, and digital literacy skills, this sudden shift was a minor adjustment. However, for many others the shift to online work life highlighted the disparities in access to reliable technology and exacerbated the existing digital divide among vulnerable populations. In response to this change, the City of Seattle, and the Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) launched the Digital Bridge (DB) program, a pilot program aimed at providing reliable internet access and digital devices to current job seekers working with SJI. Through the DB program, we see needs beyond initial access to technology and the internet, and the role that community organizations play in providing assistance. This paper aims to explore two key components: 1) lessons learned from the Digital Bridge project, and 2) organizational relationships and the impacts on program implementation. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The objective of the study was to determine the satisfaction with respect to the information received about health care and the prevention of medical fake news on Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, identifying differences with respect to gender and age. A cross-sectional investigation was carried out with 290 people who previously participated for 5 months on a voluntary basis in a Facebook group managed by health professionals. Data collection and analysis was performed using an online questionnaire and the SPSS program, respectively. The Chi square test was applied. A majority proportion of people satisfied with the information received was evidenced, with an average score of 4.14 on a scale of 1 to 5. Young people and women presented higher satisfaction values. It was concluded that there were high levels of satisfaction with the information received on health care and the prevention of medical fake news on Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. The promotion of netiquette or rules of cordiality on Facebook is an aspect that needs to be improved. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The present investigation was carried out to determine the satisfaction of the members of a Facebook group created and directed by obstetricians with respect to the credible information provided to reduce medical misinformation in obstetrics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, identifying said satisfaction according to the age and sex of the participants. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 268 members, who completed an online questionnaire. The information was processed through the SPSS V23.0 program, using the Chi-square statistical test. Regarding the results, all active members were satisfied with the information shared by obstetricians in the Facebook group, with scores higher than 4 in all dimensions, highlighting the confidence in the source of the information and the resolution of doubts by obstetricians as the dimensions with the highest scores (4.71 and 4.68, respectively). Likewise, statistically significant differences were found in the aforementioned satisfaction results with respect to the age and sex of the participants (p < 0.05). It was concluded that all members of Facebook group created and directed by obstetricians stated that they were satisfied with the credible information provided to reduce medical misinformation in obstetrics during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, being able to improve the respectful treatment. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The objective was to determine the relationship between the digital education topics addressed during the learning of obstetric students and the perception of the security of their information during the virtual education developed because of COVID-19 at the Santiago Antúnez of Mayolo National University (UNASAM) (Huaraz-Peru). It was a cross-sectional research carried out with 179 students, using a previously validated online questionnaire. The SPSS program and the Chi square test (p <0.05) were used. The majority of obstetric students (64.8%) denied having developed the digital education topics consulted during the virtual learning sessions, mainly in the establishment of secure keys (83.8%) and the protection of confidentiality (82.7%);also evidencing a majority perception of insecurity regarding the safeguarding of their academic information on the Internet. It was concluded that there is a statistically significant relationship between the insufficient explanation of digital education topics during the learning of obstetric students and the high perception of insecurity of their information during virtual education developed because of COVID-19. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The objective of the study was to determine the information security education topics developed in the training of obstetrics students and their relationship with the self-perception of privacy protection risk in mobile web during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Santiago Antúnez of Mayolo National University (UNASAM) (Huaraz-Peru). A correlational cross-sectional investigation was developed, with 164 obstetric students. The information was collected through a questionnaire applied online between November and December 2020, having determined its validity and reliability. The Chi squared statistical test (p <0.05) was used, while the information processing was carried out using the SPSS program. It was determined that 61.6% of obstetric students perceived a high risk in the protection of their privacy in mobile web during the development of their activities in the academic cycle 2020-I. Likewise, it was evidenced that the majority of students stated that they had not developed the topics consulted with regard to information security education during their virtual studies in obstetric, especially with regard to the recommendations for the use of passwords (83.5%), privacy protection strategies (81.1%) and data management through the creation of backups (79.9%), showing a statistically significant relationship with the self-perception of privacy protection risk in mobile web (p <0.05). It was concluded that the low development of information security education topics in the training of obstetric students is related to the self-perception of high risk in the privacy protection in mobile web during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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The health emergency due to COVID-19 has caused the restriction in access to health services, including care for pregnant women, whose prenatal control in person is limited in Peru. The objective of the research was to evaluate the influence of a telehealth intervention on the knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum in pregnant women during the health emergency due to COVID-19. A quasi-experimental research was carried out with 64 pregnant women attended by telehealth (experimental group) and 64 pregnant women attended by face-to-face appointments (control group) in the city of Huaraz (Ancash, Peru, 3,052 m.a.s.l.). A telehealth intervention was applied only to the experimental group between September and November 2020, having assessed the knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum using a previously validated questionnaire. The SPSS V22.0 statistical package and the Chi square test were used. After the intervention, it was evidenced that the proportion of pregnant women with a high level of knowledge was upper in the experimental group compared to the control group, with respect to the danger signs in pregnancy [43 (67.2%) vs. 28 (43.8%)], childbirth [42 (65.6%) vs. 27 (42.2%)] and postpartum [47 (73.4%) vs. 31 (48.4%)], determining the existence of statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups (p <0.05). It was concluded that the application of telehealth intervention increased the knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum in pregnant women during the health emergency due to COVID-19. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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The objective of the research was to identify the types of digital divide and the use of social media related to the results of the application of smart e-learning in obstetrics during the health emergency due to COVID-19 in a public management university located in a remote place of Peru, such as the Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo National University (UNASAM). A cross-sectional research was developed by applying an online questionnaire to obstetric students between September and October 2020. It was found that the moderately satisfactory results achieved by the majority of students with the use of smart e-learning are related to digital divide of access, use and quality of information, as well as with the use of WhatsApp, Facebook and YouTube, findings that mean a contribution to the study of the application of digital smart e-learning tools in contexts of technological inequality and health crisis caused by COVID-19. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
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The standard rapid approach for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA. The detection of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins is crucial for screening people who have been exposed to the virus, whether or not they presented symptoms. Recent publications report different methods for the detection of specific IgGs, IgMs, and IgAs against SARS-CoV-2; these methods mainly detect immunoglobulins in the serum using conventional techniques such as rapid lateral flow tests or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In this article, we report the production of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and the development of a rapid, reliable, cost-effective test, capable of detecting immunoglobulins in serum and saliva samples. This method is based on interferometric optical detection. The results obtained using this method and those obtained using ELISA were compared. Owing to its low cost and simplicity, this test can be used periodically for the early detection, surveillance, detection of immunity, and control of the spread of COVID-19.
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Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic is posing unprecedented challenges and threats worldwide. Malnourished patients reported higher mortality and the worst outcomes. The NUTRIC score is a useful assessment tool to determine the risk of malnutrition in critically ill patients. Aim: To determine the association of the Nutric score with 30 and 60 - day mortality in COVID 19 critically ill patients. Methods: Observational, descriptive study conducted in an Intensive Care Unit in Guayaquil - Ecuador, between March and April 2020. Data were from 34 critically ill patients with SARS COVID19, who signed an informed participation consent. Exclusion criteria: Pediatric population, uncompleted cases. Nutritional status was determined using the Nutric Score. Mortality risk was determined by SOFA and APACHE scores. There was a follow up for the date of discharge or death within 30 and 60 days after the admission day to the ICU. The results were presented by descriptive statistical analysis. Results: From 34 critically ill patients, 25 patients died while they were hospitalized in the ICU. From this group, 18 were male patients and spent an average of 8 days in ICU. 15 had nutritional risk according to the Nutric Score. 19 patients have mortality above 40% according to the APACHE score, and 9 patients according to the SOFA score. None of the discharged patients had to be readmitted. Conclusion: The NUTRIC score predicted the risk of malnutrition in 100% of the COVID19 critically ill patients that had worse evolutions and died during this study. References: Mukhopadhyay A, Henry J, Ong V, et al. Association of modified NUTRIC score with 28-day mortality in critically ill patients. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(4):1143-1148. Disclosure of Interest: None declared.