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

BACKGROUND: 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. TRIAL DESIGN: This trial was an unblinded, three-arm, parallel-group, individual RCT with a 1:1:1 allocation. Trial registration: ISRCTN85156148. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. DISCUSSION: 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.

Information = equity? How increased access to information can enhance equity and improve health outcomes for pregnant women in Peru.

Background: The Peruvian health system provides care through numerous, disconnected health establishments and information systems. Our objective was to explore information use and needs of pregnant women to improve quality of care. Methods: We carried out a mixed methods study in the Lima capital metropolitan area in 15 health centers. This included four focus groups with 34 pregnant women and surveys with 403 pregnant women. Results: Pregnant women's information needs depend on their age, number of pregnancies and environment. Women relied on their social networks for pregnancy-related advice and valued high-quality, timely and targeted information from the health system. Participants' information needs include access to reliable information and responses to their questions in a warm, caring and safe environment. These needs can be met during prenatal check-ups and in group settings through informational talks and visual displays in waiting areas, as well as through appropriate digital technologies such as SMS messages and electronic health records. Conclusions: Pregnant women need individualized health information in an understandable, secure and friendly manner to maximize their understanding of their pregnancy, follow recommendations and optimize health outcomes. Customizing e-Health programs that reach many pregnant women has greater potential for more equitable health outcomes. Keywords: electronic health records, health information systems, healthcare disparities, maternal health services, pregnant women, text messaging.

The odyssey of linking to and staying in HIV care among male sex workers in Peru.

BACKGROUND: In Peru, there is little information about the HIV care continuum. Therefore, we conducted a study to describe the HIV care continuum among male sex workers (MSWs) in Lima. METHODS: We applied close-ended surveys with 209 MSWs about their engagement in the HIV care continuum and open-ended surveys with 34 MSWs who are people living with HIV (PLHIV) to explore their linkage to and retention in HIV care. RESULTS: Of 209 MSWs, only 71% (n=148) reported a lifetime HIV test and 56% (n=116) of all MSWs received confirmatory HIV test results. Of the 34 MSWs who are PLHIV, 76% had received HIV care at least once, but only 59% were currently in care, 50% were currently taking ART(antiretroviral therapy) and an even lower 32% had been on ART for 6 months or more. The primary reason for non-linkage to HIV care is the multiple visits to link at the Ministry of Health (MOH). Remaining in care was also challenging, particularly at non-governmental organizations (NGOs). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial barriers linking to and remaining in HIV care result in significant delays in linkage and high proportions of PLHIV that remain unlinked or become unstably linked following initial linkage. Urgent implementation science research is needed to facilitate linkage to HIV care and strengthen retention in HIV care post-linkage.

Health effects of 'Juntos', a conditional cash transfer programme in Peru.

In some countries, conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes show an impact on maternal and child health. Juntos, the CCT programme in Peru, has been evaluated several times operationally, but seldom for maternal and child health outcomes. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of Juntos on children under 6 years, pregnant women and mothers of children under 17 years. Outcomes evaluated included (1) anaemia in women and children; (2) acute malnutrition in children; (3) post-partum complications in mothers; and (4) underweight and overweight in mothers. We identified Juntos eligible respondents from the Demographic and Health Surveys of Peru for years 2007 to 2013. Propensity score matching was used to identify comparable treatment and control groups, including eligible respondents enrolled in Juntos vs. those not enrolled in Juntos (individual-level analysis), as well as eligible respondents living in Juntos districts vs. those not residing in Juntos districts (district-level analysis). We then used generalized linear models to estimate prevalence ratios. Individual level analysis showed that Juntos reduced underweight in women (PR:0.39, 95%CI:0.18 - 0.85) and anaemia in children (PR:0.93, 95%CI:0.86 - 1.00). In the district level analysis, the programme was associated with a reduction of overweight in women (PR:0.94, 95%CI:0.90 - 0.98) and acute malnutrition in children (PR:0.49, 95%CI:0.32 - 0.73), but an increase in the prevalence of anaemia in children (PR:1.09, 95%CI:1.01 - 1.17). We found that Juntos had an effect on maternal and child health indicators, but further studies are required to overcome some limitations encountered here.

Is Intimate Partner and Client Violence Associated with Condomless Anal Intercourse and HIV Among Male Sex Workers in Lima, Peru?

Violence experience can increase HIV risk behaviors; however, literature is scarce on violence among male sex workers (MSWs) globally. In 2014, 210 Peruvian MSWs (median age 24.9) were interviewed about their experience of physical, emotional, and sexual violence and condom use with non-paying intimate partners and clients and were tested for HIV. Multivariable models examined relationships between violence in the past 6 months, condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) in the past 3 months and HIV infection. HIV infection (24 %), CLAI (43 %), being a violence victim (42 %) and perpetrator (39 %) were common. In separate multivariable models, being a violence victim [adjusted prevalence ratio aPR = 1.49 (95 % CI 1.09-2.03)] and perpetrator [aPR = 1.39 (1.03-1.87)] were associated with CLAI. Further, being a victim [aPR = 1.65 (1.04-2.62)] was associated with HIV infection. Violence, which was significantly associated with CLAI and HIV infection, is common among Peruvian MSWs, reinforcing the importance of violence awareness and prevention as HIV risk-reduction strategies.

[Academic application of text messages in a first aid course: a pilot study in a private university in Lima, Peru]. / Aplicación académica de mensajes de texto en un curso de primeros auxilios: estudio piloto en una universidad privada de Lima, Perú.

The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate the impact of an educational intervention with the use of text messages (SMS) in a first aid course. A prospective study and intervention was conducted. Two steps were implemented: 1) a qualitative study to design the SMS and 2) the intervention with the sending of the SMS messages. The outcome variable was the final grade of students. Multivariate models were constructed, prevalence ratios and confidence intervals at 95% were calculated. The first phase revealed that the SMS should be educational-theoretical, motivational, and multiple choice. In the intervention there were 66 participants in the control and intervention group. The average age was 17.7 (± 1.2) years. The intervention group obtained higher scores compared with the control group (PR = 4.82; 95% CI: 1.58 to 14.72). In conclusion, SMS with informative and motivational content is useful in the formation of undergraduate medicine.

[Wawared Peru: reducing health inequities and improving maternal health by improving information systems in health]. / Reduciendo las inequidades en salud y mejorando la salud materna mediante la mejora de los sistemas de información en salud: Wawared Perú.

In developing countries, there are no high quality data to support decision-making and governance due to inadequate information collection and transmission processes. Our project WawaRed-Peru: "Reducing health inequities and improving maternal health by improving health information systems" aims to improve maternal health processes and indicators through the implementation of interoperability standards for maternal health information systems in order for decision makers to have timely, high quality information. Through this project, we hope to support the development of better health policies and to also contribute to reducing problems of health equity among Peruvian women and potentially women in other developing countries. The aim of this article is to present the current state of information systems for maternal health in Peru.

Aplicación académica de mensajes de texto en un curso de primeros auxilios: estudio piloto en una universidad privada de Lima, Perú / Academic application of text messages in a first aid course: a pilot study in a private university in Lima, Peru

El objetivo del estudio fue desarrollar y evaluar el impacto de una intervención educativa con el uso de mensajes de texto (SMS) en un curso de primeros auxilios. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo y de intervención. Se implementaron dos etapas: 1) estudio cualitativo para diseñar los SMS, 2) intervención con el envío de los SMS. La variable resultado fue la nota final de los alumnos. Se construyeron modelos multivariados y se calculó razones de prevalencia e intervalos de confianza al 95%. La primera fase reveló que los SMS debían ser educativos-teóricos, motivacionales, y tipo test. En la intervención hubo 66 participantes en el grupo control e intervención. La edad promedio fue 17,7 (±1,2) años. El grupo intervención obtuvo calificación mayor en comparación con el grupo control (RP=4,82; IC 95%: 1,58-14,72). En conclusión, los SMS con contenido informativo y motivacional son útiles en la formación del pregrado en Medicina.

The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate the impact of an educational intervention with the use of text messages (SMS) in a first aid course. A prospective study and intervention was conducted. Two steps were implemented: 1) a qualitative study to design the SMS and 2) the intervention with the sending of the SMS messages. The outcome variable was the final grade of students. Multivariate models were constructed, prevalence ratios and confidence intervals at 95% were calculated. The first phase revealed that the SMS should be educational-theoretical, motivational, and multiple choice. In the intervention there were 66 participants in the control and intervention group. The average age was 17.7 (± 1.2) years. The intervention group obtained higher scores compared with the control group (PR = 4.82; 95% CI: 1.58 to 14.72). In conclusion, SMS with informative and motivational content is useful in the formation of undergraduate medicine.

Reduciendo las inequidades en salud y mejorando la salud materna mediante la mejora de los sistemas de información en salud: Wawared Perú / Wawared Peru: reducing health inequities and improving maternal health by improving information systems in health

En los países en desarrollo no existen datos de calidad para apoyar la toma de decisiones y la gobernanza, debido a inadecuados procesos de colección y transmisión de información. Nuestro proyecto WawaRed-Perú: "Reduciendo las inequidades en salud y mejorando la salud materna mediante la mejora de los sistemas de información en salud" propone mejorar los procesos e indicadores de salud materna a través de la implementación de estándares de interoperabilidad en los sistemas de información de salud materna para que los tomadores de decisión tengan información oportuna y de calidad. Con esto se desea apoyar a desarrollar mejores políticas de salud y, a su vez, contribuir a disminuir los problemas de equidad en salud de las mujeres peruanas, y potencialmente las mujeres de otros países en desarrollo. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar la situación actual de los sistemas de información de salud materna en el Perú.

In developing countries, there are no high quality data to support decision-making and governance due to inadequate information collection and transmission processes. Our project WawaRed-Peru: “Reducing health inequities and improving maternal health by improving health information systems” aims to improve maternal health processes and indicators through the implementation of interoperability standards for maternal health information systems in order for decision makers to have timely, high quality information. Through this project, we hope to support the development of better health policies and to also contribute to reducing problems of health equity among Peruvian women and potentially women in other developing countries. The aim of this article is to present the current state of information systems for maternal health in Peru.

Dried blood spots for qPCR diagnosis of acute Bartonella bacilliformis infection.

Bartonella bacilliformis is the etiological agent of a life-threatening illness. Thin blood smear is the most common diagnostic method for acute infection in endemic areas of Peru but remains of limited value because of low sensitivity. The aim of this study was to adapt a B. bacilliformis-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for use with dried blood spots (DBS) as a sampling method and assess its performance and use for the diagnosis and surveillance of acute Bartonella infection. Only two of 65 children (3%) that participated in this study had positive blood smears for B. bacilliformis, whereas 16 (including these two) were positive by PCR performed on DBS samples (24.6%). The use of DBS in combination with B. bacilliformis-specific PCR could be a useful tool for public health in identifying and monitoring outbreaks of infection and designing control programs to reduce the burden of this life-threatening illness.

Palliative care from a medical informatics perspective in Chile, Germany, and Peru.

This work explores a) the use of e-health systems in the context of palliative care and b) the information needs of patients, care givers and healthcare professionals in palliative care. To achieve this we conducted a systematic literature review and interviewed health professionals in Germany, Peru, and Chile. All countries have in common that specific e-health systems are rarely used in this context and the presence of a gradient of available care between rural and urban areas.

Tuberculin skin test conversion among health sciences students: a retrospective cohort study.

Previous studies have reported that health sciences students are at greater risk for tuberculosis infection, especially in developing countries. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence, incidence, and factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection among Health Sciences students in Peru. Students enrolled at private university (in Lima-Peru) are tested annually for tuberculosis infection by tuberculin skin test. Data on tuberculin skin test results between 2002 and 2009 was used in this retrospective cohort study, a total of 4842 students were included. Tuberculin skin test conversion was defined as the change of tuberculin skin test from negative (<10 mm) to positive (≥10 mm) after 48-72 h of inoculation. Baseline tuberculin skin test positivity was 1.0% (95%CI: 0.6%-1.3%), whereas tuberculin skin test conversion incidence was 12.4 per 100 person-years (95%CI: 11.8-13.0). This study showed that students from clinical careers in close contact with patients had an increased risk of tuberculosis infection in the internship, especially Medicine, Dentistry, Medical Technology and Nursing. Administrative, environmental and personal protection measures should be implemented and evaluated periodically in order to reduce the risk of exposure.

[Evaluation of the quality of information about pregnancy found in webpages according to the Peruvian guidelines]. / Evaluación de la calidad de información sobre el embarazo en páginas web según las guías peruanas.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the information quality about pregnancy symptoms in Spanish available in the internet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an analytic, cross-sectional study. In order to evaluate the selected websites, we used a methodology previously validated by Curró et al. The websites were selected from Google, MSN.com and Yahoo.com. The quality evaluation included three components: medical contents, accountability and usability of the website. The medical content was compared with the data available in the national guidelines for Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health, from the Peruvian Ministry of Health. RESULTS: Ninety nine websites in Spanish were evaluated. From them, 26.3% had medium adherence to the gold standard document. In 37.4% the websites were of low quality. A total of 24.2% were blogs, they were associated (as a protrective factor) to sites of poor quality (OR: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of websites in Spanish related to pregnancy symptoms have low quality. These findings indicate the need to properly educate patients and general public, and a critical evaluation of the information quality found at the Internet as well.

Evaluación de la calidad de información sobre el embarazo en páginas web según las guías peruanas / Evaluation of the quality of information about pregnancy found in webpages according to the Peruvian guidelines

Objetivos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la calidad de páginas web en español, que contengan información sobre los síntomas del embarazo. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal y analítico, empleando la metodología previamente validada por Curró et al. para evaluar la calidad de páginas web; estas páginas fueron recuperadas a través de búsquedas en Google, MSN.com y Yahoo.com. La evaluación de la calidad incluyó tres componentes: contenido médico, responsabilidad y usabilidad de la página web. El contenido médico fue contrastado con la información disponible en las guías nacionales de Atención Integral de la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva, del Ministerio de Salud del Perú. Resultados. Se evaluaron 99 páginas web con contenido en español. El 26,3% presentó media adherencia al patrón de oro. En el 32,3% se encontraron los tres factores evaluados de las guías nacionales; 37,4% eran páginas web de mala calidad. El 24,2% eran blogs los cuales estaban asociados, como factor protector, a páginas web de mala calidad (OR: 0,1, IC 95%: 0,02-0,5). Conclusiones. La mayoría de páginas web evaluadas en español, relacionadas con síntomas del embarazo, son de mala calidad. Estos resultados indican que se requiere educar adecuadamente a los pacientes y al público en general así como evaluar la calidad de información que se encuentra en Internet.

Objectives. The objective of this study is to evaluate the information quality about pregnancy symptoms in Spanish available in the internet. Materials and methods. This is an analytic, cross-sectional study. In order to evaluate the selected websites, we used a methodology previously validated by Curró et al. The websites were selected from Google, MSN.com and Yahoo.com. The quality evaluation included three components: medical contents, accountability and usability of the website. The medical content was compared with the data available in the national guidelines for Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health, from the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Results. Ninety nine websites in Spanish were evaluated. From them, 26.3% had medium adherence to the gold standard document. In 37.4% the websites were of low quality. A total of 24.2% were blogs, they were associated (as a protrective factor) to sites of poor quality (OR: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.5). Conclusions. The majority of websites in Spanish related to pregnancy symptoms have low quality. These findings indicate the need to properly educate patients and general public, and a critical evaluation of the information quality found at the Internet as well.