Negative aging stereotypes and their relation with psychosocial variables in the elderly population.

This study explores whether there is a relationship between the level of belief in negative aging stereotypes in 65-year-old people and their results concerning some psychosocial variables. These were selected for their relevance for health and well being in elderly people. These were: living situation, responsibilities toward others, subjective health, frequency of medical appointments, subjective age, participation in community social activities and regular physical activity. The sample consisted of 757 people of low educational level, ranged from 65 to 96 years. Age and gender were homogeneously distributed. Participants were non-institutionalized people. Firstly, the psychosocial variables under focus were assessed by means of seven questions. Secondly, a questionnaire about negative aging stereotypes (CENVE) was administered. It was composed of three factors: health, motivational-social and character-personality. Results show that a high score in negative stereotypes is significantly associated to the studied variables, except for living situation, showing a worse quality of life (QoL) profile. Results are discussed in terms of their utility for assessment and psychosocial intervention, which is meant to improve health in the elderly.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) infection among ethnically and geographically diverse Peruvian women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the seroprevalence and risk factors for HTLV-I infection in Peruvian women. METHODS: Five hundred and sixty-eight healthy women >20 years of age from three Peruvian regions were randomly selected and screened for HTLV-I. ELISA-reactive sera were confirmed via immunofluorescence assay, recombinant immunoblot assay, Western blot, and PCR. Women from Huanta (n=303), an Andean city inhabited by indigenous Quechuans, El Carmen (n=132), a primarily African-American coastal town, and Lima (n=133), with its Mestizo population, were selected. RESULTS: HTLV-I antibodies were present in 2.5% (14/568) of women (1.3% in Huanta, 3.8% in El Carmen, and 3.8% in Lima); 2.5%, 2.7% and 2.6% of Quechuans, Mestizas and African-Americans, respectively, were infected. History of a blood transfusion (P <0.00002), chronic scabies (P <0.02), having a relative with leukemia (P <0.04), age +/- 38 years (P <0.03), young age at first intercourse (P <0.04), lifetime partners >4 (P <0.04), educational status (P <0.02) and >4 pregnancies (P <0.03) were significantly associated with infection. CONCLUSIONS: HTLV-I is endemic among asymptomatic Peruvian women. Parenteral, vertical and heterosexual transmission are associated with infection.