South American Validation of a Survey to Assess Eco-Anxiety in Adults (ECO-ANS-LATAM).

Background: climate change is a reality, and more and more people are becoming aware of this global problem, which has generated anxiety in some populations. To validate a short survey to assess eco-anxiety in adults in South America. Methods: It is an instrumental study, and the validation was based on a previous survey, which had six questions and was generated by 217 respondents in the USA in 2021. These questions were subjected to a validation process with expert judgment, pilot and application, and then statistics were obtained. It was validated with 1907 people in six countries in South America, where the mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis were adequate. Results: The initial confirmatory factorial model obtained unsatisfactory goodness-of-fit indices, so the indices were modified through a re-specification, where two items were eliminated, after which adequate values were obtained (χ2 = 22.34, df = 2, p = 0.00; RMR = 0.020; GFI = 0.990; CFI = 0.990; TLI = 0.990; and RMSEA = 0.070). Finally, the overall Cronbach's α was calculated to be 0.88 (95% CI = 0.86-0.89). Conclusions: The test was validated in a large South American population and found that only four questions can efficiently measure anxiety about the effects of climate change. The instrument can be used with other tests to screen different age groups, ethnicities and realities.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder risk post-COVID-19 in 12 countries in Latin America: a cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Latin America was the region most affected by COVID-19 in the second quarter of 2020, and consequently, the impact on mental health requires evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by bereavement due to COVID-19 in 12 countries in Latin America. Methods: The current study was an analytical cross-sectional study. Validated tests were applied for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), questions about the respondent's condition or their environment, and demographic questions, as well as the length of the mourning period of suffering. Results: The outcomes demonstrated that the PTSD risk increased for women (p < 0.001), when a friend or acquaintance had COVID-19 (p = 0.002), when a close relative died from COVID-19 (p = 0.010), having severe depression (p <0.001), severe anxiety (p <0.001), severe stress (p <0.001), residing in Chile (p <0.001), Paraguay (p <0.001), Bolivia (p <0.001), Costa Rica (p <0.001) or El Salvador (p = 0.005). On the other hand, there was less risk of PTSD at an older age (p <0.001) or if respondents had a sentimental partner (p = 0.025). In the case of severe PTSD, there was a greater gender risk for women (p <0.001), a close relative dying from COVID-19 (p = 0.017), having severe depression (p <0.001), severe anxiety (p <0.001), severe stress (p <0.001), residing in Chile (p <0.001), Paraguay (p <0.001), Bolivia (p <0.001) and Costa Rica (p = 0.002). It was also observed that there was less risk of severe PTSD at an older age demographic (p <0.001). Discussion: It can be concluded that the percentages of PTSD are high in its clinical presentation as severe, especially among Latin American women.

Percepción De Conocimientos Y Actitudes Frente A COVID-19 En Un Grupo De Ciudadanos De La Zona Urbana De Huánuco / Perception of knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 in a group of citizens in the urban area of Huánuco

Objetivo. Identificar la relación entre los conocimientos y el tipo de actitudes frente a la COVID-19 en los ciudadanos de la zona urbana de Huánuco. Métodos. Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, con enfoque cuantitativo; realizado en la ciudad de Huánuco, 2020. La muestra fueron 168 ciudadanos. Se aplicaron un cuestionario de conocimientos y una escala de actitudes frente a la COVID-19 previamente validados. Se aplicó la prueba χ² de Pearson y el coeficiente de correlación (rho) de Spearman. Resultados. Al analizar el tipo de conocimiento frente a la COVID-19, el 62,5 % (105) de la muestra se ubicó en la categoría "desconoce". Analizando el tipo de actitudes percibidos por los ciudadanos frente a la COVID-19, el 36,9 % (62) tuvieron actitudes positivas, mientras que el 63,1 % (106) presentó actitudes negativas. Contrastando la relación del conocimiento y el tipo de actitudes frente a la COVID-19, se encontró significancia estadística entre ambas variables (p <0,005). El grado de escolaridad presentó relación significativa con los conocimientos sobre la COVID-19 (r = 0,314; p < 0,000). Conclusión. Existe relación directa entre los conocimientos y el tipo de actitudes frente a la COVID-19 en los ciudadanos de la zona urbana de Huánuco; es decir, existe desconocimiento sobre la COVID-ia19 y, a su vez, la gran mayoría evidencia actitudes negativas.

Objective. To identify relationship between knowledge and type of attitudes towards COVID-19 in the citizens of the urban area of Huánuco. Methods. Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach. It was carried out in the city of Huánuco, 2020. Sample comprised 168 citizens. A previously validated knowledge questionnaire and an attitudes scale towards COVID-19 were applied. Pearson's χ² test and Spearman's correlation coefficient (rho) were applied. Results. When analyzing the type of knowledge regarding COVID-19, 62.5% (105) of the sample was located in the category "unknown". Analyzing the type of attitudes perceived by citizens towards COVID-19, 36.9% (62) had positive attitudes, while 63.1% (106) presented negative attitudes. Contrasting the relationship of knowledge and the type of attitudes towards COVID-19, statistical significance was found between both variables (p <0.005). The level of education presented a significant relationship with knowledge about COVID-19 (r = 0.314; p <0.000). Conclusion. There is a direct relationship between the knowledge and the type of attitudes towards COVID-19 in the citizens of the urban area of Huánuco. In other words, there is ignorance about COVID-19. The vast majority show negative attitudes.

The implementation of the Plan Esperanza and response to the imPACT Review.

Following the implementation of the National Cancer Prevention and Control Results-based Budget Programme (PpR Cancer-024) in 2011, the Peruvian Government approved the Plan Esperanza-a population-based national cancer control plan-in 2012. Legislation that ensured full government-supported funding for people who were otherwise unable to access or afford care and treatment accompanied the Plan. In 2013, the Ministry of Health requested an integrated mission of the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (imPACT) report to strengthen cancer control in Peru. The imPACT Review, which was executed in 2014, assessed Peru's achievements in cancer control, and areas for improvement, including cancer control planning, further development of population-based cancer registration, increased prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care, and the engagement and participation of civil society in the health-care system. This Series paper gives a brief history of the development of the Plan Esperanza, describes the innovative funding model that supports it, and summarises how funds are disseminated on the basis of disease, geography, and demographics. An overview of the imPACT Review, and the government's response in the context of the Plan Esperanza, is provided. The development and execution of the Plan Esperanza and the execution of and response to the imPACT Review demonstrates the Peruvian Government's commitment to fighting cancer across the country, including in remote and urban areas.