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The aim of this study was to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on food surfaces and surfaces in public spaces in 3 districts of Lima, Peru. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in three districts of the Lima metropolitan area. Surfaces that were most exposed to users were selected. Samples were swabbed for 4 weeks and transported to the laboratory to determine the presence of the virus. One thousand ninety-five inert surface samples and 960 food surface samples were evaluated for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 by the real time-PCR molecular test, whereby only one sample from an automated teller machine was positive. Most of the inert and food surfaces evaluated did not show the presence of SARS-CoV-2 during the time of sample collection. Despite the negative results, the frequency of disinfection and hygiene measures on high-contact surfaces should be maintained and increased to prevent other highly contagious infectious diseases.

Objectives.: To evaluate and compare the macronutrient distribution of the food baskets delivered by Peruvian municipalities during the COVID-19 pandemic according to the geographic domain and assigned budget level., Materials and Methods.: Secondary analysis of the database "Consultation of Acquisition and distribution of basic necessities of the basic family basket" of the General Comptroller of the Republic. Stratified probability sampling was carried out. The caloric intake distribution was calculated according to macronutrients and compared with the Acceptable Intervals of Macronutrient Distribution (IADM) of the Nutrition Institute of Central America and Panama (INCAP) and the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI)., Results.: At the national level, the median caloric intake of proteins was 7.7%; for carbohydrates it was 62.5%; and for fats it was 28.1%. The proportion of municipalities with protein deficit was 84%; Municipalities with excess carbohydrates ranged from 16.5% (according to INCAP) to 35.9% (according to INDECI), and with excess fat, it was between 61.6% (according to INCAP) and 20.2% (according to INDECI). According to INDECI, nationally only 9.2% of municipalities delivered baskets with an adequate distribution of macronutrients; Metropolitan Lima stands out with the highest proportions of adequate baskets, while in the Jungle region this percentage was less than 5%., Conclusions.: Most of the baskets delivered did not have adequate macronutrient distribution. Especially the baskets of municipalities outside of Metropolitan Lima or those that had smaller budget. Carbohydrates and fats were the nutrients that were included in excess, while proteins were deficient.

Objectives.: To determine the ratio of microcephaly in newborns in level II and III health facilities of the Ministry of Health (MINSA) of Peru for the period 2005-2013., Materials and Methods.: A secondary analysis of the databases of the Perinatal Information System was carried out during 2005-2013. Microcephaly was identified applying World Health Organization (WHO), Fenton, mixed (WHO-Fenton), and proportionality criteria. The ratios and indices of microcephaly were estimated per 10,000 live births (LB) by region and concordance was compared, using the WHO parameter as a reference., Results.: The ratio of microcephaly during 2005 to 2013 was 3.4%, the average rate of microcephaly was 335 per 10,000 LBs according to the WHO criterion. The mixed parameter showed a substantial concordance (Kappa of 0.635), while the proportionality parameter showed a reasonable concordance (Kappa of 0.298)., Conclusions.: The ratio of microcephaly in MINSA Level II and III health facilities was higher than that reported in other countries in the region before the appearance of Zika in the Americas. The frequency variations observed with those of other countries and among Peruvian regions could be explained by different factors, such as the technique for measuring head circumference, data capture, constitutional factors, and social determinants. We suggest standardizing measurements and their recording, harmonizing diagnostic criteria, and establishing health strategies to strengthen the epidemiological surveillance of the causes of microcephaly.

Iron supplementation programs, despite evidence of their effectiveness in controlled conditions, are not effective as largescale interventions in health services because of the necessary involvement during execution of a series of processes that, when not fulfilled, limit the implementation of the program. In many cases, the lack of impact of interventions to provide iron supplements is the result of failures or deviations from execution rather than flaws in the intervention design (theory of change) or intervention strategy. The objective of this study was to share the lessons learned in the execution of a community trial in 2015 to improve adherence to micronutrient powder supplementation in children younger than 3 years in four regions of Peru, as well as to provide recommendations on iron supplementation in children to help close gaps in the design and execution of public policies.

Objectives: To estimate the economic impact of chronic, acute and global malnutrition in Peru., Materials and Methods: This study, through an econometric model, estimated the economic impact of child malnutrition in two time horizons (incidental retrospective and prospective) during 2011, considering malnutrition-associated costs of health, education and productivity for the Peruvian economy. Information collected is a combination of data coming from the Demographic Survey of Family Health, the National Survey of Homes, the 2007 Census of Population and Housing, and public budget information, as well as estimates of risks a child is exposed to due to malnutrition during their first years of life., Results: Nationwide it was found that in the perspective retrospective, the cost of child malnutrition in 2011 was 10,999 million soles, which was equal to 2.2% of GDP for that same year. Prospective costs nationwide, of those who by 2011 were 0 to 59 months, reached 4,505 million soles and represented 0.9% of GDP in 2011. Most cases stem from losses of productivity in both cases. Moreover, malnutrition affects much more both the Andes and jungle regions., Conclusions: The economic impact of child malnutrition represents a significant percentage of GDP, reason for which it is necessary to continue investing equitably in its prevention through participation with proven efficiency.

Objectives: To assess the implementation of the Universal "Chispitas®" Multimicronutrient Supplement Program in Apurimac by determining the quantity and quality of sachets consumed and their connection with anemia, in 6 - 35-month-old children., Materials and Methods: A crosscut study was conducted by using a multistage sample in 2010. Anemia was considered to be related to altitude-adjusted hemoglobin values below 110 g/L. The consumption of multimicronutrients was classified as follows: less than 30; 30 to 59, and 60 or more sachets. The quality of consumption was considered to be adequate when the mother indicated that the child ate all his food with the supplement. The rationale for prevalence (RPa) adjusted by Poisson regression was calculated., Results: 714 participants were included, 25.3% of which lived in poor houses and 59.2% in extreme poverty; 52.6% lived at over 3000 m of altitude. The prevalence of anemia was 51.3% (CI95%: 47.1-55.4%), 5.4% did not receive intervention; 60.3% consumed 60 or more sachets and 49.0% consumed them adequately. No association between the number of sachets received or consumed and anemia (p<0.05) was found. Children who consumed the supplement adequately showed lower prevalence of anemia than those who did not (RPa: 0.81; CI95%: 0.68-0.96), Conclusions: In order to reduce the prevalence of anemia, attention should not only focus on giving or consuming the necessary quantity of multimicronutrients, but also on ensuring that the consumption process is adequate, and work needs to be done in this area in order to improve this intervention.

Objectives: Analyze the nutritional changes among current and old beneficiaries of the Food and Nutrition Program for Outpatients with Tuberculosis and their Family (PANTBC, Spanish acronym)., Materials and Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted based on the anthropometric measurements with the body mass index (BMI) in current and old beneficiaries of the PANTBC program. The measurements were taken at the baseline, second and fifth or sixth month, and the distribution of the nutritional status was analyzed at baseline as compared to the endpoint (McNemar-Bowker test)., Results: Information about 409 current beneficiaries and 110 old beneficiaries were included. A progressive decline in low weight as well as an increase in overweight were observed in both current and old beneficiaries (IMC<18.5). The results of the third measurement showed that 57.7% of current beneficiaries who started with low weight ended up with normal weight, while 20.7% of those who started with normal weight ended up with overweight. The analysis of the nutritional status at baseline compared to the endpoint showed changes in distribution (p<0.05)., Conclusions: Across the PANTBC program, there is a variation of beneficiaries' nutritional status, showing a tendency to go from a lower level to a higher level of BMI.