This study identifies a theoretical mechanism through which communication with friends about sex influences sexual initiation in a sample of adolescents. The Integrative Model was used to assess the effect of attitudes, normative pressure and self efficacy on intentions to have sex in a sample of virgin adolescents. Results show that the constructs of the theory partially mediated the effect of communication with friends on subsequent sexual initiation. The effect of communication with friends on sexual initiation was not different for males and females. Overall, the results suggest how conversations with friends about sex influence adolescents' intentions to initiate sexual intercourse, which in turn influence subsequent sexual initiation. Keywords Communication with friends; sexual initiation; adolescents; Integrative ModelThere is evidence that psychosocial factors influence the sexual behavior of adolescents (Buhi & Goodson, 2007). In a review of the studies of the last decades, Kirby(2002) found that having older friends or having more permissive attitudes towards pre-marital sex were among the risk factors of sexual initiation. Social psychology has contributed to this body of evidence through research based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) and its later versions, the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) and the Integrative Model (Fishbein, 2000(Fishbein, , 2007(Fishbein, , 2008.The Theory of Reasoned Action assumes that behaviors under volitional control are predicted by the intention to engage in the behavior. Behavioral intention is predicted by two constructs: attitudes towards performing the specific behavior and subjective norms influencing the behavior (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975). Recognizing that volitional control varies across behaviors, Ajzen (1991) proposed the Theory of Planned Behavior, an extension of the Theory of Reasoned Action that included perceived behavioral control as a third cognitive variable influencing both the formation of intentions and behavioral performance. The Theory of Planned Behavior was later extended to explicitly recognize that skills and environmental factors may moderate the intention/behavior relationship and to acknowledge that normative NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript pressure involves two sources of influence: injunctive and descriptive norms (Fishbein, 2007(Fishbein, , 2008. Injunctive norms are the perceptions of what others think one should do, while descriptive norms are the perceptions of what others are doing (Cialdini et al., 1990). Because his extension also explicitly considers the role of variables from other behavioral theories (e.g., perceived risk, emotion), this latest version of the reasoned action approach was called an Integrative Model Fishbein, 2000Fishbein, , 2007Fishbein, , 2008Fishbein & Yzer, 2003).Several studies have used the reasoned action approach to predict sexual behaviors and behavioral intentions (e.g. Albarracín et al., 2001;Gillmore et al., 2002). These...

SUMMARYIn Germany, active bat rabies surveillance was conducted between 1993 and 2012. A total of 4546 oropharyngeal swab samples from 18 bat species were screened for the presence of EBLV-1-, EBLV-2-and BBLV-specific RNA. Overall, 0·15% of oropharyngeal swab samples tested EBLV-1 positive, with the majority originating from Eptesicus serotinus. Interestingly, out of seven RT-PCR-positive oropharyngeal swabs subjected to virus isolation, viable virus was isolated from a single serotine bat (E. serotinus). Additionally, about 1226 blood samples were tested serologically, and varying virus neutralizing antibody titres were found in at least eight different bat species. The detection of viral RNA and seroconversion in repeatedly sampled serotine bats indicates long-term circulation of the virus in a particular bat colony. The limitations of random-based active bat rabies surveillance over passive bat rabies surveillance and its possible application of targeted approaches for future research activities on bat lyssavirus dynamics and maintenance are discussed.

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While there is already consensus in the scientific community about the deleterious effects of TV exposure, especially through TV advertisements, on children's beliefs, preferences, and food intake, the link between TV and children's eating behaviors is under-studied in Peru, a country experiencing a steady economic growth in recent years and currently with a status of upper-middle-income country. Following research about the effects of media exposure on childhood obesity, we report on a qualitative study of TV viewing and the eating habits of children attending elementary schools in Lima, the capital. Data from eight focus groups with 38 boys and girls between 6 and 11 years old, eight focus groups with 36 female caretakers, and in-depth interviews with two fathers provided consistent information about children's eating habits and media viewing patterns. After dual coding the entire corpus of qualitative data, we found that children watch a great deal of TV during the school season: children watch as early as when they wake up in the morning, then during lunchtime (after returning from school), and then again after completing their homework from 5 pm to 9 pm or 10 pm. Survey data from the parents showed that, on average, children watch about 5 hours of TV on weekdays and more during a weekend-day. This large amount of exposure is concerning, especially because the focus groups revealed that children (1) recall a number of TV advertisements involving food items, (2) request food items seen on TV, and (3) are able to buy food for themselves, which usually involves chocolate, candy, or potato chips. Boys and girls reported different favorite TV shows, suggesting differences in exposure to TV content related to food. In addition, some families reported drinking sodas frequently, underlining a behavior that should be discouraged by public health officials.

Human capital requires opportunities to develop and capacity to overcome challenges, together with an enabling environment that fosters critical and disruptive innovation. Exploring such features is necessary to establish the foundation of solid long-term partnerships. In this paper we describe the experience of the CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, based at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, as a case study for fostering meaningful and sustainable partnerships for international collaborative research. The CRONICAS Centre of Excellence in Chronic Diseases was established in 2009 with the following Mission: “We support the development of young researchers and collaboration with national and international institutions. Our motivation is to improve population’s health through high quality research.” The Centre’s identity is embedded in its core values — generosity, innovation, integrity, and quality— and its trajectory is a result of various interactions between multiple individuals, collaborators, teams, and institutions, which together with the challenges confronted, enables us to make an objective assessment of the partnership we would like to pursue, nurture and support. We do not intend to provide a single example of a successful partnership, but in contrast, to highlight what can be translated into opportunities to be faced by research groups based in low- and middle-income countries, and how these encounters can provide a strong platform for fruitful and sustainable partnerships. In defiant contexts, partnerships require to be nurtured and sustained. Acknowledging that all partnerships are not and should not be the same, we also need to learn from the evolution of such relationships, its key successes, hurdles and failures to contribute to the promotion of a culture of global solidarity where mutual goals, mutual gains, as well as mutual responsibilities are the norm. In so doing, we will all contribute to instil a new culture where expectations, roles and interactions among individuals and their teams are horizontal, the true nature of partnerships.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to design and develop a set of, short message service (SMS) to promote specialized mental health care seeking within the framework of the Allillanchu Project.MethodsThe design phase consisted of 39 interviews with potential recipients of the SMS, about use of cellphones, and perceptions and motivations towards seeking mental health care. After the data collection, the research team developed a set of seven SMS for validation. The content validation phase consisted of 24 interviews. The participants answered questions regarding their understanding of the SMS contents and rated its appeal.ResultsThe seven SMS subjected to content validation were tailored to the recipient using their name. The reminder message included the working hours of the psychology service at the patient's health center. The motivational messages addressed perceived barriers and benefits when seeking mental health services. The average appeal score of the seven SMS was 9.0 (SD±0.4) of 10 points. Participants did not make significant suggestions to change the wording of the messages.ConclusionsFive SMS were chosen to be used. This approach is likely to be applicable to other similar low-resource settings, and the methodology used can be adapted to develop SMS for other chronic conditions.

Objectives Data on gender representation in food and beverage advertisements may allow for a better understanding of how the food industry is targeting different audiences based on gender. Nonetheless, scant research on food and beverage print advertising with a gender approach has been conducted. Therefore, we sought to assess the prevalence of gender focus in print advertisements found inside corner stores in two cities: Guatemala City, Guatemala, and Lima, Peru. Data description We developed two complementary datasets as part of the study: (1) a dataset of digital photographs of 200 food and beverage print advertisements found in corner stores located near schools (100 ads per country selected according to criteria such as product type, image quality, and uniqueness); (2) a quantitative dataset with data of the content analysis of these photographs. We employed 19 variables to record the general information and gender assessment of the ads. These datasets should allow scholars and public officials to identify gender-specific marketing strategies of the food industry that might impact children’s and adolescents’ nutrition differently.

Studies have shown that heavy television exposure is a risk factor for childhood overweight and obesity. This relationship is most typically attributed to the influence of food advertising. Despite this growing array of studies, one limitation is that these studies have focused almost exclusively on high-income countries. It is unclear whether such findings hold true in low-or middle-income countries. To address this gap, this study investigated the relationship between television exposure and unhealthy snack consumption (a risk factor for childhood overweight/obesity) in a sample of Peruvian children aged 6-13 (n = 265). Results indicate that television exposure is indeed cross-sectionally and longitudinally related with unhealthy snack consumption. But for children from high socioeconomic status families, this relationship is even more pronounced. These findings justify efforts to help parents manage their children's television viewing as well as efforts to regulate food advertising in Peru. To date, the claim that heavy TV viewing increases the probability of obesity among young children (Hastings et al., 2003; Institute of Medicine, 2006) has most typically been supported with research conducted in high-income countries (The World Bank, 2014a) such as the