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OBJECTIVE: We sought to explore the association of religious and spiritual coping with multiple measures of well-being in Latinos caring for older relatives with long-term or permanent disability, either with or without dementia. METHODS: Using a multi-dimensional survey instrument, we conducted in-home interviews with 66 predominantly Mexican-American Catholic family caregivers near the US-Mexico border. We assessed caregivers' intrinsic, organizational and non-organizational religiosity with the Duke Religiosity Index, as well as Pargament's brief positive and negative spiritual coping scale to determine the association of religiosity with caregivers' mental and physical health, depressive symptomatology and perceived burden. RESULTS: Using regression analysis, we controlled for sociocultural factors (e.g. familism, acculturation), other forms of formal and informal support, care recipients' functional status and characteristics of the caregiving dyad. Intrinsic and organizational religiosity was associated with lower perceived burden, while non-organizational religiosity was associated with poorer mental health. Negative religious coping (e.g. feelings that the caregiver burden is a punishment) predicted greater depression. CONCLUSION: Measures of well-being should be evaluated in relation to specific styles of religious and spiritual coping, given our range of findings. Further investigation is warranted regarding how knowledge of the positive and negative associations between religiosity and caregiving may assist healthcare providers in supporting Latino caregivers.

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This study was designed to determine factors that influence female and male condom use among Central American women, applying the theory of planned behavior. A cross-sectional design was employed and a sample of 175 Central American women, 18-50 years old, was recruited from a community-based clinic in Los Angeles County. Participants in this study were interviewed face-to-face. Attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control explained 41% and 45% of the variation in the intention to use male and female condoms, respectively. Respondents' friends and mothers influenced their subjective norms. Beliefs regarding sexual sensation and sexually transmitted infection/pregnancy prevention affected respondents' attitudes toward condoms. Trust issues were also a major factor affecting attitudes toward female condoms. Condom use and sex negotiation skills predicted control over condoms. Results of this study can be used to design HIV/AIDS prevention programs that help women feel control over condom use and their sexual behavior.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess Peruvian mothers' knowledge and recognition of pneumonia in children under 5 years of age, the mothers' attitude toward seeking medical help if they had a child with signs of pneumonia, and their perception of a Government of Peru pneumonia campaign. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 501 mothers were selected randomly from 20 low-income communities of the metropolitan area of Lima, Peru, and were interviewed between June and August 2000. Using SPSS software, descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the demographic data and the data regarding the mothers' knowledge of pneumonia and recognition of signs of the disease. Cross-tabulations and chi-squares were done to assess relationships between variables and to make comparisons. RESULTS: About 84% of the mothers said that they knew what pneumonia is. Most believed that pneumonia is dangerous. A majority (58.7%) indicated that pneumonia is caused by lack of parental care. Only 28.9% believed that a virus causes the disease. More than 80% correctly picked rapid breathing and/or chest retraction from a list of possible signs and symptoms of pneumonia, and 94.6% said they were ready to take their child to the closest health center if they thought their child had pneumonia. Although 57.1% said they had heard about the Government of Peru pneumonia campaign, 69.3% of these mothers said they could not recall the motto of the campaign. Mothers who reported having heard of the campaign through TV were more likely than other mothers to correctly recognize the two major signs of pneumonia presented in the campaign. CONCLUSIONS: Although the percentage of mothers believing they can recognize pneumonia through rapid breathing and chest retraction seems to have increased in recent years, there is still a sizable percentage of mothers who remain uninformed about pneumonia and its possible fatal consequences. Efforts need to continue to educate Peruvian mothers about the causes, recognition of the signs, and treatment of pneumonia. The results suggest that the Government of Peru pneumonia campaign should use television much more, as well as the health centers, where most of the mothers receive medical attention and health information.

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Objetivo. Evaluar los conocimientos de madres peruanas sobre la neumonía y el reconocimiento de sus síntomas en niños menores de 5 años, la actitud de las madres hacia la búsqueda de asistencia médica cuando un hijo presenta signos de neumonía y percepción de las madres en torno a una campaña del Gobierno del Perú contra la enfermedad. Métodos. En este estudio transversal, 501 madres fueron seleccionadas aleatoriamente en 20 comunidades pobres de la zona metropolitana de Lima, Perú, y fueron entrevistadas entre junio y agosto de 2000. Mediante el uso del programa SPSS, se aplicaron las estadísticas descriptivas para resumir los datos demográficos y los que guardaban relación con los conocimientos de las madres en torno a la neumonía y con su capacidad para reconocer los signos de la enfermedad. Se realizaron cálculos cruzados y de ji al cuadrado para determinar la relación entre variables y hacer comparaciones. Resultados. Alrededor de 84% de las madres dijeron que sabían qué es la neumonía. La mayoría sabían que se trata de una enfermedad peligrosa. Una buena parte (58,7%) afirmó que la neumonía está causada por una atención inadecuada por parte de los padres. Solamente 28,9% creía que la neumonía está causada por un virus. Más de 80% identificaron correctamente la respiración rápida, la retracción torácica o ambas de una lista de posibles signos y síntomas de neumonía, y 94,6% dijeron que estaban preparadas para llevar a sus hijos al centro de salud más cercano si pensaban que el niño podía tener neumonía. Pese a que 57,1% dijeron haber oído de la campaña del Gobierno del Perú en torno a la enfermedad, 69,3% de estas madres no pudieron recordar el lema de la campaña. Las madres que dijeron haberse enterado de la campaña por la televisión fueron más propensas que las otras madres a reconocer correctamente los dos signos principales de neumonía presentados en la campaña. Conclusiones. Pese a que en años recientes parece haber aumentado el porcentaje de madres que se sienten capaces de reconocer un caso de neumonía por la respiración rápida y retracción del pecho, sigue habiendo un porcentaje importante de madres que siguen careciendo de información sobre la neumonía y sus posibles consecuencias letales. Es necesario seguir educando a las madres peruanas sobre las causas de la enfermedad, sus signos y síntomas y su tratamiento. Los resultados indican que la campaña del Gobierno del Perú en torno a la neumonía debe hacer mayor uso de la televisión y de los centros de saludu, donde la mayoría de las madres reciben atención médica e información de salud

Objective. To assess Peruvian mothers' knowledge and recognition of pneumonia in children under 5 years of age, the mothers' attitude toward seeking medical help if they had a child with signs of pneumonia, and their perception of a Government of Peru pneumonia campaign. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 501 mothers were selected randomly from 20 lowincome communities of the metropolitan area of Lima, Peru, and were interviewed between June and August 2000. Using SPSS software, descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the demographic data and the data regarding the mothers' knowledge of pneumonia and recognition of signs of the disease. Cross-tabulations and chi-squares were done to assess relationships between variables and to make comparisons. Results. About 84% of the mothers said that they knew what pneumonia is. Most believed that pneumonia is dangerous. A majority (58.7%) indicated that pneumonia is caused by lack of parental care. Only 28.9% believed that a virus causes the disease. More than 80% correctly picked rapid breathing and/or chest retraction from a list of possible signs and symptoms of pneumonia, and 94.6% said they were ready to take their child to the closest health center if they thought their child had pneumonia. Although 57.1% said they had heard about the Government of Peru pneumonia campaign, 69.3% of these mothers said they could not recall the motto of the campaign. Mothers who reported having heard of the campaign through TV were more likely than other mothers to correctly recognize the two major signs of pneumonia presented in the campaign. Conclusions. Although the percentage of mothers believing they can recognize pneumonia through rapid breathing and chest retraction seems to have increased in recent years, there is still a sizable percentage of mothers who remain uninformed about pneumonia and its possible fatal consequences. Efforts need to continue to educate Peruvian mothers about the causes, recognition of the signs, and treatment of pneumonia. The results suggest that the Government of Peru pneumonia campaign should use television much more, as well as the health centers, where most of the mothers receive medical attention and health information

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