Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume 12, Issue 6, 2005, Pages 327-331

High-risk travel abroad overtook low-risk travel from 1999 to 2004: Characterization and trends in 2,622 Spanish travelers (Article)

Valerio L.* , Martínez O. , Sabrià M. , Esteve M. , Urbiztondo L. , Roca C.
  • a Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine, Barcelonès Nord i Maresme International Health Unit, Institut Català de la Salut, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain, Pge. Valeri Serra 10-18, 7è, 08011, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  • b Barcelonès Nord i Maresme International Health Unit, Institut Català de la Salut, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Barcelona, Spain
  • c Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona, Spain
  • d Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Institut Català de la Salut, Badalona, Spain
  • e Departament de Sanitat, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
  • f Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine, El Clot Primary Health Centre, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Background: Travel medicine in Spain is provided by a few specialized centers that do not come under the auspices of the main health system. Some kind of reform is required to avoid common summer collapses and postponements of the service. In contrast to other European countries, neither the exact role nor the responsibilities of general practitioners and primary health care in travel medicine are clearly defined. Methods: An observational study was performed with retrospective data concerning 2,622 travelers from 1999 to 2004. Although the study was performed at a third-level travel medicine center, continuous contact with and support to general practitioners was maintained throughout the period. Results: International travel was a steadily increasing reality between 1999 and 2004 despite well-known tragic events involving world safety. The number of high-risk travels (53.4%) also increased and even overtook low-risk ones (46.6%). This trend was explained as the result of an increasing number of journeys to sub-Saharan Africa (14.9%) and those made by traveling immigrants (64.1% of those journeys), which represented a significantly higher proportion of high-risk travels compared with those made by autochthonous subjects (52.1%; p < .001). Moreover, traveling immigrants tend to consult more frequently in periods < 15 days prior to travel than do autochthonous travelers (p < .0001). A substantial number of highly vulnerable travelers, such as pregnant women, infants, elderly people, and immunosuppressed subjects, was found (1.8%). Low-risk travelers who could have been advised and vaccinated by general practitioners were 1,139 (43.4%). Conclusions: Given the increasing number of travelers undertaking high-risk travels abroad, any kind of reinforcement of travel medicine provision in Spain should be considered essential. General practitioners could attend to a significant proportion of low-risk travelers.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

tropical medicine health promotion Europe Preventive Health Services human risk assessment Communicable Diseases immigration middle aged travel atovaquone general practitioner proguanil doxycycline Humans Adolescent consultation Infant, Newborn male Spain female antimalarial agent safety Infant Child, Preschool communicable disease control Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article high risk behavior Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult Emigration and Immigration Patient Acceptance of Health Care vaccination primary health care mefloquine chloroquine Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-30944439842&partnerID=40&md5=50a7a65b394d87e1086ff209ad46b77d
ISSN: 11951982
Cited by: 14
Original Language: English