Journal of Community Health
Volume 44, Issue 4, 2019, Pages 704-711

A Community-Based Intervention for the Detection of Chagas Disease in Barcelona, Spain (Article)

Gómez i Prat J.* , Peremiquel-Trillas P. , Claveria Guiu I. , Choque E. , Oliveira Souto I. , Serre Delcor N. , Sulleiro E. , Espasa M. , Pastoret C. , de los Santos J.J. , Ouaarab H. , Albajar Viñas P. , Ascaso Terren C.
  • a Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain
  • b Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain, Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
  • c Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain
  • d Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain
  • e Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain
  • f Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain
  • g Microbiology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
  • h Microbiology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
  • i Banc de Sang i Teixits de Catalunya, Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
  • j Fundación MundoSano España, Madrid, Spain
  • k Drassanes-Vall d’Hebron International Health Unit, International Health Programme, PROSICS, Institut Català de la Salut, Av. de les Drassanes, 17, Barcelona, Catalonia 08001, Spain
  • l Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Innovative & Intensified Disease Management, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Neglected Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
  • m Department of Public Health, August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Chagas disease (CHD) has become a challenge in Spain due to the high prevalence of immigrants coming from endemic areas. One of the main difficulties for its control and elimination is its underdiagnosis. The identification and integral treatment of CHD are key to increasing rates of diagnosis, overcoming psycho-social barriers and avoiding CHD progression. Community interventions with in situ screening have proven to be a useful tool in detecting CHD among those with difficulties accessing health services. To determine the underdiagnosis rate of the population most susceptible to CHD among those attending two different Bolivian cultural events celebrated in Barcelona; to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the people screened; and to analyse the results of the screening. The community interventions were carried out at two Bolivian cultural events held in Barcelona in 2017. Participants were recruited through community health agents. A questionnaire was given to determine the participants’ prior knowledge of CHD. In situ screening was offered to those who had not previously been screened. Those who did not wish to be screened were asked for the reason behind their decision. Results were gathered in a database and statistical analyses were performed using STATA v14. 635 interviews were carried out. 95% of the subjects reported prior knowledge of CHD. 271 subjects were screened: 71.2% women and 28.8% men, of whom 87.8% were of Bolivian origin. The prevalence of CHD was 8.9%. Community health interventions with in situ screening are essential to facilitating access to diagnosis. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

In situ screening Chagas Community health Community interventions

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85068164033&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-019-00684-z&partnerID=40&md5=813d11e45776699f8b98c24e7d8bd936
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00684-z
ISSN: 00945145
Original Language: English