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Zingales B, Macedo AM. Fifteen Years after the Definition of Trypanosoma cruzi DTUs: What Have We Learned? Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2339. [PMID: 38137940 PMCID: PMC10744745 DOI: 10.3390/life13122339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan causative of Chagas disease (ChD), exhibits striking genetic and phenotypic intraspecific diversity, along with ecoepidemiological complexity. Human-pathogen interactions lead to distinct clinical presentations of ChD. In 2009, an international consensus classified T. cruzi strains into six discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI to TcVI, later including TcBat, and proposed reproducible genotyping schemes for DTU identification. This article aims to review the impact of classifying T. cruzi strains into DTUs on our understanding of biological, ecoepidemiological, and pathogenic aspects of T. cruzi. We will explore the likely origin of DTUs and the intrinsic characteristics of each group of strains concerning genome organization, genomics, and susceptibility to drugs used in ChD treatment. We will also provide an overview of the association of DTUs with mammalian reservoirs, and summarize the geographic distribution, and the clinical implications, of prevalent specific DTUs in ChD patients. Throughout this review, we will emphasize the crucial roles of both parasite and human genetics in defining ChD pathogenesis and chemotherapy outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zingales
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-900, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andréa M. Macedo
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil;
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Taylor E, Aguilar-Ancori EG, Banyard AC, Abel I, Mantini-Briggs C, Briggs CL, Carrillo C, Gavidia CM, Castillo-Neyra R, Parola AD, Villena FE, Prada JM, Petersen BW, Falcon Perez N, Cabezas Sanchez C, Sihuincha M, Streicker DG, Maguina Vargas C, Navarro Vela AM, Vigilato MAN, Wen Fan H, Willoughby R, Horton DL, Recuenco SE. The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative, a hope for resolving zoonotic neglected tropical diseases in the One Health era. Int Health 2023; 15:216-223. [PMID: 35896028 PMCID: PMC9384559 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect populations living in resource-limited settings. In the Amazon basin, substantial numbers of NTDs are zoonotic, transmitted by vertebrate (dogs, bats, snakes) and invertebrate species (sand flies and triatomine insects). However, no dedicated consortia exist to find commonalities in the risk factors for or mitigations against bite-associated NTDs such as rabies, snake envenoming, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis in the region. The rapid expansion of COVID-19 has further reduced resources for NTDs, exacerbated health inequality and reiterated the need to raise awareness of NTDs related to bites. METHODS The nine countries that make up the Amazon basin have been considered (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam and Venezuela) in the formation of a new network. RESULTS The Amazonian Tropical Bites Research Initiative (ATBRI) has been created, with the aim of creating transdisciplinary solutions to the problem of animal bites leading to disease in Amazonian communities. The ATBRI seeks to unify the currently disjointed approach to the control of bite-related neglected zoonoses across Latin America. CONCLUSIONS The coordination of different sectors and inclusion of all stakeholders will advance this field and generate evidence for policy-making, promoting governance and linkage across a One Health arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Taylor
- University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Elsa Gladys Aguilar-Ancori
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Biomedicina de Cusco - Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Cusco, 08003, Peru
| | - Ashley C Banyard
- Animal and PlantHealth Agency, WoodhamLane, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 3NB, United Kingdom
| | - Isis Abel
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Instituto de MedicinaVeterinária, Universidade Federal do Pará, Castanhal, Pará, 68743-970, Brasil
| | - Clara Mantini-Briggs
- Berkeley Center for Social Medicine and the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-5670, USA
| | - Charles L Briggs
- Berkeley Center for Social Medicine and the Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-5670, USA
| | - Carolina Carrillo
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. Cesar Milstein, Fundación Pablo Cassará - ConsejoNacional de InvestigacionesCientíficas y Técnicas, Saladillo 2468 (C1440FFX) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cesar M Gavidia
- Facultad de MedicinaVeterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15021, Perú
| | - Ricardo Castillo-Neyra
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104-6021, USA
- One Health Unit, School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad PeruanaCayetano Heredia, Lima, 15102, Peru
| | - Alejandro D Parola
- Fundación Pablo Cassará. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Dr. Cesar Milstein, Saladillo 2468 (C1440FFX) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fredy E Villena
- Asociaciónpara el Empleo y Bienestar Animal en Investigación y Docencia (ASOPEBAID), Lima, 15072, Peru
| | - Joaquin M Prada
- University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Brett W Petersen
- Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, 30333, USA
| | - Nestor Falcon Perez
- Facultad de MedicinaVeterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, 15102, Perú
| | - Cesar Cabezas Sanchez
- Centro de InvestigacionesTecnologicas, Biomedicas y Medioambientales-CITBM, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15081, Peru
| | | | - Daniel G Streicker
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Ciro Maguina Vargas
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander Von Humbolt, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, 15102, Perú
| | | | - Marco A N Vigilato
- Pan American Center for Foot and Mouth Disease and Veterinary Public Health, Department of Communicable Diseases and Environmental Determinants of Health, Pan American Health Organization, Rio de Janeiro, 25040-004, Brazil
| | - Hui Wen Fan
- Bioindustrial Center, InstitutoButantan, São Paulo, 05503-900, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel L Horton
- University of Surrey, School of Veterinary Medicine, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7AL, UK
| | - Sergio E Recuenco
- Centro de InvestigacionesTecnologicas, Biomedicas y Medioambientales-CITBM, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, 15081, Peru
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Silva WT, Oliveira LFF, Xavier DM, Figueiredo PHS, Lacerda ACR, Mendonça VA, Ávila MR, Ferreira CL, Lima MMO, Mediano MFF, Rocha MODC, Costa HS. Health-Related Quality of Life Reported by Patients With Chagas Disease: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence With GRADE Recommendations. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2022; 55:S0037-86822022000100209. [PMID: 36542018 PMCID: PMC9757717 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0377-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Chagas disease have reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Hence, we aimed to identify the factors that mostly affected their HRQoL. This was a systematic review of qualitative studies. The Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Excerpta Medica Database, Web of Science, and SciVerse Scopus databases were searched for relevant studies without language or date restrictions. The search and data analysis were performed by independent reviewers; all qualitative studies that reported the factors that had an impact on the HRQoL of patients with Chagas disease were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative Study Checklist; confidence in the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative approach. Five studies were included in this review: four in Brazil and one in California, United States, with immigrants from Central and South America. The sample consisted of 207 patients with chronic Chagas disease. Stigma, physical limitations, work absenteeism, emotional or mental aspects, fear of treatment, and fear of the future had the strongest impact on the HRQoL. All items showed moderate confidence except for fear of treatment (low confidence). The physical, emotional, mental, and cultural aspects affected the HRQoL of patients with chronic Chagas disease. Identification of these factors is important in the development of strategies aimed at improving the HRQoL of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whesley Tanor Silva
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Diego Mendes Xavier
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil., Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil., Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Vanessa Amaral Mendonça
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil., Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Matheus Ribeiro Ávila
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Cláudio Luiz Ferreira
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Curso de Pós-graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Márcia Maria Oliveira Lima
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Curso de Pós-graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Henrique Silveira Costa
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reabilitação e Desempenho Funcional, Diamantina, MG, Brasil., Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
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Apodaca Michel B, Navarro M, Pritsch M, Du Plessis JD, Shock J, Schwienhorst-Stich EM, Zirkel J, Schrader H, Saavedra Irala C, Rubilar G, Gunesch C, Kasang C, Zoller T, Gagyor I, Parisi S. Understanding the widespread use of veterinary ivermectin for Chagas disease, underlying factors and implications for the COVID-19 pandemic: a convergent mixed-methods study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e058572. [PMID: 36115669 PMCID: PMC9485649 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Veterinary ivermectin (vet-IVM) has been used widely in Latin America against COVID-19, despite the lack of scientific evidence and potential risks. Widespread vet-IVM intake was also discovered against Chagas disease during a study in Bolivia prior to the pandemic. All vet-IVM-related data were extracted to understand this phenomenon, its extent and underlying factors and to discuss potential implications for the current pandemic. DESIGN A convergent mixed-methods study design including a survey, qualitative in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD). SETTING A cross-sectional study conducted in 2018 covering the geographic area of Monteagudo, an endemic municipality for Chagas disease. PARTICIPANTS A total of 669 adult household representatives from 26 communities participated in the survey, supplemented by 14 IDI and 2 FGD among patients, relatives and key informants. RESULTS 9 IDI and 2 FGD contained narratives on vet-IVM use against Chagas disease. Five main themes emerged: (1) the extent of the vet-IVM phenomenon, (2) the perception of vet-IVM as a treatment for Chagas disease, (3) the vet-IVM market and the controversial role of stakeholders, (4) concerns about potential adverse events and (5) underlying factors of vet-IVM use against Chagas disease.In quantitative analysis, 28% of participants seropositive for Chagas disease had taken vet-IVM. Factors associated with multivariate analysis were advanced age (OR 17.01, 95 CI 1.24 to 36.55, p=0.027 for age above 60 years), the experience of someone close as information source (OR 3.13, 95 CI 1.62 to 5.02, p<0.001), seropositivity for Chagas disease (OR 3.89, 95 CI 1.39 to 6.20, p=0.005) and citing the unavailability of benznidazole as perceived healthcare barrier (OR 2.3, 95 CI 1.45 to 5.18, p=0.002). Participants with an academic education were less likely to report vet-IVM intake (OR 0.12, 95 CI 0.01 to 0.78, p=0.029). CONCLUSIONS Social determinants of health, the unavailability of treatment and a wonder drug image might contribute to the phenomenon of vet-IVM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Apodaca Michel
- Department of Medical and Social Projects, DAHW, Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Department, Centro Integral Dermatológico, Monteagudo, Plurinational State of Bolivia
| | - Miriam Navarro
- Department of Public Health, Science History and Gynecology, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | - Michael Pritsch
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jeremy Douglas Du Plessis
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Jonathan Shock
- Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Eva-Maria Schwienhorst-Stich
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Janina Zirkel
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Schrader
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Saavedra Irala
- Department of Medical and Social Projects, DAHW, Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Department, Centro Integral Dermatológico, Monteagudo, Plurinational State of Bolivia
| | - Gonzalo Rubilar
- Department of Medical and Social Projects, DAHW, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carolin Gunesch
- Department of Medical and Social Projects, DAHW, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christa Kasang
- Department of Medical and Social Projects, DAHW, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Zoller
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ildiko Gagyor
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Parisi
- Department of Medical and Social Projects, DAHW, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of General Practice, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Worldwide Control and Management of Chagas Disease in a New Era of Globalization: a Close Look at Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022; 35:e0015221. [PMID: 35239422 PMCID: PMC9020358 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00152-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Population movements have turned Chagas disease (CD) into a global public health problem. Despite the successful implementation of subregional initiatives to control vectorial and transfusional Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Latin American settings where the disease is endemic, congenital CD (cCD) remains a significant challenge. In countries where the disease is not endemic, vertical transmission plays a key role in CD expansion and is the main focus of its control. Although several health organizations provide general protocols for cCD control, its management in each geopolitical region depends on local authorities, which has resulted in a multitude of approaches. The aims of this review are to (i) describe the current global situation in CD management, with emphasis on congenital infection, and (ii) summarize the spectrum of available strategies, both official and unofficial, for cCD prevention and control in countries of endemicity and nonendemicity. From an economic point of view, the early detection and treatment of cCD are cost-effective. However, in countries where the disease is not endemic, national health policies for cCD control are nonexistent, and official regional protocols are scarce and restricted to Europe. Countries of endemicity have more protocols in place, but the implementation of diagnostic methods is hampered by economic constraints. Moreover, most protocols in both countries where the disease is endemic and those where it is not endemic have yet to incorporate recently developed technologies. The wide methodological diversity in cCD diagnostic algorithms reflects the lack of a consensus. This review may represent a first step toward the development of a common strategy, which will require the collaboration of health organizations, governments, and experts in the field.
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Pinazo MJ, Rojas-Cortez M, Saravia R, Garcia-Ruiloba W, Ramos C, Pinto Rocha JJ, Ortiz L, Castellon M, Mendoza-Claure N, Lozano D, Torrico F, Gascon J. Results and evaluation of the expansion of a model of comprehensive care for Chagas disease within the National Health System: The Bolivian Chagas network. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010072. [PMID: 35176025 PMCID: PMC8853485 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most people with chronic Chagas disease do not receive specific care and therefore are undiagnosed and do not receive accurate treatment. This manuscript discusses and evaluates a collaborative strategy to improve access to healthcare for patients with Chagas in Bolivia, a country with the highest prevalence of Chagas in the world. Methods With the aim of reinforcing the Chagas National Programme, the Bolivian Chagas Platform was born in 2009. The first stage of the project was to implement a vertical pilot program in order to introduce and consolidate a consensual protocol-based healthcare, working in seven centers (Chagas Platform Centers). From 2015 on the model was extended to 52 primary healthcare centers, through decentralized, horizontal scaling-up. To evaluate the strategy, we have used the WHO ExpandNet program. Results The strategy has significantly increased the number of patients cared for, with 181,397 people at risk of having T. cruzi infection tested and 57,871 (31·9%) new diagnostics performed. In those with treatment criteria, 79·2% completed the treatment. The program has also trained a significant number of health personnel through the specific Chagas guidelines (67% of healthcare workers in the intervention area). Conclusions After being recognized by the Chagas National Programme as a healthcare model aligned with national laws and priorities, the Bolivian platform of Chagas as an innovation, includes attributes that they have made it possible to expand the strategy at the national level and could also be adapted in other countries. The Bolivian Chagas Platform was born in 2009 to promote comprehensive care for Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease that affects more than a million people in Bolivia. A two-phase strategy was designed to introduce protocol-based healthcare in Bolivia through prevention, case-management, healthcare professionals training, and community activities. From an initial seven centers in the vertical phase (Chagas Platform centers), 52 healthcare primary healthcare centers adopted CD protocolized care in a second phase (Chagas Healthcare Network) through decentralized, horizontal scaling-up. 181,397 people at risk of having T. cruzi infection were tested (15%), 57,871 (31.9%) tested positive, and 18,582 (32.1%) were treated. Sixty-seven percent of healthcare workers were trained. Adequate domestic financial and human resources were ensured at the end of the scaling-up. Translational research and training activities improved evidence-based decision-making in clinical management. The Bolivian Chagas Platform as innovation, included attributes that enabled scaling-up at national and international level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic- Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biotecnológica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC)
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lourdes Ortiz
- Fundación CEADES, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho, Tarija, Bolivia
| | | | | | | | | | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic- Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biotecnológica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC)
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Social determinants in the access to health care for Chagas disease: A qualitative research on family life in the "Valle Alto" of Cochabamba, Bolivia. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255226. [PMID: 34383775 PMCID: PMC8360591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi infection. It is a neglected tropical disease with considerable impact on the physical, psychological, familiar, and social spheres. The Valle Alto of Cochabamba is a hyperendemic region of Bolivia where efforts to control the transmission of the disease have progressed over the years. However, many challenges remain, above all, timely detection and health-care access. Methods Following the Science Shop process, this bottom-up research emerged with the participation of the civil society from Valle Alto and representatives of the Association of Corazones Unidos por el Chagas from Cochabamba. The aim of this study is to explore the social determinants in the living realities of those affected by Chagas disease or the silent infection and how families in the Valle Alto of Cochabamba cope with it. An interdisciplinary research team conducted a case study of the life stories of three families using information from in-depth interviews and performed a descriptive qualitative content analysis and triangulation processes. Findings Findings provide insights into social circumstances of the research subjects’ lives; particularly, on how exposure to Trypanosoma cruzi infection affects their daily lives in terms of seeking comprehensive health care. Research subjects revealed needs and shared their experiences, thus providing an understanding of the complexity of Chagas disease from the socioeconomic, sociocultural, political, and biomedical perspectives. Results enlighten on three dimensions: structural, psychosocial, and plural health system. The diverse perceptions and attitudes toward Chagas within families, including the denial of its existence, are remarkable as gender and ethnocultural aspects. Findings support recommendations to various stakeholders and translation materials. Conclusions Intersectional disease management and community involvement are essential for deciding the most appropriate and effective actions. Education, detection, health care, and social programs engaging family units ought to be the pillars of a promising approach.
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Valdez Tah AR. Making Sense of Chagas Disease among Mexican Immigrants in California. Med Anthropol 2021; 40:511-524. [PMID: 33798000 DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2021.1894560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Mexican immigrants are affected by Chagas disease (CD) in California. It is through the representation of Chagas as a rare disease that participants make sense of the disease. A positive diagnosis has meant the disruption of patients' sense of normality and self-image, as well as their memories of homeland both reproducing and challenging hegemonic and stigmatized ideas of the disease associated with rurality and poverty. Access to treatment and medical care was the major coping mechanism. Health programs on CD should consider the emotional and social impact of the disease on people's self-perceptions to develop better medical care and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba R Valdez Tah
- Peninsular Center of Humanities and Social Sciences, Autonomous University of Mexico (Centro Peninsular en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, UNAM), Mérida, México
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Forsyth CJ, Hernandez S, Flores CA, Roman MF, Nieto JM, Marquez G, Sequeira J, Sequeira H, Meymandi SK. "You Don't Have a Normal Life": Coping with Chagas Disease in Los Angeles, California. Med Anthropol 2021; 40:525-540. [PMID: 33784220 DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2021.1894559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is the neglected tropical disease of greatest public health impact in the United States, where it affects over 300,000 people. Diverse barriers limit healthcare access for affected people; fewer than 1% have obtained testing or treatment. We interviewed 50 people with Chagas disease in Los Angeles, California, and administered a cultural consensus analysis questionnaire. Participants were asked about their experiences and perceptions of Chagas disease, access to healthcare, and strategies for coping with the disease. In participants' narratives, the physical and emotional impacts of the disease were closely interwoven. Participant explanatory models highlight difficulties in accessing care, despite a desire for biomedical treatment. Obtaining testing and treatment for Chagas disease poses substantial challenges for US patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Forsyth
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative-North America, New York, New York, USA.,Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Salvador Hernandez
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Carmen A Flores
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Mario F Roman
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - J Maribel Nieto
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Grecia Marquez
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Juan Sequeira
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Harry Sequeira
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
| | - Sheba K Meymandi
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, California, USA
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Silva WT, Ávila MR, Oliveira LFFD, Figueiredo PHS, Lima VP, Bastone ADC, Costa FSMD, Mediano MFF, Costa HS, Rocha MODC. Prevalence and determinants of depressive symptoms in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy and predominantly preserved cardiac function. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2020; 53:e20200123. [PMID: 33174953 PMCID: PMC7670741 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0123-2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC) is highly stigmatized, and the presence of depressive symptoms may be a common feature. However, its determinants remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to verify the prevalence of depression and the clinical, echocardiographic, functional, and quality of life factors associated with depressive symptoms in patients with ChC and predominantly preserved cardiac function. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with ChC (aged 40 to 60 years, 66% men, NYHA I-III) were evaluated by echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Mini-Mental State Examination. Physical activity level was assessed using the Human Activity Profile (HAP) and health-related quality of life was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory. A cutoff point greater than 9 was indicative of depression. RESULTS: Depression was detected in 13 patients (37%). In the univariate analysis, female sex, NYHA functional class, body mass index, HAP score, mental summary of SF-36, peak oxygen uptake, and 6MWT distance were associated with depressive symptoms. The final model showed that only the HAP score (B = -0.533; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.804 to -0.262) and SF-36 mental summary (B = -0.269; 95% CI: -0.386 to -0.153) remained as independent predictors of depressive symptoms in patients with ChC. CONCLUSIONS: Depression was prevalent in patients with ChC and predominantly preserved cardiac function. Physical activity and mental health were independent risk factors for depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whesley Tanor Silva
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Matheus Ribeiro Ávila
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Lucas Frois Fernandes de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Pedro Henrique Scheidt Figueiredo
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Vanessa Pereira Lima
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Alessandra de Carvalho Bastone
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil
| | - Fábio Silva Martins da Costa
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Medicina, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Henrique Silveira Costa
- Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Faculdade de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Diamantina, MG, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Medicina, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Manoel Otávio da Costa Rocha
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Medicina, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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11
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Damasceno RF, Sabino EC, Ferreira AM, Ribeiro ALP, Moreira HF, Prates TEC, Sampaio CA, Haikal DS. Challenges in the care of patients with Chagas disease in the Brazilian public health system: A qualitative study with primary health care doctors. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008782. [PMID: 33166280 PMCID: PMC7676681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Care to patients with Chagas disease (CD) is still a challenge for health systems in endemic and non-endemic countries. In the Brazilian public health system, the expansion of Primary Health Care (PHC) services to remote and disadvantaged areas has facilitated the access of patients with CD to medical care, however this is in a context where care gaps remain, with insufficient public funding and inadequate distribution of services. Considering the need for studies on care to patients with CD in different settings, this study explored the challenges of family doctors to provide care to patients with CD in an endemic region in Brazil with high coverage of public PHC services. METHODS AND FINDINGS This is a qualitative study. A focus group with 15 family doctors was conducted in a municipality participating in a multicenter cohort that monitors almost two thousand patients with CD in an endemic region in Brazil. The data were analyzed using a thematic content analysis technique. The family doctors pointed out the following challenges for care to patients with CD: unsatisfactory medical training (academic education not suitable for the clinical management of the disease, and lack of training on CD in PHC); uncertainties regarding antiparasitic treatment in the chronic phase of the disease; difficulty in patients' access to specialized care when necessary, especially to the cardiologist; and trivialization of the disease by patients as a barrier to seeking care. CONCLUSION The access of CD patients to adequate medical care, even in regions with high coverage of public PHC services, still represents an important challenge for health systems. The results of this study may contribute to the development of strategies to improve the clinical management of CD in PHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Fiúza Damasceno
- Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ester Cerdeira Sabino
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo (Universidade de São Paulo), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariela Mota Ferreira
- Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Antonio Luiz Pinho Ribeiro
- Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Thalita Emily Cezário Prates
- Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cristina Andrade Sampaio
- Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Desirée Sant´Ana Haikal
- Program in Health Sciences, State University of Montes Claros (Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Castaldo M, Cavani A, Segneri MC, Costanzo G, Mirisola C, Marrone R. Anthropological study on Chagas Disease: Sociocultural construction of illness and embodiment of health barriers in Bolivian migrants in Rome, Italy. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240831. [PMID: 33064748 PMCID: PMC7567347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas Disease (CD) is endemic in many Latin-American countries, Bolivia in particular. It is now spreading in Italy as a host country for transcontinental migrants and becoming an emerging health problem. This anthropological action-research, as part of a wider medical project on Neglected Tropical Diseases, has the purpose of analyzing the sociocultural construction of CD and its representation in Bolivian people living in Rome as well as barriers, such as the stigma about the illness, to access the National Health Service for those potentially affected. METHODS The ethnographic study was carried out from 2016 to 2018 by a medical anthropologist at the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP) on 72 Bolivian migrants (47 women and 25 men) living in Rome. The study was carried out through: a territorial mapping of Bolivian networks and communities aimed at recruiting people, participant observation, and application of semi-structured and unstructured interviews. The interviews were hold in Spanish and proposed to all participants before or during medical examination, or during events organized by the Bolivian community in Rome. The interview consisted of 16 items and covered four macro areas: personal and migration history, health status, access to the Italian National Health Service and knowledge about CD; plus 5 items for those who received a diagnosis of Chagas Disease in Italy. RESULTS The sociocultural construction and the deep stigma about the illness built by participants and their families could hinder both diagnosis and treatment. Institutional barriers also contributed to reduce adherence to screening tests: often, opening hours of the outpatient clinic were incompatible with participants' precarious employments. To guarantee participant's access to public health services and their adherence to the diagnostic protocol, we implemented a profound revision of our cultural and institutional approach to them. CONCLUSIONS The analysis evidenced the limitations of the conventional approach applied by the Italian National Health Service to this migrant community, such as the absence of socio-cultural and linguistics competences that can help understanding patients' perception and representation of the illness. The multidisciplinary approach instead-with clinicians using the ethnographic results to adjust their work to the participants' needs-was a successful attempt to ensure therapeutic alliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Castaldo
- Department of Mental Health - Medical Anthropological Unit, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavani
- Scientific Coordination Unit, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (NIHMP), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Segneri
- Department of Mental Health - Medical Anthropological Unit, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Costanzo
- Medical Directorate, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Mirisola
- INMP Directorate, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), Rome, Italy
| | - Rosalia Marrone
- Multispecialty and Medical Professions Department, National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), Rome, Italy
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Parisi S, Navarro M, Du Plessis JD, Shock JP, Apodaca Michel B, Lucuy Espinoza M, Terán C, Calizaya Tapia NA, Oltmanns K, Baptista Mora A, Saveedra Irala C, Rivera Rojas AA, Rubilar G, Zoller T, Pritsch M. "We have already heard that the treatment doesn't do anything, so why should we take it?": A mixed method perspective on Chagas disease knowledge, attitudes, prevention, and treatment behaviour in the Bolivian Chaco. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008752. [PMID: 33119632 PMCID: PMC7595318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease (CD) is highly endemic in the Bolivian Chaco. The municipality of Monteagudo has been targeted by national interventions as well as by Médecins Sans Frontières to reduce infection rates, and to decentralize early diagnosis and treatment. This study seeks to determine the knowledge and attitudes of a population with increased awareness and to identify remaining factors and barriers for sustained vector control, health care seeking behaviour, and access, in order to improve future interventions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A cross-sectional survey was conducted among approximately 10% (n = 669) of the municipality of Monteagudo's households that were randomly selected. Additionally, a total of 14 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions were conducted with patients and key informants. Several attitudes and practices were identified that could undermine effective control against (re-)infection. Knowledge of clinical symptoms and secondary prevention was limited, and revealed specific misconceptions. Although 76% of the participants had been tested for CD, only 18% of those who tested positive concluded treatment with benznidazole (BNZ). Sustained positive serologies after treatment led to perceived ineffectiveness of BNZ. Moreover, access barriers such as direct as well as indirect costs, BNZ stock-outs and a fear of adverse reactions triggered by other community members made patients opt for alternative treatments against CD such as veterinary ivermectin, used by 28% of infected participants in our study. The lack of accessible care for chronic complications as well as socioeconomic consequences, such as the exclusion from both job opportunities and bank loans contributed to the ongoing burden of CD. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Large scale interventions should be accompanied by operational research in order to identify misconceptions and unintended consequences early on, to generate accessible data for future interventions, and for rigorous evaluation. An integrated, community-based approach tackling social determinants and including both traditional and animal health sectors might help to overcome current barriers and advocate for patients' rights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Parisi
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- DAHW Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe e. V., Würzburg, Germany
- Department of General Practice, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Navarro
- Department of Public Health, Science History and Gynecology, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Jonathan Phillip Shock
- Department of Maths and Applied Maths, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Boris Apodaca Michel
- Hospital Dermatológico Monteagudo, Monteagudo, Bolivia
- Fundacion Intercultural NORSUD, Sucre, Bolivia
- DAHW Asociación Alemana de Asistencia al Enfermo con Lepra y Tuberculosis, Oficinas Suramérica, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Minerva Lucuy Espinoza
- Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Faculty of Medicine, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Carolina Terán
- Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Faculty of Medicine, Sucre, Bolivia
| | | | - Katharina Oltmanns
- DAHW Asociación Alemana de Asistencia al Enfermo con Lepra y Tuberculosis, Oficinas Suramérica, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Abundio Baptista Mora
- Fundacion Intercultural NORSUD, Sucre, Bolivia
- DAHW Asociación Alemana de Asistencia al Enfermo con Lepra y Tuberculosis, Oficinas Suramérica, Bogotá, Colombia
- Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Faculty of Medicine, Sucre, Bolivia
| | - Claudia Saveedra Irala
- Hospital Dermatológico Monteagudo, Monteagudo, Bolivia
- Fundacion Intercultural NORSUD, Sucre, Bolivia
- DAHW Asociación Alemana de Asistencia al Enfermo con Lepra y Tuberculosis, Oficinas Suramérica, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Angel Alberto Rivera Rojas
- DAHW Asociación Alemana de Asistencia al Enfermo con Lepra y Tuberculosis, Oficinas Suramérica, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Gonzalo Rubilar
- DAHW Asociación Alemana de Asistencia al Enfermo con Lepra y Tuberculosis, Oficinas Suramérica, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Thomas Zoller
- Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité –Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Pritsch
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital Munich, Munich, Germany
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14
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Iglesias Rodríguez IM, Mizukami S, Manh DH, Thuan TM, Justiniano HA, Miura S, Ito G, Huy NT, Smith C, Hirayama K. Knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards Chagas disease among the Bolivian migrant population living in Japan: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e032546. [PMID: 32928842 PMCID: PMC7490920 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards Chagas disease (CD) among Latin American migrants in Japan and to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational activity (EA) in increasing knowledge of CD. DESIGN A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study employing a preknowledge and postknowledge test and focus group discussion, conducted from March 2018 to June 2018. PARTICIPANTS Seventy-two participants were included, all born in Bolivia and residents in four Japanese cities. Fifty-nine of them participated in the EA. INTERVENTIONS The EA comprised showing three videos about CD and a group discussion covering different dimensions of CD and was evaluated with questionnaires to analyse the knowledge of the participants before and after. RESULTS Seventy-two participants were enrolled, predominantly from highly endemic CD areas of Bolivia. Though most participants were familiar with vector-borne transmission, epidemiology and symptomatology of CD, the baseline knowledge of CD was low. Less than 10% of them had been tested prior for CD. The dominant factors associated with better knowledge were living in Japan for more than 10 years (OR=8.42, 95% CI 1.56 to 48.62) and previously testing for CD (OR=11.32; 95% CI 1.52 to 105.9). The EA significantly improved the CD knowledge of the participants (p value <0.0001; 95% CI 2.32 to 3.84). The participants associated the term 'Chagas' mostly with fear and concern. The level of stigmatisation was low, in contrast to the results of other studies. The barriers encountered in care-seeking behaviour were language, the migration process and difficulties to access the healthcare system. CONCLUSION EA with an integrative approach is useful to increase the knowledge of CD within the Bolivian migrant population living in Japan. The activity brings the possibility to explore not only the level of knowledge but also to reveal experiences and to understand the needs of the people at risk. Considering them as actors towards healthcare solutions could lead to better outcomes for the success of future policies and interventions aimed to decrease the global burden.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shusaku Mizukami
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Leading Graduate School Program, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Dao Huy Manh
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Leading Graduate School Program, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Tieu Minh Thuan
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sachio Miura
- NPO organization. MAIKEN. Motohachiojimachi, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - George Ito
- Consulate General of Brazil in Japan, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nguyen Tien Huy
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Chris Smith
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kenji Hirayama
- Department of Immunogenetics, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Leading Graduate School Program, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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15
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Silva RAD, Wanderley DMV, Forsyth C, Leite RM, Luna EJDA, Carneiro Júnior N, Shikanai-Yasuda MA. Awareness of Chagas disease and socioeconomic characteristics of Bolivian immigrants living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2020; 62:e39. [PMID: 32578725 PMCID: PMC7304264 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946202062039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study which is part of a research project on Chagas disease (CD) among Bolivian immigrants in Sao Paulo, we describe socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge of CD and implications for acess to health care. We applied a structured questionnaire to a sample of 472 Bolivian adults (> 18 years) living in Sao Paulo and enrolled at the Barra Funda School Health Center. Participants’ median age was 28.5 years, 75.0% were from the Bolivian department of La Paz, and >90% worked in the garment industry. Respondents had lived in Sao Paulo for a median of 5.8 years. Only 169 (35.8%) were familiar with CD, while roughly half (50.4%) had lived in natural materials houses in Bolivia, 225 (47.7%) indicated familiarity with the vector, 23.9% had seen the vector in their homes in Bolivia, and 6.4% reported having been bitten by a triatomine bug. Factors associated with awareness of CD were analyzed by chi square tests, and those with p values <0.25 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, having a relative with CD (OR=4.3, 95% CI=1.5-12.0), having lived in a house with mud or wood walls (OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.8), and having heard of the triatomine bug, or vinchuca, (OR=10.0, 95% CI=5.1-19.5) were significantly associated with awareness of CD. This study shows a low familiarity with CD among Bolivian migrants living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Raising awareness of the disease through specific communication strategies should be an essential component of public health programs to reduce the burden of CD in this and other vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubens Antonio da Silva
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Colin Forsyth
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases iniciative (DNDi), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ruth Moreira Leite
- Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Aparecida Shikanai-Yasuda
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Laboratório de Investigação Médica em Imunologia (LIM-48), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Echeverría LE, Marcus R, Novick G, Sosa-Estani S, Ralston K, Zaidel EJ, Forsyth C, RIbeiro ALP, Mendoza I, Falconi ML, Mitelman J, Morillo CA, Pereiro AC, Pinazo MJ, Salvatella R, Martinez F, Perel P, Liprandi ÁS, Piñeiro DJ, Molina GR. WHF IASC Roadmap on Chagas Disease. Glob Heart 2020; 15:26. [PMID: 32489799 PMCID: PMC7218776 DOI: 10.5334/gh.484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas Disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, with some of the most serious manifestations affecting the cardiovascular system. It is a chronic, stigmatizing condition, closely associated with poverty and affecting close to 6 million people globally. Although historically the disease was limited to endemic areas of Latin America recent years have seen an increasing global spread. In addition to the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, the social and economic burdens on individuals and society are substantial. Often called the 'silent killer', Chagas disease is characterized by a long, asymptomatic phase in affected individuals. Approximately 30% then go on develop chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy and other serious cardiac complications such as stroke, rhythm disturbances and severe heart failure. Methods In a collaboration of the World Hearth Federation (WHF) and the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (IASC) a writing group consisting of 20 diverse experts on Chagas disease (CD) was convened. The group provided up to date expert knowledge based on their area of expertise. An extensive review of the literature describing obstacles to diagnosis and treatment of CD along with proposed solutions was conducted. A survey was sent to all WHF Members and, using snowball sampling to widen the consultation, to a variety of health care professionals working in the CD global health community. The results were analyzed, open comments were reviewed and consolidated, and the findings were incorporated into this document, thus ensuring a consensus representation. Results The WHF IASC Roadmap on Chagas Disease offers a comprehensive summary of current knowledge on prevention, diagnosis and management of the disease. In providing an analysis of 'roadblocks' in access to comprehensive care for Chagas disease patients, the document serves as a framework from which strategies for implementation such as national plans can be formulated. Several dimensions are considered in the analysis: healthcare system capabilities, governance, financing, community awareness and advocacy. Conclusion The WHF IASC Roadmap proposes strategies and evidence-based solutions for healthcare professionals, health authorities and governments to help overcome the barriers to comprehensive care for Chagas disease patients. This roadmap describes an ideal patient care pathway, and explores the roadblocks along the way, offering potential solutions based on available research and examples in practice. It represents a call to action to decision-makers and health care professionals to step up efforts to eradicate Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Marcus
- LASOCHA, Washington DC, US
- Medstar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD, US
| | - Gabriel Novick
- Swiss Medical Group, Buenos Aires, AR
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, US
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative-Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, BR
| | | | - Ezequiel Jose Zaidel
- Sanatorio Güemes, Buenos Aires, AR
- Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, AR
| | - Colin Forsyth
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative-Latin America, Rio de Janeiro, BR
| | - Antonio Luiz P. RIbeiro
- Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, BR
- Hospital das Clínicas, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, BR
| | | | - Mariano Luis Falconi
- Cardiology Division, Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, AR
- University Institute of the Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, AR
| | - Jorge Mitelman
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, AR
- School of Medicine, Barcélo University, Buenos Aires, AR
| | - Carlos A. Morillo
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine Division of Cardiology, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, CA
- Southeastern Alberta Region, Alberta Health Services, Foothills Medical Centre, CA
| | | | | | | | - Felipe Martinez
- National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, AR
- DAMIC Institute/Rusculleda Foundation, Cordoba, AR
| | - Pablo Perel
- World Heart Federation, Geneva, CH
- Centre for Global Chronic Conditions, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, GB
| | - Álvaro Sosa Liprandi
- Sanatorio Güemes, Buenos Aires, AR
- Medical School of Cardiology, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, AR
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Current Gaps and Needs for Increasing Access to Healthcare for People with Chagas Disease in the USA. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-019-0170-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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