Yaakov Dickstein1, Ami Neuberger2, Miri Golus3, Eli Schwartz4. 1. Internal Medicine Department A, Rambam Medical Center, Ha'Aliya 6, Haifa, Israel, 31096. 2. Infectious Disease Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Ha'Aliya 6, Haifa, Israel, 31096 Internal Medicine Department B, Rambam Medical Center, Ha'Aliya 6, Haifa, Israel, 31096. 3. Intensive Care Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Ha'Aliya 6, Haifa, Israel, 31096. 4. The Center for Geographic Medicine and Department of Medicine C, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel elischwa@post.tau.ac.il.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examined the demographic and epidemiological differences between patient populations presenting to a rural and an urban clinic in Haiti. METHODS: A primary health clinic was established in urban Leogane, and a once-weekly clinic was established in Magandou, a rural village. Patient data were recorded for all individuals presenting to each clinic. RESULTS: Over 7 months, 6632 patients (median age 25) were seen in the urban clinic, and 567 (median age 47) in the rural clinic. There was a female majority at both sites. Hypertension was diagnosed in 41.9% (238/567) of the rural population over 40 years of age, while 29.5% (1956/6632) of patients in the urban setting had the same diagnosis (p<0.001). Among women of reproductive age, 20.4% (1353/6632) were diagnosed with STDs in the urban setting versus 8.6% (49/567) at the rural clinic (p=0.004). Eighty-eight patients at the urban clinic had a vector-borne disease, while none were diagnosed among the rural population. CONCLUSIONS: Screening and treatment of hypertension in Haiti must address the wide rural prevalence. STDs are a major urban health issue requiring treatment for both patients and their partners. Vector-borne disease was unseen in the rural clinic, despite an altitude insufficient to prevent mosquito-borne illness.
BACKGROUND: This study examined the demographic and epidemiological differences between patient populations presenting to a rural and an urban clinic in Haiti. METHODS: A primary health clinic was established in urban Leogane, and a once-weekly clinic was established in Magandou, a rural village. Patient data were recorded for all individuals presenting to each clinic. RESULTS: Over 7 months, 6632 patients (median age 25) were seen in the urban clinic, and 567 (median age 47) in the rural clinic. There was a female majority at both sites. Hypertension was diagnosed in 41.9% (238/567) of the rural population over 40 years of age, while 29.5% (1956/6632) of patients in the urban setting had the same diagnosis (p<0.001). Among women of reproductive age, 20.4% (1353/6632) were diagnosed with STDs in the urban setting versus 8.6% (49/567) at the rural clinic (p=0.004). Eighty-eight patients at the urban clinic had a vector-borne disease, while none were diagnosed among the rural population. CONCLUSIONS: Screening and treatment of hypertension in Haiti must address the wide rural prevalence. STDs are a major urban health issue requiring treatment for both patients and their partners. Vector-borne disease was unseen in the rural clinic, despite an altitude insufficient to prevent mosquito-borne illness.
Authors: Olga Tymejczyk; Margaret L McNairy; Jacky S Petion; Vanessa R Rivera; Audrey Dorélien; Mireille Peck; Grace Seo; Kathleen F Walsh; Daniel W Fitzgerald; Robert N Peck; Ashish Joshi; Jean W Pape; Denis Nash Journal: J Hypertens Date: 2019-04 Impact factor: 4.844
Authors: Vincent DeGennaro Jr; Stuart Malcolm; Lindsay Crompton; Krishna Vaddiparti; Lazarus K Mramba; Catherine Striley; Linda Cottler; Kellee Taylor; Robert Leverence Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2018-04-20 Impact factor: 2.692