RESUMO
Much debate exists regarding the need, acceptability, and value of humanitarian medical assistance. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 457 children under 5 years from four remote riverine communities in the Peruvian Amazon and collected anthropometric measures, blood samples (1-4 years), and stool samples. Focus groups and key informant interviews assessed perspectives regarding medical aid delivered by foreigners. The prevalence of stunting, anemia, and intestinal parasites was 20%, 37%, and 62%, respectively. Infection with multiple parasites, usually geohelminths, was detected in 41% of children. The prevalence of intestinal parasites both individual and polyparasitism increased with age. Participants from smaller communities less exposed to foreigners expressed lack of trust and fear of them. However, participants from all communities were positive about foreigners visiting to provide health support. Prevalent health needs such as parasitic infections and anemia may be addressed by short-term medical interventions. There is a perceived openness to and acceptability of medical assistance delivered by foreign personnel.
Assuntos
Necessidades e Demandas de Serviços de Saúde , Missões Médicas , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Fatores Etários , Transtornos da Nutrição Infantil/epidemiologia , Pré-Escolar , Coinfecção , Feminino , Nível de Saúde , Humanos , Lactente , Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Malária/epidemiologia , Masculino , Doenças Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Peru/epidemiologia , Rios , População Rural/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
A survey was carried out in order to determine if bronchial asthma represents a health problem in two rural areas under the medical assistance of family doctors' offices (Argeo Martínez and Manguito del Guaso). All the case histories in the zones under study were reviewed. It was found that, in spite of the low prevalence in both areas, there is a diseased for each 28 persons, being female the most affected.