ABSTRACT
During the long-lasting civil war in Colombia, thousands of people were displaced mainly from rural to urban areas, causing social disruption and prolonged poverty. This study aimed at analyzing the traumatic experience many years ago on the current psycho-emotional status of displaced families as well as the ongoing inequalities regarding displaced and non-displaced communities in one of the most affected areas by the armed conflict. An interview survey was conducted among 211 displaced families and 181 non-displaced families in 2 adjacent compounds in Valledupar, Colombia. The questionnaire used questions from the validated national survey and was revised and applied by staff members of the departmental secretary of health who conducted additional in-depth interviews. The study showed that the living conditions of the displaced community were precarious. The past traumatic events many years ago and the current difficult living conditions are associated with psychological problems being more frequent among the displaced people. The displaced people had experienced more violent acts and subsequently had a larger number of emotional symptoms (fright, headache, nervousness, depression, and sleeplessness). Other stress factors like economic problems, severe disease or death of family members and unemployment prevailed among displaced persons. The non-displaced lived in a more protected environment with less exposure to violence and stress, although belonging to a similarly low socio-economic stratum. It is recommended to take measures for a better protection of the displaced community, improve their access to the job market, offer different leisure activities and facilitate public transport.
Subject(s)
Mental Health , Refugees , Colombia/epidemiology , Humans , Surveys and Questionnaires , Violence/psychologyABSTRACT
La meningitis bacteriana es una enfermedad importante de distribución mundial, causa mayor y sustancial de mortalidad y morbilidad en países en desarrollo. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) sostiene que la meningitis es una de las diez afecciones principales del ser humano y debe ser considerada como una emergencia infectológica; por eso es fundamental reconocer que esta enfermedad es causa de muerte en niños de todo el mundo, sin distinción de raza, nivel económico o sociocultural. Se realizó una investigación de caso en menor de 53 días de nacido, que cumplía con los criterios clínicos y de laboratorio compatible con meningitis bacteriana, con el propósito de analizar y fortalecer la toma de decisiones en salud pública por parte de la secretaría local de salud del municipio de Valledupar (Colombia). Entre los hallazgos se encontró antecedentes infecciosos en el menor, coloración de Gram y cultivo de LCR, en el que se identificó cocobacilos Gram negativos, que fueron aislados como agente causal Pasteurella canis. Este estudio pretende sensibilizar a los prestadores de salud para que cuenten con personal altamente capacitado para brindar tratamientos adecuados y prevenir complicaciones en la meningitis bacteriana en niños, y así disminuir la posibilidad de secuelas o muerte, tanto en pacientes con compromiso inmunológico o sin este.
Bacterial meningitis is an important substantial worldwide disease, and a major cause of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that meningitis is one of the top ten diseases that affect humans and should be considered as an infectious diseases specialist emergency, it is essential to recognize that this disease causes death in children worldwide regardless of race, economic status or social and cultural. An investigation of the case in less than 53 days old, who met the clinical criteria and compatible laboratory with bacterial meningitis, in order to analyze and strengthen decision making in public health by the local health department came forward the municipality of Valledupar (Colombia). Among the findings infectious history was found in the lower, Gram stain and culture of CSF where Gram negative coccobacillary identified, isolated as a causative agent Pasteurella canis. This study aims to sensitize health care providers to have highly trained staff to provide adequate treatment and prevent complications of bacterial meningitis in children and lessen the possibility of sequelae or death, both in patients with and without immune compromise.
