ABSTRACT
Chile has become a popular destination for migrants from South America and the Caribbean (low- and middle-income countries migration). Close to 200.000 Haitian migrants have arrived in Chile. Infectious and non-infectious disease burden among the Haitian adult population living in Chile is unknown. This study aimed to acquire the basic health information (selected transmissible and non-transmissible conditions) of the Haitian adult population living in Chile. A cross-sectional survey was performed, inviting Haitian-born residents in Chile older than 18 years old. Common conditions and risk factors for disease were assessed, as well as selected transmissible conditions (HIV, HBV, and HCV). 498 participants (60.4% female) from 10 communities in two regions of Chile were surveyed. Most subjects had never smoked (91.5%), and 80% drank less than one alcohol unit per month. The mean BMI was 25.6, with 45% of participants having a normal BMI (20-25). Hypertension was present in 31.5% (33% in the 25-44 age group). Prevalence of HIV was 2.4% (95 CI 1.3-4.2%), hepatitis B (HBsAg positive) was 3.4% (95 CI 2.1-5.5%), and hepatitis C was 0% (95 CI 0.0-0.9%). Quality of life showed a significant prevalence of depression and anxiety markers, particularly in those arriving in Chile less than 1 year ago. Low prevalence of obesity, diabetes, smoking, and drinking and estimated cardiovascular risk were found. Nonetheless, hypertension at a younger age, disproportionately higher prevalence of HIV and HBV infection and frequent markers of anxiety and depression were also found. Public policies for detecting and treating hypertension, HIV, and HBV screening, offering HBV vaccination, and organizing mental health programs for Haitian immigrants, are urgently needed.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/enzymology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Caribbean Region/epidemiology , Chile/epidemiology , Female , Global Burden of Disease , HIV Infections/genetics , HIV Infections/virology , Hepacivirus/pathogenicity , Hepatitis B/virology , Hepatitis B virus/pathogenicity , Hepatitis C/virology , Humans , Infections/virology , Male , Middle Aged , Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiology , Quality of Life , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
La nueva cepa de coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, ya ha provocado más de 1.000.000 de contagiados y más de 100.000 muertes en el mundo, lo que ha hecho que la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) lo declare una pandemia. En este contexto, Chile ha iniciado medidas de contención entre las que se ha incluido la cuarentena obligatoria en ciertas ciudades. Esta medida no es algo nuevo en el mundo, existiendo reportes de los efectos en la salud mental de la población expuesta a cuarentena. Entre estos destacan ansiedad, depresión, trastorno por estrés postraumático, entre otros, los que no solo se presentan durante el periodo de cuarentena, sino que incluso pueden prolongarse por varios meses posterior a esta. Dado esto, se hace importante evaluar el potencial efecto negativo de esta cuarentena en la salud mental de la población, para buscar medidas que puedan disminuirlo o ayudar a enfrentarlo.
The new strain of coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, has already resulted in more than 1,000,000 cases of infection and more than 100,000 deaths worldwide, resulting in the World Health Organization's declaration of a pandemic. In this context Chile has initiated containment measures which include obligatory quarantine in certain cities. This is nothing new and its eï¬ect on the mental health of quarantined populations has been reported. Amongst others, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder stand out not only for presenting during the quarantine but for possibly lasting several months thereafter. Hence it is important to evaluate the quarantine's potentially negative eï¬ects on the population to help ï¬nd measures which may diminish these eï¬ects or help in their treatment.
