title: Epidemiologists working together with anthropologists: lessons from a study to evaluate the epidemiological impact of a city-wide sanitation program.
abstract: This paper discusses the role of qualitative approaches in epidemiological studies, beginning with a general discussion of epidemiological and anthropological methods. It focuses on a case study of the health impact of an environmental intervention carried out in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil. Most of the precedent studies fields, based on primary date, use to devote little attention to the methodological and theorethical questions attached to long-term studies. Four specific aspects of this experience are highlighted: (a) drawing up epidemiological study; (b) construction of an observational instrument to measure hygiene habits; (c) an ethnographic study that was carried out before the epidemiological study; (d) observation of the effects of health intervention on health inequalities. Finally, the report details how the findings of qualitative and quantitative studies might be synthesized. It provides a critical overview of follow-up strategies, illustrated with proper examples whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Antropologia Cultural i Història d'Amèrica i Àfrica, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. clarreakillinger@gmail.com
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larrea-Killinger
authors.forename: Rita Franco
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strina
authors.forename: Mauricio L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barreto
mesh_terms: D060432:Anthropology, Medical; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D004813:Epidemiology; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012499:Sanitation; D014505:Urban Population