Chagas Disease in a Non-endemic Country: A Multidisciplinary Research, Bologna, Italy.
Global processes have brought about a substantial change in the epidemiological landscape of Chagas disease, spreading it to non-endemic areas. Italy is the second country in Europe in terms of Latin American migrants and expected infection rate. Given that scenario, the Bologna University Teaching Hospital undertaken a study aimed at providing preliminary data on the prevalence and investigating the knowledge and the subjective perceptions of Chagas disease, migration pathways and other relevant ill-health experiences. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in association with an ethnographic research. Between November 2010 and May 2013 Chagas disease testing was offered to people who attended the hospital and data were collected to investigate the broader socio-demographic and cultural factors. 151 individuals were screened for anti T. cruzi antibodies; 12 of them, 10 Bolivians and 2 Argentinians, were seroreactive, resulting in an overall prevalence of 7.94 %. Both the quantitative and the qualitative analysis revealed a degree of heterogeneity in terms of knowledge and perceptions of the disease as well as of migration pathways. The results are comparable with those reported by previous studies with similar characteristics and highlight the relevance of such public health issue in a non-endemic context. Moreover, the interdisciplinary approach has greatly helped to unveil the complex social and cultural implications of Chagas disease, to explain the subjective ill-health experiences, and to understand the ways in which the broader socio-economic and cultural context affects an intervention and its potential for success or failure.
Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. chiara.digirolamo@unibo.it.
Chiara
C
Di Girolamo
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Giulia
G
Martelli
Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Anna
A
Ciannameo
Microbiology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Caterina
C
Vocale
Cardiology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Marco
M
Fini
Centre for International Health, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Angelo
A
Stefanini
Microbiology Unit, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Maria Paola
MP
Landini
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Pierluigi
P
Viale
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Gabriella
G
Verucchi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D060432:Anthropology, Medical; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Chagas disease; International migration; Italy; Multidisciplinary