Burden of Self-reported Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in Cuba

Authors

  • Pablo Aguiar Prieto National Environmental Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Ciudad de La Habana
  • Rita L Finley Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario
  • PK Muchaal Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario
  • Michele T Guerin Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario
  • Sandy Isaacs Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario
  • Arnaldo Castro Dominguez National Environmental Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Ciudad de La Habana
  • Gizele Coutin Marie National Environmental Health Unit, Ministry of Health, Ciudad de La Habana
  • Enrique Perez Area of Health Surveillance and Disease Management, Food Safety Group, Pan American Health Organization, Rio de Janeiro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v27i3.3377

Keywords:

Cross-sectional studies, Developing countries, Diarrhoea, Epidemiology, Public health, Retrospective studies, Risk factors, Seasonal variation, Sentinel sites, Cuba

Abstract

Acute gastrointestinal illness is an important public-health issue worldwide. Burden-of-illness studies have not previously been conducted in Cuba. The objective of the study was to determine the magnitude, dis­tribution, and burden of self-reported acute gastrointestinal illness in Cuba. A retrospective, cross-sectional survey was conducted in three sentinel sites during June-July 2005 (rainy season) and during November 2005-January 2006 (dry season). Households were randomly selected from a list maintained by the medical offices in each site. One individual per household was selected to complete a questionnaire in a face-to-face interview. The case definition was three or more bouts of loose stools in a 24-hour period within the last 30 days. In total, 97.3% of 6,576 interviews were completed. The overall prevalence of acute gastrointestinal illness was 10.6%. The risk of acute gastrointestinal illness was higher during the rainy season (odds ratio [OR]=3.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.18-4.66) in children (OR=3.12, 95% CI 2.24-4.36) and teens (OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.51-3.41) compared to people aged 25-54 years, in males (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.04-1.47), and in the municipality of Santiago de Cuba (OR=1.33, 95% CI 1.11-1.61). Of 680 cases, 17.1-38.1% visited a physician, depending on sentinel site. Of the cases who visited a physician, 33.3-53.9% were requested to submit a stool sample, and of those, 72.7-100.0% complied. Of the cases who sought medical care, 16.7- 61.5% and 0-31.6% were treated with antidiarrhoeals and antibiotics respectively. Acute gastrointestinal illness represented a substantial burden of health compared to developed countries. Targeting the identi­fied risk factors when allocating resources for education, food safety, and infrastructure might lower the morbidity associated with acute gastrointestinal illness.

Key words: Cross-sectional studies; Developing countries; Diarrhoea; Epidemiology; Public health; Retrospective studies; Risk factors; Seasonal variation; Sentinel sites; Cuba

doi: 10.3329/jhpn.v27i3.3377

J Health Popul Nutr 2009 Jun;27(3):345-357

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Author Biographies

PK Muchaal, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario

Dr. P.K. Muchaal
Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic
Infectious Diseases
Public Health Agency of Canada
120-255 Woodlawn Road West
Guelph, Ontario, N1H 8J1
Canada
Email: Pia_Muchaal@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Michele T Guerin, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario

Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario,
Cover JHPN Vol.27(3)

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How to Cite

Prieto, P. A., Finley, R. L., Muchaal, P., Guerin, M. T., Isaacs, S., Dominguez, A. C., Marie, G. C., & Perez, E. (2009). Burden of Self-reported Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in Cuba. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 27(3), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v27i3.3377

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2009)

Section

Original Papers