tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Public Health. 2019 Oct 28;19(1):1397. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7722-0. [h=1]Pre-travel health care attendance among migrant travellers visiting friends and relatives (VFR): a 10-year retrospective analysis.[/h]
Ferrara P[SUP]1[/SUP], Masuet-Aumatell C[SUP]2,[/SUP][SUP]3[/SUP], Ramon-Torrell JM[SUP]4,[/SUP][SUP]5[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h] 1 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 5 Via Luciano Armanni, 80138, Naples, Italy. 2 Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Preventive Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. cmasuet@bellvitgehospital.cat. 3 Clinical Science Department, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. cmasuet@bellvitgehospital.cat. 4 Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Preventive Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. 5 Clinical Science Department, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] Travellers visiting friends and relatives (VFR) define a specific population of travellers exposed to higher risks for health and safety than tourists. The aim of this study was to assess differentials in pre-travel health care in VFR travellers compared to other travellers.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] A retrospective cohort study was performed including attendees of the Travel Medicine Clinic of the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain, between January 2007 and December 2017.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] Over the 10-year period, 47,022 subjects presented to the travel clinic for pre-travel health care, 13.7% of whom were VFR travellers. These showed higher rates of vaccination against yellow fever and meningococcus, but lower rates for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, rabies, cholera, polio, typhoid IM vaccine and tetanus vaccine boosters. Regarding malaria prevention measures, results highlighted that VFR travellers, when compared with tourists, were more likely to be prescribed with chemoprophylaxis, particularly with mefloquine, than with atovaquone/proguanil.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] Findings from this large-scale study indicated differences in vaccination rates and completion, as well as in chemoprophylaxis for malaria, between VFR and non-VFR travellers, fostering specific interventions for promoting adherence to pre-travel health advice among migrant travellers.
[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Healthcare attendance; Immigrants; Travel medicine; Travellers visiting friends and relatives; Vaccination
PMID: 31660916 PMCID: PMC6819640 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7722-0
Free PMC Article
Ferrara P[SUP]1[/SUP], Masuet-Aumatell C[SUP]2,[/SUP][SUP]3[/SUP], Ramon-Torrell JM[SUP]4,[/SUP][SUP]5[/SUP].
[h=3]Author information[/h] 1 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 5 Via Luciano Armanni, 80138, Naples, Italy. 2 Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Preventive Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. cmasuet@bellvitgehospital.cat. 3 Clinical Science Department, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. cmasuet@bellvitgehospital.cat. 4 Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Preventive Medicine Department, University Hospital of Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain. 5 Clinical Science Department, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain.
[h=3]Abstract[/h] [h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h] Travellers visiting friends and relatives (VFR) define a specific population of travellers exposed to higher risks for health and safety than tourists. The aim of this study was to assess differentials in pre-travel health care in VFR travellers compared to other travellers.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h] A retrospective cohort study was performed including attendees of the Travel Medicine Clinic of the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain, between January 2007 and December 2017.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h] Over the 10-year period, 47,022 subjects presented to the travel clinic for pre-travel health care, 13.7% of whom were VFR travellers. These showed higher rates of vaccination against yellow fever and meningococcus, but lower rates for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, influenza, rabies, cholera, polio, typhoid IM vaccine and tetanus vaccine boosters. Regarding malaria prevention measures, results highlighted that VFR travellers, when compared with tourists, were more likely to be prescribed with chemoprophylaxis, particularly with mefloquine, than with atovaquone/proguanil.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h] Findings from this large-scale study indicated differences in vaccination rates and completion, as well as in chemoprophylaxis for malaria, between VFR and non-VFR travellers, fostering specific interventions for promoting adherence to pre-travel health advice among migrant travellers.
[h=4]KEYWORDS:[/h] Healthcare attendance; Immigrants; Travel medicine; Travellers visiting friends and relatives; Vaccination
PMID: 31660916 PMCID: PMC6819640 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7722-0
Free PMC Article