Henry Ford Hospital study - Health Education needed in Haiti

What it did provide that might not yet be widely documented are some alarming percentages that show the true dire state of the Haitian health care system. Half of those surveyed said they have either contracted malaria, or knew someone who had. Slightly more, at 58%, have never heard of the infectious mosquito transmitted disease that manifests with a high fever and headache, dengue. 30% named fever as their main medical complaint and 76% feel unable to help loved ones who take ill. Perhaps more alarming is that 69% put no faith in Western medicine, believing that traditional Haitian techniques are more potent in treating their illnesses. It is perhaps why 79% name their religious leader as the primary source of their medical information.

Where the information was sure to cause surprise was in San Francisco, where the study was presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The researchers for the Henry Ford Hospital compiled their findings from surveys carried out during trips to Haiti between June of 2012 and January 2013.

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Read more: Health, Infection, disease, Malaria, Health Education, Health

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