RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Given that the diabetes burden is rising rapidly in low- and middle-income countries, it is critical to understand perspectives of people living with diabetes in these settings. This qualitative study examines perceptions of causality and treatment among adults with type 2 diabetes in rural Indigenous communities of Guatemala. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 people living with type 2 diabetes from a population survey in two majority Indigenous Guatemalan towns. Data were coded inductively and themes were elucidated by consensus. RESULTS: Participants emphasized strong emotional experiences and stress as perceived causes of diabetes, as well as diet and heritability. All participants took biopharmaceutical treatments, but many also endorsed diet, exercise, herbal remedies, and naturopathic products as important remedies. CONCLUSION: Perspectives from people living with diabetes in two rural Indigenous towns in Guatemala differ from the biomedical model of disease and have implications for clinical practice and program development.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Adulto , Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/epidemiologia , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/terapia , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Dieta , Exercício Físico , População RuralRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The burden of diabetes mellitus is increasing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Few studies have explored pathways to care among individuals with diabetes in LMICs. This study evaluates care trajectories among adults with diabetes in rural Guatemala. DESIGN: A qualitative investigation was conducted as part of a population-based study assessing incidence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease in two rural sites in Guatemala. A random sample of 807 individuals had haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) screening for diabetes in both sites. Based on results from the first 6 months of the population study, semistructured interviews were performed with 29 adults found to have an HbA1c≥6.5% and who reported a previous diagnosis of diabetes. Interviews explored pathways to and experiences of diabetes care. Detailed interview notes were coded using NVivo and used to construct diagrams depicting each participant's pathway to care and use of distinct healthcare sectors. RESULTS: Participants experienced fragmented care across multiple health sectors (97%), including government, private and non-governmental sectors. The majority of participants sought care with multiple providers for diabetes (90%), at times simultaneously and at times sequentially, and did not have longitudinal continuity of care with a single provider. Many participants experienced financial burden from out-of-pocket costs associated with diabetes care (66%) despite availability of free government sector care. Participants perceived government diabetes care as low-quality due to resource limitations and poor communication with providers, leading some to seek care in other health sectors. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the fragmented, discontinuous nature of diabetes care in Guatemala across public, private and non-governmental health sectors. Strategies to improve diabetes care access in Guatemala and other LMICs should be multisectorial and occur through strengthened government primary care and innovative private and non-governmental organisation care models.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus , Humanos , Adulto , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Hemoglobinas Glicadas , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia , Diabetes Mellitus/terapia , Fatores de Risco , Pesquisa QualitativaRESUMO
This qualitative study explores perceptions of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among adults with abnormal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Guatemala, where the burden of CKD is rising. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 individuals screened for CKD and found to have abnormal eGFR (defined as <90â mL/min/1.73â m2, per Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes [KDIGO] guidelines). Interviews occurred in participants' homes in Spanish or Kaqchikel Mayan. Interview notes were coded for dominant themes through an inductive approach. Interviewees had limited awareness of diabetes and hypertension as CKD risk factors, but appreciated the progressive nature of the disease. While most reported willingness to pursue renal replacement therapies, if necessary, they anticipated economic and geographic barriers. Public health interventions should focus on the association between diabetes, hypertension, and CKD. Improvement of primary care and screening infrastructure is imperative in CKD prevention in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus , Insuficiência Renal Crônica , Adulto , Taxa de Filtração Glomerular , Guatemala/epidemiologia , Humanos , Percepção , Insuficiência Renal Crônica/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Lack of surgical care has been highlighted as a critical global health problem, and short-term medical missions (STMMs) have become a de facto measure to address this shortfall. Participation in STMMs is an increasingly popular activity for foreign medical professionals to undertake in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where their clinical skills may be in short supply. While there is emerging literature on the STMM phenomenon, patient experiences of surgical missions are underrepresented. This research addresses this gap through thirty-seven in-depth interviews with patients or caregivers who received care from a short-term surgical mission within the three years prior to the four-week data collection period in July and August 2013. Interviews were conducted in Antigua, Guatemala and nearby communities, and participants came from 9 different departments of the country. These first-hand accounts of health-seeking through a surgical mission provide important insights into the benefits and challenges of STMMs that patients encounter, including waiting time, ancillary costs, and access to care. Patient agency in care-seeking is considered within the pluralistic, privatized health care context in Guatemala in which foreign participants deliver STMM care.