Authors

1Mª del Carmen Álvarez Comesaña, 2Ana Crespo Alonso

Position

¹Enfermera. Máster en Ciencias de la Enfermería. Licenciada en Publicidad y Relaciones Públicas. Centro de Vacunación Internacional.²Licenciada en Medicina y Cirugía. Especialista en Pediatría vía MIR en el servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Toledo.

Contact address

Mª del Carmen Álvarez Comesaña. Centro de Vacunación Internacional, Sanidad Exterior-Vigo. Estación marítima, s/n. 36200 Vigo.

Contact email: maika.alvarez@gmail.com

Abstract

Purposes: Describe the degree of malarial disease and antimalarial medication-related information the international travelers going to destinations hazardous for their health possess on coming into an International Immunization Center and identify the critical points
(areas of knowledge).
Method: Descriptive, cross-sectional study at the International Immunization Center in Vigo on a sample of 120 subjects selected by convenience sampling. A questionnaire was used which had been designed to outline the profile of the traveler and the trip in question, their personal opinions and sources of information, prior contact with antimalarial medication and/or prior diagnosis of malaria and degree of knowledge regarding malaria. A descriptive analysis and a bivariate (chi-square) analysis were conducted.
Results: A total of 65.8% has previously visited a traveler assistance center. Immunization (68.3%) was considered the top-priority measure. A total 36.42% reported the internet as being their source of information for their trip. A total of 22.5% had been recommended­ to take or had previously taken antimalarial treatment.
The highest percentage of error in overall malaria-related know­ledge concerned knowledge as to some non-pharmacological means of protection for preventing malaria transmission (87%). A total of 51% experienced nausea and vomiting as a side-effect associated with the antimalarial medications.
Conclusions: Travelers inform themselves and prefer to do so through other travelers. The results reveal the mechanism of transmission to be known, the critical point detected however being the measures for safeguarding against mosquito bites. In their health education work, Nursing professionals should more adamantly stress the importance of taking measures to protect oneself and the proper way of taking antimalarial drugs.

Keywords:

international immunization center; malaria; Malarial diseasetravelling

Versión en Español

Título:

Información sobre malaria y antipalúdicos en viajeros internacionales