Date of Award

January 2024

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Michael Cappello

Second Advisor

Bernardo Lombo

Abstract

Background: Chagas Disease, endemic to 21 countries in Latin America, is transmitted by triatominae insects infected with parasites known as Trypanosoma cruzi.1–3 It is the most prevalent tropical disease in Latin America, affecting about 6 million individuals across the Americas.1 This literature review aims to summarize unique epidemiological patterns over a 9-year time period from 2010 to 2019 across three nations in South America that experienced the highest Chagas Disease burden in 2019: Bolivia, Venezuela, and Argentina.4

Methods: For this rapid literature review, one independent reviewer extracted all data for publications reviewed within a 9-year time period: 2010 to 2019. The Population, Concept, and Context Framework was used to identify key Chagas Disease concepts. Two major databases were utilized, MEDLINE and EMBASE, as recommended by the Cochrane Review Guidelines.5 The use of a 3rd database was omitted as there was only one reviewer. Literature available in both English and Spanish language translations were reviewed. Inclusion criteria incorporated all study designs, unique infection patterns, and disease control measures while excluding case studies and certain specialized topics. Results: In total, 1068 research articles were obtained from both the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases. Of these, 267 duplicates were removed, and 801 proceeded to title and abstract screening. Among the 238 articles that were assessed for full-text review, 30 were included in the full data extraction that demonstrated unique epidemiological patterns and characteristics across Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina, and selected continents.

Conclusions: This rapid literature review demonstrates unique changes in epidemiological trends across the 3 nations over a 9-year time frame. Important future considerations to control and prevent Chagas Disease include strengthening Chagas Disease surveillance systems and delivering educational interventions to patients and providers.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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