"I Cannot Be Worried": Living with Chagas Disease in Tropical Bolivia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chagas disease (CD) profoundly affects the social and emotional dimensions of patients' lives, and disproportionately impacts poor, marginalized populations in Latin America. Biomedical treatment for CD fails to reach up to 99% of the people affected, and in any case seldom addresses the emotional health or socioeconomic conditions of patients. This study examines patient strategies for coping with CD in the department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Methodology

In this ethnographic study, semistructured interviews took place from March-June 2013 with 63 patients who had previously tested positive for CD. During the fieldwork period, participant observation was conducted and patient family members, providers, community members, and public health officials were consulted.<

SUBMITTER: Forsyth CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5242422 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature