Health hazards and medical treatment of volunteers aged 18–30 years working in international social projects of non-governmental organizations (NGO)

Küpper, Thomas; Rieke, Burkhard; Neppach, K.; Morrison, Alistair; Martin, Jennifer

doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2013.11.004

Cited by 19 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…In contrast to regular travelers, international volunteers’ health risk profiles need to take into account additional aspects, such as different approaches to road traffic [ 86 ], altered living conditions, less ready access to medical care, and risks posed by their particular work. The need for appropriate pre-travel advice [ 87 ], medical and psychological assessments [ 88 ], and education and training in risk-reducing activities [ 89 ] has been alerted to. The importance of psychological support to avoid premature return has been recognised by Peace Corps from its inception [ 90 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

More harm than good? The questionable ethics of medical volunteering and international student placements

Bauer

2017

Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines

135

103

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It has been argued that much of international medical volunteering is done for the wrong reasons, in that local people serve as a means to meet volunteers’ needs, or for the right reasons but ignorance and ill-preparedness harm the intended beneficiaries, often without volunteers’ grasp of the damage caused. The literature on ethical concerns in medical volunteering has grown tremendously over the last years highlighting the need for appropriate guidelines. These same concerns, however, and an appreciation of the reasons why current aid paradigms are flawed, can serve as indicators on how to change existing practices to ensure a better outcome for those who are in need of help. Such paradigm change envisages medical assistance in the spirit of solidarity, social justice, equality, and collegial collaboration.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

More harm than good? The questionable ethics of medical volunteering and international student placements

Bauer

2017

Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines

135

103

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“…Few studies describe infectious diseases acquired while studying abroad; most articles are case reports 18–20 or small prospective observational studies. 13–22 Post-travel surveys directed at students are subjected to recall and response biases. Students who become ill might seek care at various domestic and international sites; only reportable conditions are systematically collected, and reportable diseases vary by state and country.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Illness among US resident student travellers after return to the USA: a GeoSentinel analysis, 2007–17

Angelo

Haulman

Terry

et al. 2018

Journal of Travel Medicine

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Background: The number of US students studying abroad more than tripled during the past 20 years. As study abroad programmes’ destinations diversify, students increasingly travel to resource-limited countries, placing them at risk for infectious diseases. Data describing infections acquired by US students while travelling internationally are limited. We describe illnesses among students who returned from international travel and suggest how to prevent illness among these travellers. Methods: GeoSentinel is a global surveillance network of travel and tropical medicine providers that monitors travel-related morbidity. This study included the records of US resident student international travellers, 17–24 years old, who returned to the USA, had a confirmed travel-related illness at one of 15 US GeoSentinel sites during 2007–17 and had a documented exposure region. Records were analysed to describe demographic and travel characteristics and diagnoses. Results: The study included 432 students. The median age was 21 years; 69% were female. More than 70% had a pre-travel consultation with a healthcare provider. The most common exposure region was sub-Saharan Africa (112; 26%). Students were most commonly exposed in India (44; 11%), Ecuador (28; 7%), Ghana (25; 6%) and China (24; 6%). The median duration of travel abroad was 40 days (range: 1–469) and presented to a GeoSentinel site a median of 8 days (range: 0–181) after travel; 98% were outpatients. Of 581 confirmed diagnoses, the most common diagnosis category was gastrointestinal (45%). Acute diarrhoea was the most common gastrointestinal diagnosis (113 of 261; 43%). Thirty-one (7%) students had vector-borne diseases [14 (41%) malaria and 11 (32%) dengue]. Three had vaccine-preventable diseases (two typhoid; one hepatitis A); two had acute human immunodeficiency virus infection. Conclusions: Students experienced travel-related infections, despite the majority having a pre-travel consultation. US students should receive pre-travel advice, vaccinations and chemoprophylaxis to prevent gastrointestinal, vector-borne, sexually transmitted and vaccine-preventable infections.

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“…Em situações de desastres naturais existe o risco de emergências em saúde pública, não somente às vítimas, mas também aos indivíduos que se dedicam a ajudar voluntariamente. Outro aspecto a ser considerado é que nem sempre estes indivíduos recebem orientação antes de se deslocar para estas áreas, ou quando o fazem não há intervalo de tempo o suficiente para implantação das medidas necessárias, como por exemplo, o cumprimento adequado de esquemas vacinais 11,12 .…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…Nosso relato é diferente do observado por Küpper et al 11 em que a média de idade foi de 19 anos, portanto indivíduos jovens, pertencentes a grupo etário que parece menos aderente às medidas de prevenção recomendadas. O reforço de tétano e difteria (dT) foi indicado a todos os que apresentavam a última dose há mais de 5 anos (36%), pelo risco de ferimentos devido às precárias condições locais.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…S egundo a Organização Mundial de Turismo (UNWTO), pela primeira vez as viagens internacionais excederam a marca de um bilhão em 2012, com aumento de 995 milhões de viagens internacionais só em 2011 1 Nas últimas décadas o mundo tem acompanhado em tempo real desastres e catástrofes naturais, e como consequência tem aumentado o número de pessoas associadas ou não à organizações não governamentais interessadas em ajudar às vítimas. Ao mesmo tempo observa-se uma escassez de guias bem consolidados que orientam voluntários antes da viagem, ou estudos que analisam os voluntários que trabalharam voluntariamente em missões de ajuda humanitária 10,11 . O atendimento de orientação pré-viagem consiste de consulta médica em que as medidas de prevenção gerais e de intervenção para reduzir os riscos de adoecimento são abordadas.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

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Aconselhamento pré-viagem aos voluntários com destino ao Haiti. Relato da experiência do Ambulatório dos Viajantes do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP

Miyaji

Chaves

Lara

et al. 2014

Rev. Med. (São Paulo)

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Health hazards and medical treatment of volunteers aged 18–30 years working in international social projects of non-governmental organizations (NGO)

Cited by 19 publications

References 59 publications

More harm than good? The questionable ethics of medical volunteering and international student placements

More harm than good? The questionable ethics of medical volunteering and international student placements

Illness among US resident student travellers after return to the USA: a GeoSentinel analysis, 2007–17

Aconselhamento pré-viagem aos voluntários com destino ao Haiti. Relato da experiência do Ambulatório dos Viajantes do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP

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