Access to Comprehensive Chagas Disease Care: A Global Effort

Analysis of the Chagas disease situation in Japan: a cross sectional study and cost-effectiveness analysis of a Chagas disease screening program

“…PHC-based screening system has been implemented in other non-endemic countries, referring to secondary or higher levels only if necessary. 3 , 20 , 54 , 55 , 56 In contrast, in Japan, the previous cases had been followed exclusively by secondary and tertiary levels. 13 The maintenance of this structure contributes to perpetuating the barriers for reaching the LA migrants who work and live under inflexible job schedules in rural areas of the country.…”

“… 56 , 20 Furthermore, providing locations for comprehensive care of CD in selected public health centers with a multidisciplinary team with transcultural and language skills will be essential to overcome the current barriers. 20 …”

“…Previous studies remarked that the interventions directed to people at risk of CD should include a comprehensive approach for the impact and relevance of the socio-cultural dimension of CD. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 Therefore, we created an educational system in Spanish and Portuguese that offer information about CD or planned venues, facilitate communication and support; before, during, and continued after the study concluded. The educational system has a virtual area whose main component was the website “Chagas en Japón” linked to social media 22 ; and a physical area in the venues where we conducted CD group discussions based on an activity that demonstrated to increase CD knowledge.…”

“…29 We believe that establishing a patient road-map where the visits are compressed in time and frequency, like other non-endemic countries, will improve the diagnostic and treatment procedure. 56,20 Furthermore, providing locations for comprehensive care of CD in selected public health centers with a multidisciplinary team with transcultural and language skills will be essential to overcome the current barriers. 20 We didn't assess the educational intervention implemented.…”

“…56,20 Furthermore, providing locations for comprehensive care of CD in selected public health centers with a multidisciplinary team with transcultural and language skills will be essential to overcome the current barriers. 20 We didn't assess the educational intervention implemented. However, recent research supported that digital tools, such as social media, can be a beneficial health education resource.…”