Crisis económica y patología infecciosa. Informe SESPAS 2014

Abstract

Past economic crises have increased the impact of communicable diseases especially on groups particularly vulnerable to the social and health consequences of the recession. However, it has been shown that the impact of these crises largely depends on the response of governments and the inhabitants of affected countries. We describe the consequences of the current crisis in the causal chain of infectious disease, including the response of the health system, and explore whether there is evidence of its impact in Spain. It is assumed that the possible effect of the crisis on living and working conditions is due to individual and social debt coupled with high unemployment as defining features of the crisis. We highlight the potential negative consequences of healthcare cuts on vulnerable populations, which have been partly excluded with the recent reform of health coverage. We compare mortality and morbidity data between two periods: before and after 2008, integrating, where possible, observed trends and institutional reports. Overall, no effect on infectious disease has been detected so far, although some signs of worsening, which could be compatible with the effects of the crisis, have been observed and need to be monitored and confirmed. We review the limitations of data sources that may not be sufficiently sensitive or up-to-date to detect changes that may require a latency period to become manifest. Instead of cutting resources, surveillance of these diseases should be improved, and an equitable social health response, which targets the population most affected by the crisis, should be guaranteed.

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Associated Factors in Homosexuals and Bisexuals in Granada (Spain) during the Period 2000–2015

“…This finding is consistent with a previous study by the authors [27] which, unlike the present research, was conducted on the general population and covered a shorter period. In line with the contributions of other authors [28,29], the negative effect of financial crises on infectious conditions is particularly noteworthy. Greece, one of the European countries that has suffered most from the financial crisis, is a prime example of this, where several studies [30,31] have revealed an increase in prevalence of several infectious conditions, including HIV, pointing to budget cuts and the dismantling of a third of all EU prevention programmes between 2009–2010 as possible causes [31].…”

Economic Crisis, Austerity Policies, Health and Fairness: Lessons Learned in Spain

“…On comparing the health surveys of 2006, 2011 and 2014, we see, in fact, an improvement in the perception of health among most of the population, in contrast to other European countries, where the economic crisis was less severe [28]. The 2014 survey also showed that there had been no negative impact on the incidence of infectious disease [29].…”

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Associated Factors in Southeast Spain: A Retrospective Study from 2000 to 2014

“…Furthermore, the current financial situation impacts on the incidence of STIs, mainly in the most vulnerable population [ 1 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. In the recent economic crisis period (2008–2014) [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], syphilis and gonorrhoea reappeared in Spain, and the incidence of HIV, hepatitis, and HPV increased.…”