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Health Risks Associated with Visiting Friends and Relatives in Developing Countries.
Martha Fulford1, Jay S Keystone
1University of Toronto; Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street 9ES-411A, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada. jay.keystone@utoronto.ca.
Current Infectious Disease Reports
|December 22, 2004
Summary
Immigrant travelers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) face higher risks for tropical infections due to travel habits and lower pretravel health engagement. This includes diseases like malaria, hepatitis A, and HIV.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Travel Medicine
Background:
- Developed countries see increasing immigration from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
- Immigrants returning to their home countries (VFRs) are a distinct traveler group.
- VFRs have unique risk factors for acquiring infections abroad.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the elevated risk of tropical infections in VFRs.
- To identify specific infections posing a threat to VFRs.
- To inform pretravel health strategies for this population.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on VFR travel and health risks.
- Analysis of risk factors associated with VFR travel patterns.
- Identification of common infectious diseases acquired by VFRs.
Main Results:
- VFRs are more likely to visit rural areas and stay longer.
- They engage in behaviors increasing infection risk, like consuming contaminated food/drink.
- VFRs are less likely to seek pretravel advice or use antimalarials.
Conclusions:
- VFRs face significantly higher risks for tuberculosis, malaria, food/waterborne illnesses, hepatitis A, and STIs.
- Targeted pretravel health interventions are crucial for VFRs.
- Public health initiatives should address VFRs' specific needs and risks.