Exploring chronic disease in Bolivia: A cross-sectional study in La Paz

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) pose a significant global health challenge, particularly in low-income countries with developing healthcare systems.
• La Paz, Bolivia, faces a high prevalence of NCDs, compounded by weak primary care infrastructure.
• Understanding patient characteristics and care perceptions is crucial for effective NCD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the characteristics of patients with NCDs in La Paz, Bolivia.
• To examine health-related behaviors and patient perceptions of care within this population.
• To inform the development of interventions based on the Chronic Care Model (CCM) for NCDs.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing two surveys administered in 2014 to adults in La Paz, Bolivia.
• Initial screening survey (n=1165) followed by a detailed survey (n=651) for eligible participants.
• Data collection included sociodemographics, health behaviors, health literacy, and perceived quality of care.

Main Results:

• Majority of participants had low socioeconomic status, education, and health literacy.
• High prevalence of multiple NCDs (nearly 50%), undiagnosed depression (26%), and low medication adherence (74%).
• Low perceived quality of care reported by 60% of respondents, especially younger individuals (<45 years).

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight significant challenges in managing NCDs in low-income settings, including social determinants of health.
• Low health literacy, poor medication adherence, and negative care perceptions present key areas for intervention.
• Evidence supports the need for targeted programs to improve NCD care and outcomes in La Paz.