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[Traveller counseling by embassies and consulates]
F Montañés Alcántara1, T Mejías García, J Gascón Brustenga
1Centro de Salud Arrabal, Zaragoza.
Revista Clinica Espanola
|May 15, 1998
Summary
Travelers seeking health advice from embassies in Spain received inconsistent information regarding immunizations and malaria prevention. It is recommended to consult specialized travel medicine clinics for accurate pre-travel health guidance.
Area of Science:
- Travel Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Accurate health advice is crucial for travelers visiting developing countries.
- The quality of pre-travel health information provided by foreign embassies and consulates in Spain was evaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the accuracy and completeness of travel health advice offered by embassies and consulates.
- To identify deficiencies in pre-travel health information dissemination.
Main Methods:
- A telephone survey was conducted with 32 embassies and consulates representing countries in Asia, Africa, and South and Central America.
- Researchers posed as potential travelers seeking health advice to evaluate the information provided.
Main Results:
- Only 53% of embassies from countries endemic for yellow fever recommended the appropriate immunization.
- Malaria prophylaxis was recommended by just over 41% of embassies in malaria-risk areas.
- Other essential immunizations (hepatitis, tetanus, typhus) and precautions were inconsistently recommended, with 53% referring callers to public health departments or travel clinics.
Conclusions:
- Embassies and consulates are not consistently reliable sources for pre-travel health advice.
- Travelers should seek expert guidance from international vaccination centers and Tropical Medicine units for accurate pre-travel health information.