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[Program for the prevention and control of acute respiratory diseases in infancy in Santiago, Chile]
M L Véjar1, D C Castillo, M P Navarrete
1Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río, Servicio de Pediatría, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
A pediatric program in Chile significantly reduced child mortality from acute respiratory infections (ARI) and pneumonia. This initiative demonstrated effective prevention and control strategies in a low-income population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Public Health
- Infectious Disease Control
- Health Services Research
Context:
- Government health service in Santiago, Chile, serving over one million people.
- Focus on a low-income population with limited healthcare access.
- Utilizes a network of one general hospital, 16 primary care clinics, and eight rural health posts.
Purpose:
- To describe and evaluate the activities of a pediatric program for the prevention and control of acute respiratory infections (ARI).
- To assess the program's impact on child mortality rates, specifically from pneumonia.
- To analyze the cost-effectiveness of ARI prevention and control measures.
Summary:
- The program implemented personnel training, primary care interventions, and hospitalization protocols for severe ARI cases.
- Between 1990 and 1994, annual pneumonia mortality in children under one year decreased from 3.0 to 1.7 per 1,000.
- Infant mortality rates declined from 13.5 to 8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births during the study period.
Impact:
- Demonstrated a substantial reduction in child mortality attributed to ARI and pneumonia.
- Contributed significantly to overall improvements in child health outcomes in the region.
- The program's success highlights the value of targeted public health interventions in vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
This paper describes and examines the activities for the prevention and control of acute respiratory infections (ARI) carried out by a pediatric program in a government health service that provides care to a low-income population in Santiago, Chile. The study area has a population of just over one million people and is served by one general hospital, 16 primary care clinics, and eight rural health posts. Specific activities carried out by the ARI program include personnel training as well as control measures at the primary care level and hospitalization of children with severe ARI. In the first 5 years of the program (1990-1994), a reduction in annual mortality from pneumonia from 3.0 to 1.7 per 1,000 was observed among children under the age of one year, which contributed to a decline in infant mortality from 13.5 to 8.9 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 1994, program costs amounted to US$ 224,000. Judging from the results obtained, the ARI prevention and control program has made a valuable contribution in the area of child health.