An Examination of Infectious Disease and Public Health Response in Argentina (1867-2013) Open Access
Ohringer, Alison (2015)
Abstract
Argentina's experience with infectious disease and public health intervention helps illuminate the country's history through the lens of politics, medicine, and social change. With epidemics of historic infectious diseases (such as smallpox, yellow fever, and cholera) as well as modern infectious diseases (including vaccine-preventable diseases, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical diseases), Argentina has seen both social and medical interventions in public health at the government, community, and individual levels. However, these interventions vary in nature with each different type of disease; a strategy that is successful for vector-borne diseases is not necessary applicable to vaccine-preventable diseases. Following the ratification of its Constitution in 1853, Argentina has experienced large waves of immigration and, simultaneously, epidemics of infectious disease. During the last decades of the 20th century, half of all deaths in Buenos Aires were attributable to epidemic disease. The question of provincial versus federal authority in implementing public health interventions was complicated, and is still an issue in the country today. Compulsory vaccination was introduced into Argentina in 1886 and, presently, vaccines are still free for all Argentines, as delineated on their Vaccination Calendar. In examining epidemics, data analysis was performed using total death rates for historic epidemic diseases and incidence per 100,000 for modern diseases. T-tests were performed for modern diseases to establish significance in evaluating the decrease of disease rates pre- and post-public health interventions. All death and incidence rates were graphed, all relevant references--including historical epidemiological data--were translated, and rates were averaged during and after epidemics. Argentina's response to historic infectious disease can assist in the development of additional policies to control epidemics of modern diseases. The interventions that have been broad in scope have lasted and those that are multi-faceted in nature have been the most successful in controlling epidemics of infectious disease.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
Chapter 2: Methods 6
Chapter 3: Historical infectious diseases 7
Smallpox 10
Background 10
Results 17
Discussion 18
Yellow Fever 19
Background 19
Results 23
Discussion 23
Cholera 26
Background 26
Results 29
Discussion 30
Polio 31
Background 31
Results 34
Discussion 34
Chapter 4: Modern infectious diseases 36
Vaccination Calendar: Preventing modern diseases like tuberculosis and diphtheria 38
Results: Tuberculosis 39
Results: Diphtheria 40
Discussion 40
HIV/AIDS 42
Background 42
Results 45
Discussion 46
Neglected Tropical Diseases 48
Chagas disease 49
Background 49
Results 53
Discussion 53
Dengue 55
Background 55
Results 57
Discussion 58
Chapter 5: Conclusion 60
Appendix 64
Bibliography 87
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