Conference Material > Poster
Martinez Torre S, Sagrado MJ, Carreño C, Llosa AE
MSF Paediatric Days 2024. 2024 May 3; DOI:10.57740/WieV9oT
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Glob Health Action. 2022 October 6; Volume 15 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1080/16549716.2022.2128281
Cubides JC, Jorgensen N, Peiter PC
Glob Health Action. 2022 October 6; Volume 15 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1080/16549716.2022.2128281
In the medical humanitarian context, the challenging task of collecting health information from people on the move constitutes a key element to identifying critical health care needs and gaps. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), during its long history of working with migrants, refugees and mobile populations in different contexts, has acknowledged how crucial it is to generate detailed context-related data on migrant and refugee populations in order to adapt the response interventions to their needs and circumstances. In 2019, the Brazilian Medical Unit/MSF developed the Migration History Tool (MHT), an application based on the life history method which was created in close dialogue with field teams in order to respond to information needs emerging from medical operations in mobile populations. The tool was piloted in two different contexts: firstly, among mobile populations transiting and living in Beitbridge and Musina, at the Zimbabwe-South Africa border; and, secondly, among Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Colombia. This article describes the implementation of this innovative method for collecting quantitative retrospective data on mobility and health in the context of two humanitarian interventions. The results have proven the flexibility of the methodology, which generated detailed information on mobility trajectories and on the temporalities of migration in two different contexts. It also revealed how health outcomes are not only associated with the spatial dimensions of movement, but also with the temporalities of mobility trajectories.
Journal Article > ResearchAbstract Only
J Immigr Minor Health. 2021 October 26; Volume 24 (Issue 5); 1281-1287.; DOI:10.1007/s10903-021-01298-1
Cubides JC, Peiter PC, Garone DB, Antierens A
J Immigr Minor Health. 2021 October 26; Volume 24 (Issue 5); 1281-1287.; DOI:10.1007/s10903-021-01298-1
Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) conducted a study to identify health needs and access barriers of Venezuelan migrants and refugees at La Guajira and Norte de Santander Colombian border states. The Migration History tool was used to gather information that included various health-related issues such as referred morbidity, exposure to violence, mental health, and access to health care services. A group migration profile with long-term permanence plans was identified. Was evidenced an important share of young population (50% under 20), indigenous people (20%), and returnees (11%). The respondents referred to a mixed pattern of chronic and acute diseases, for which the main difficulty was accessing diagnosis and continuous treatment. Health-seeking behavior was identified as the main barrier to access health care services. The article compiles main findings on the Venezuelan migrants and refugees' health conditions, contributing important evidence for the humanitarian responses in migration contexts.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2020 September 18; Volume 30 (Issue 1); e1850.; DOI:10.1002/mpr.1850
Llosa AE, Martinez-Viciana C, Carreño C, Evangelidou S, Casas G, et al.
Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2020 September 18; Volume 30 (Issue 1); e1850.; DOI:10.1002/mpr.1850
OBJECTIVE
We present the results of a cross-cultural validation of the Mental Health Global State (MHGS) scale for adults and adolescents (<14 years old).
METHODS
We performed two independent studies using mixed methods among 103 patients in Hebron, Occupied Palestinian Territories and 106 in Cauca, Colombia. The MHGS was analyzed psychometrically, sensitivity and specificity, ability to detect clinically meaningful change, compared to the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S). Principal component analysis was used to reduce the number of questions after data collection.
RESULTS
The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha score of 0.80 in both settings. Test retest reliability was high, ICC 0.70 (95% CI [0.41-0.85]) in Hebron and 0.87 (95% CI [0.76-0.93]) in Cauca; inter-rater reliability was 0.70 (95% CI [0.42-0.85]) in Hebron and 0.76 (95% CI [0.57-0.88]) in Cauca. Psychometric properties were also good, and the tool demonstrated a sensitivity of 85% in Hebron and 100% in Cauca, with corresponding specificity of 80% and 79%, when compared to CGI-S.
CONCLUSIONS
The MHGS showed promising results to assess global mental health thereby providing an additional easy to use tool in humanitarian interventions. Additional work should focus on validation in at least one more context, to adhere to best practices in transcultural validation.
We present the results of a cross-cultural validation of the Mental Health Global State (MHGS) scale for adults and adolescents (<14 years old).
METHODS
We performed two independent studies using mixed methods among 103 patients in Hebron, Occupied Palestinian Territories and 106 in Cauca, Colombia. The MHGS was analyzed psychometrically, sensitivity and specificity, ability to detect clinically meaningful change, compared to the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S). Principal component analysis was used to reduce the number of questions after data collection.
RESULTS
The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha score of 0.80 in both settings. Test retest reliability was high, ICC 0.70 (95% CI [0.41-0.85]) in Hebron and 0.87 (95% CI [0.76-0.93]) in Cauca; inter-rater reliability was 0.70 (95% CI [0.42-0.85]) in Hebron and 0.76 (95% CI [0.57-0.88]) in Cauca. Psychometric properties were also good, and the tool demonstrated a sensitivity of 85% in Hebron and 100% in Cauca, with corresponding specificity of 80% and 79%, when compared to CGI-S.
CONCLUSIONS
The MHGS showed promising results to assess global mental health thereby providing an additional easy to use tool in humanitarian interventions. Additional work should focus on validation in at least one more context, to adhere to best practices in transcultural validation.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Confl Health. 2010 June 17; Volume 4; 12.; DOI:10.1186/1752-1505-4-12
O'Brien DP, Venis S, Greig J, Shanks L, Ellman T, et al.
Confl Health. 2010 June 17; Volume 4; 12.; DOI:10.1186/1752-1505-4-12
INTRODUCTION
Many countries ravaged by conflict have substantial morbidity and mortality attributed to HIV/AIDS yet HIV treatment is uncommonly available. Universal access to HIV care cannot be achieved unless the needs of populations in conflict-affected areas are addressed.
METHODS
From 2003 Médecins Sans Frontières introduced HIV care, including antiretroviral therapy, into 24 programmes in conflict or post-conflict settings, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV care and treatment activities were usually integrated within other medical activities. Project data collected in the Fuchia software system were analysed and outcomes compared with ART-LINC data. Programme reports and other relevant documents and interviews with local and headquarters staff were used to develop lessons learned.
RESULTS
In the 22 programmes where ART was initiated, more than 10,500 people were diagnosed with HIV and received medical care, and 4555 commenced antiretroviral therapy, including 348 children. Complete data were available for adults in 20 programmes (n = 4145). At analysis, 2645 (64%) remained on ART, 422 (10%) had died, 466 (11%) lost to follow-up, 417 (10%) transferred to another programme, and 195 (5%) had an unclear outcome. Median 12-month mortality and loss to follow-up were 9% and 11% respectively, and median 6-month CD4 gain was 129 cells/mm3. Patient outcomes on treatment were comparable to those in stable resource-limited settings, and individuals and communities obtained significant benefits from access to HIV treatment. Programme disruption through instability was uncommon with only one program experiencing interruption to services, and programs were adapted to allow for disruption and population movements. Integration of HIV activities strengthened other health activities contributing to health benefits for all victims of conflict and increasing the potential sustainability for implemented activities.
CONCLUSIONS
With commitment, simplified treatment and monitoring, and adaptations for potential instability, HIV treatment can be feasibly and effectively provided in conflict or post-conflict settings.
Many countries ravaged by conflict have substantial morbidity and mortality attributed to HIV/AIDS yet HIV treatment is uncommonly available. Universal access to HIV care cannot be achieved unless the needs of populations in conflict-affected areas are addressed.
METHODS
From 2003 Médecins Sans Frontières introduced HIV care, including antiretroviral therapy, into 24 programmes in conflict or post-conflict settings, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV care and treatment activities were usually integrated within other medical activities. Project data collected in the Fuchia software system were analysed and outcomes compared with ART-LINC data. Programme reports and other relevant documents and interviews with local and headquarters staff were used to develop lessons learned.
RESULTS
In the 22 programmes where ART was initiated, more than 10,500 people were diagnosed with HIV and received medical care, and 4555 commenced antiretroviral therapy, including 348 children. Complete data were available for adults in 20 programmes (n = 4145). At analysis, 2645 (64%) remained on ART, 422 (10%) had died, 466 (11%) lost to follow-up, 417 (10%) transferred to another programme, and 195 (5%) had an unclear outcome. Median 12-month mortality and loss to follow-up were 9% and 11% respectively, and median 6-month CD4 gain was 129 cells/mm3. Patient outcomes on treatment were comparable to those in stable resource-limited settings, and individuals and communities obtained significant benefits from access to HIV treatment. Programme disruption through instability was uncommon with only one program experiencing interruption to services, and programs were adapted to allow for disruption and population movements. Integration of HIV activities strengthened other health activities contributing to health benefits for all victims of conflict and increasing the potential sustainability for implemented activities.
CONCLUSIONS
With commitment, simplified treatment and monitoring, and adaptations for potential instability, HIV treatment can be feasibly and effectively provided in conflict or post-conflict settings.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
BMJ. 1998 December 12; Volume 317 (Issue 7173); 1649-1650.; DOI:10.1136/bmj.317.7173.1649
Veeken H
BMJ. 1998 December 12; Volume 317 (Issue 7173); 1649-1650.; DOI:10.1136/bmj.317.7173.1649
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLOS One. 2018 March 8; Volume 13 (Issue 3); DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0193491
Bastard M, Sanchez-Padilla E, du Cros PAK, Khamraev AK, Parpieva N, et al.
PLOS One. 2018 March 8; Volume 13 (Issue 3); DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0193491
The emergence of resistance to anti-tuberculosis (DR-TB) drugs and the HIV epidemic represent a serious threat for reducing the global burden of TB. Although data on HIV-negative DR-TB treatment outcomes are well published, few data on DR-TB outcomes among HIV co-infected people is available despite the great public health importance.
Journal Article > LetterFull Text
N Engl J Med. 2004 December 16; Volume 351 (Issue 25); 2576-2578.; DOI:10.1056/NEJMp048293
Reilley B, Morote S
N Engl J Med. 2004 December 16; Volume 351 (Issue 25); 2576-2578.; DOI:10.1056/NEJMp048293
Conference Material > Abstract
Arana B, Lopez L, Velez ID, Llanos-Cuentas A, Boni MF, et al.
MSF Scientific Days International 2020: Research. 2020 May 13
Journal Article > ReviewFull Text
BMC Med. 2018 October 29; Volume 16 (Issue 1); 186.; DOI:10.1186/s12916-018-1177-5
Das D, Grais RF, Okiro EA, Stepniewska K, Mansoor R, et al.
BMC Med. 2018 October 29; Volume 16 (Issue 1); 186.; DOI:10.1186/s12916-018-1177-5
Despite substantial improvement in the control of malaria and decreased prevalence of malnutrition over the past two decades, both conditions remain heavy burdens that cause hundreds of thousands of deaths in children in resource-poor countries every year. Better understanding of the complex interactions between malaria and malnutrition is crucial for optimally targeting interventions where both conditions co-exist. This systematic review aimed to assess the evidence of the interplay between malaria and malnutrition.