Household burden of disease and NCD control and prevention – Understanding patient perceptions and health systems use in the Peruvian Andes

By the end of the 20th century Peru entered in to an epidemic transition with mortality rates of infectious and maternal diseases declining and Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) emerging, changing national public health profile and actions significantly. NCD’s account for the majority of deaths in contemporary Peru. National strategies for control and prevention of NCD’s have been settled, however progress to meet national objectives has been slow.
The overall aim of this study is to understand the epidemiology of NCD’s in the rural high altitude setting and contribute to health system strengthening in implementing the new Peruvian NCD control policy. We will focus on the understanding of patient side perception, demand, and behaviour with regard to diabetes and hypertension and health service provision at the peripheral health system.
We will conduct surveys to assess risk factors of NCD’s. Participants will undergo a physical examination for screening for hypertension and diabetes; in addition biological samples will be collected for future longitudinal biomarker research. Finally, we will perform qualitative assessment of disease and illness perception and service provision and treatment of NCD’s among the general population and health care providers.

Keywords: Non communicable diseases, high altitude, multigenerational cohort, andes

Short Biography

Giuliana Sanchez is a biologist with a MSc in Environmental Science (University of Geneva). Since 2016, she has been conducting non communicable diseases research within the Swiss-Peruvian Health Research Platform (owned by Swiss TPH and the University of Cayetano Heredia, Peru). In 2017, she was awarded a one-year Fogarty Kuskaya Fellowship, an interdisciplinary training for innovation in global health. Later, in 2018, she started her PhD studies in Epidemiology at the Swiss TPH (University of Basel). She was awarded the Peruvian CONCYTEC’s Scholarship for Doctorate Studies Abroad and GlobalP3HS Scholarship for continuing her research along the NCDs public health fields.

Giuliana Sanchez
Swiss TPH
University of Basel

Personal Website
giuliana.sanchezsamaniego@swisstph.ch

Supervisor: Daniel Mäusezahl