Addressing Chagas disease in Primary Care: qualitative research in an endemic area of Argentina

The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of the healthcare teams and target population about the facilitators and barriers to address Chagas disease in primary level in an endemic area in Argentina. Twelve semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted in Primary Health Care Centres in Resistencia, Chaco. The study was guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. While professionals had a positive perception of the proposed intervention to address Chagas, they showed concern about complexity and feasibility. Professionals perceive an excessive number of programs, limited material and resources, a lack of training in Chagas, outdated information material, bureaucratic obstacles to requesting supplies and medication, unrelated levels of care and fragmented records on Chagas. This research would contribute to the design of interventions that can be adapted to the existing barriers and facilitators.

本研究旨在评估阿根廷某恰加斯病（Chagas disease）流行区的医疗团队与目标人群，对基层层面应对恰加斯病的促进因素与阻碍因素的认知情况。研究于查科省雷西斯滕西亚的基层医疗卫生中心开展，共完成12项半结构化访谈与焦点小组讨论。本研究以实施研究统一框架（Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research）为指导。尽管医疗专业人员对拟议的恰加斯病应对干预措施持有积极态度，但他们对其复杂性与可行性表示担忧。医疗专业人员指出，当前存在项目数量过多、物资与资源匮乏、恰加斯病相关培训不足、信息材料过时、申领物资与药品存在官僚障碍、医疗照护层级不匹配以及恰加斯病病例记录碎片化等问题。本研究可为适配现有阻碍因素与促进因素的干预措施设计提供参考依据。