Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus in Rural Haiti

Abstract

Introduction: The problem of the prevailing occurrence of hypertension and diabetes cases quickly took the world by storm. Rural areas became even more exposed to the negative issues associated with these health conditions due to the lack of a skilled workforce and educational programs for patients. Within the framework of the current paper, the researcher utilized the data from two mission trips in Thomonde, Haiti, to gain more insight into chronic health issues among rural Haitian residents. Methods: This study employed a retrospective analytical cross-sectional retrospective, descriptive design utilizing data obtained from two mission trips in Thomonde, Haiti in the areas of Palmay, Savane Plate, and La Hoye. The information was analyzed with the help of the SPSS software. A total of 403 adult patient visits across the three sites and two visits were included in the analysis. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (25.8%) was the most common diagnosis found in the rural Haitian communes among adults in the total sample (N=403), followed by Hypertension (16.8%) and Dehydration (13.9%). Among women, significant differences were found by location for pregnancy. The greatest number of pregnancies were observed in La Hoye (19.0%). Conclusion: The core implication of these findings was the significance of disseminating knowledge across rural areas while conducting similar retrospective studies to check progress. Real-life application of relevant knowledge could be beneficial for both patients and care providers operating in rural locations that are the hardest to reach.