Health Behavior of International Travelers to Calcutta: Identifying the Need for a Travelers' Clinic

Abstract

Background: With the growing rates of travel and, potentially therefore, of travel‐related illness in India, this study was conducted to establish both the need of a travelers' clinic in Calcutta and a profile of the group or groups at risk of illness best served by such facilities. Methods: A total of 452 visitors, half business and package holiday travelers (group A) and half younger, low‐budget tourists with less pretravel advice (group B), were compared. Through a questionnaire, their health, pretravel advice and prophylaxis, use of first aid, safe water use, posttravel treatment, and opinion concerning the need for a travelers' clinic were determined. Results: Group A travelers stayed in deluxe hotels with more pretravel advice (90% compared to 72% in group B), were taking antimalarial agents (82% compared to 61% in group B), remained healthy (72% compared to 58% in group B), consumed safe water (87% compared to 47% in group B), and were more likely to seek posttravel treatment (75% compared to 60% in group B). The Group B travelers, consequently, felt an increasing need for a travelers' clinic (92% compared to 82% in group A). Conclusions: Given the complexities of travel in India, there is a palpable need for appropriate medical attention to travelers, especially among the young, budget tourists, which is best provided at a traveler's clinic. Copyright © 1994, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved