Characterization of the social determinants for rickettsiosis in El Jigual, Rosas, cauca, province during 2016. A qualitative case study

Abstract

Introduction: Rickettsiosis poses a challenge to the public health due to the lethality, diagnostic complexity, unawareness by the health staff and the communities, and the difficulty to manage it. Despite some outbreaks, there are no studies about the determining social factors for the rickettsiosis. Objective: To characterize the determining social factors for the rickettsiosis in the village El Jigual (Colombia). Methods: An instrumental and qualitative case study, based on an ethnographic design. Results: The population was found living in the poverty with a high rate of unsatisfied basic needs; a strong financial dependence; poor schooling levels; a handmade farming production that expands the agricultural limits by putting pressure on the land; a perception of increasing local temperature; and a growing plague of ticks. No risks were perceived regarding the rickettsia vector in this community. In addition, the response by the official agencies has been both non-articulated and non-continuous. Discussion: Rickettsiosis is a challenge to the public health because of the complex social conditions involved and the lack of risk perception. Some authors agree on stating that the epidemic outbreaks are related to the social backwardness and how the vector exposure risk is perceived.