Analysis of a Health Issue in Brazil - Research Proposal Example

ANALYSIS OF A HEALTH ISSUE IN BRAZIL By Name Course Instructor Institution Location Date Table of Contents Problem statement 2 Justification of the need for problem alleviation 4 Research questions 5 Categories and sources of data 6 Limitations of data collection and analysis 7 Bibliography 8 Problem statement Although the American population is thought to be safe from common diseases, cases of infectious diseases have been reported and medical services been provided. However, there have been instances in which yellow fever has been reported in Brazil, raising a concern for the need to address this health issue in the American continent to understand its epistemology before the infection spreads further (Amador 2014). In the whole of the Central and South American countries, a total of up to thirteen were identified as endemic for the infection. The world health organization (WHO) has identified these countries as areas with a higher risk of transmission of yellow fever. Peru has had the highest percentage of the reported cases of yellow fever at fifty four, Colombia at seven, Bolivia at eighteen. Of interest to this paper is Brazil at sixteen. The virus that transmits the infection is hosted by the Haemagogus spp. Mosquito in America. The time during which the mosquito makes bites thus transmitting the disease has not specifically been determined, although the Aedes aegypti breed of mosquito has also been identified as a contributor to the total cases of infection reported. This breed has been noted to predominantly feed on human blood during the day. In Brazil, the recurring nature of report of cases of patients suspected to be suffering from yellow fever has necessitated the need to prepare a plan for the assessment of the presence of yellow fever in Brazil. The cases were majorly reported in at Alto Paraíso in the state of Goiás, with a patients getting early and effective treatment, while other succumb to the infection. In general, the America jungle areas have the highest cases reported of yellow fever infection. Study on the yellow fever reveals that the infection is however an acute infection that is caused by a virus. It has been identified as the yellow plague, and the symptoms range from headaches, nausea, appetite loss, chills, high fever and pains in the muscles of the patients, especially in the back (Thomas & Wilson 2012). Although the average duration of improvement of the symptoms has been set at five, numerous cases have been identified in which the duration lasts a day. However, such improvement alleviates the symptoms for a short time as patients complain of recurrence of the muscle and joint pains, fever and abdominal pain. The patient’s liver may then experience complications which may cause the skin to turn yellowish, with subsequent kidney complications increasing. A bite from the host female mosquito transmits the yellow fever virus which survives in human blood as well as in the bodies of primates and other breeds of mosquitoes. The virus is identified as an RNA virus that categories among the Flavivirus genus (Thomas Martinez, & Endy 2014: Baleotti, Moreli& Figueiredo 2003, p. 380). The infection is problematic to identify using symptom tests as its symptoms are common shared with other different infections, mostly in the early stages of infection. Cases reported in Brazil are tested using the polymerase chain reaction. Justification of the need for problem alleviation Brazil is one of the tourist destinations point in the world. Their economy has depended on income gained from tourism. Therefore, there is need to alter the current state of affairs with regard to the spread of yellow fever. Although Brazil is one of the countries in America that have been named by WHO as high yellow fever risk countries, a well-designed plan can help significantly reduce the spread of the infection (Thomas & Wilson 2012). The disease does not only pose a health threat to the travelers wishing to make Brazil their destination. The local Brazilians are also at risk of contracting the disease. With over two hundred thousand cases of infection reported to health institutions per year, thirty thousand victims lose tier lives over the disease. Although the African continent registers up to ninety percent of these deaths, the citizens of South America are equally exposed to the dangers of infection. The reason why there is high yellow fever prevalence in Brazil is the susceptibility of the region to the conditions which favour the survival of the virus. However, the measures in place in the Goiás state are of questionable effectiveness. It is for this reason a medical remedy is sought through provision of better and effective vaccination as a health measure towards reducing the epidemic in Brazil. Research questions In designing the plan to realize better and viable modes of vaccination against yellow fever in the Brazilian state of Goiás, it is vital to design guiding research questions. The questions should take note of the existence of a relationship between two or more variables in the Brazilian context. Acknowledgement of the relationship between variables thus will help the researcher to identify the specific relationship and represent it in question form so that data can be sought and analyzed to provide responses to the questions (Friedman, & Wyatt 2006). This plan has six basic questions that express a relationship between variables that if determined can help in achieving realistic design and course of action towards realizing a yellow fever-free Brazilian population. The questions designed are herein included; 1. How can the prevalence of yellow fever be determined in the state of Goiás in Brazil? Which are the basic resources needed in the determination of the prevalence of the infection? 2. What are the major reasons for the increased prevalence of yellow fever? How can the prevalence be reduced? 3. Which are the most commonly affected people? Is there a trend for the prevalence of the infection and race or economic ability of the victims of yellow fever? 4. What is the role of vaccination in preventing the contraction and spread of yellow fever? 5. Who are the major stakeholders in the alleviation of the impact of yellow fever? Is the Brazilian government responsible in combating the infection of yellow fever? 6. Why is yellow fever treated as a disease with high severity? These key questions are designed in such a manner that they are an effective way of representing the priority, nature and scope of yellow fever infection in the Brazilian context within the state of Goiás. Categories and sources of data This plan, just like most research studies, will use both qualitative and quantitative data in an attempt to provide answers to the questions with intent to justify the priority given to this problem, its nature and scope. Qualitative data is key to assessing the views of respondents towards the infection of yellow fever in the state of Goiás. Quantitative data is also set to be obtained so as to enable easy measurement of the prevalence of the infection (Friedman, & Wyatt 2006). The priority of the problem thus will be easily determined through close and in-depth analysis of quantitative data. Service utilization sources will give both qualitative and quantitative data. The types and effectiveness of the services offered towards combating yellow fever categorizes under the qualitative, whereas the frequency of use and number of services offered gives quantitative data. Demographic data will help in obtaining measurable information with regard to the effectiveness of the administration of the vaccine against yellow fever. Such information is expected to entail the number of individuals receiving the vaccine and the frequency of the vaccination process. On the other hand, the health status of the individuals will give detailed information with regard to the quality of the vaccination practice. Deteriorating health conditions among members of the Brazilian society imply poor quality of health services with regard to yellow fever, and a direct link to the vaccination policy adopted. Such information will therefore be collected through the use of such methodologies as surveys. The surveys shall be passed through the households in the state of Goiás and be filled in both by adults and children. The surveys will also be availed to the health practitioners for more professional insight into the prevalence of yellow fever with specific emphasis of the vaccination policy adopted in the state and Brazil at large. Limitations of data collection and analysis The process of data collection is not projected to be entirely smooth. A number of factors are foreseen to create problems in the process, as herein identified. 1. Use of manual tools of data collection, storage and analysis such as surveys might hinder access to enhanced and more reliable results. 2. Individuals might give erroneous information due to lack of sufficient information. Members of the households in the state of Goiás might not be adequately informed to give effective responses to questions that might require professional skills and information. 3. Since the surveys will only be provided to a selected number of respondents, it is difficult to ascertain the comprehensiveness or representation by those who receive the surveys. It is not a reliable method of data collection as the selected individuals for the exercise of data collection might give the views and information that is all binding, thus the method is inapplicable and hinders the quality of information obtained. 
 Factors for determination of the prevalence of yellow fever in twenty years to come 1. The level of prevalence of yellow fever in the state of Goiás. 2. The effectiveness of the vaccination programmes adopted in the state in terms of reduction of prevalence of the infection. With the help of these factors as guides to assessing the prevalence of the infection in 20 years to come, such methods of data collection as interviews which have been tailored to be specific on the information to be obtained and consideration of the respondents possession of relevant information with regard to the policies of effective vaccination against yellow fever in the state of Goiás in Brazil would be effective means of quantifying the prevalence of the infection (Amador, 2014). Use of computerized registries to obtain, analyze and store data would be effective means of information handling. Bibliography Amador, J. 2014. Public health and nation building in the Americas, 1890-1940. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=937535. Baleotti, F. G., Moreli, M. L., & Figueiredo, L. T. M. 2003. Brazilian Flavivirus phylogeny based on NS5. Memórias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. 98, 379-382. Friedman, C. P., & Wyatt, J. 2006. Evaluation methods in biomedical informatics. New York, Springer. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=150801. Thomas, J. G., & Wilson, C. R. 2012. Science & medicine. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press. Thomas, S. J., Martinez, L. J., & Endy, T. P. 2014. Flaviviruses: Yellow Fever, Japanese B, West Nile, and Others. Read More