Pre-Travel Preparation of US Travelers Going Abroad to Provide Humanitarian Service, Global TravEpiNet 2009-2011

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Rhett J. Stoney, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Emily S. Jentes, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mark J. Sotir, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Phyllis E Kozarsky, Emory University; Sowmya R. Rao, University of Massachusetts; Regina C. LaRocque, Massachusetts General Hospital; Edward T. Ryan, Massachusetts General Hospital; Of Members, Global TravEpiNet Consortium
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-03-01
• Publisher: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0479
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• ISSN: 0002-9637
• Volume: 90
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 553
• End Page: 559
• Grant/Funding Information: Financial support: This work was supported by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grants U19CI000514 and U01CK000175.; This research was supported, in part, by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Keywords: GEOSENTINEL EXPERIENCE; AMERICAN MISSIONARIES; INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; RISK; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Tropical Medicine; FOREIGN BACKPACKERS; PREVENTION; ATTITUDES; KNOWLEDGE; Science & Technology; HEALTH-CARE; PREEXPOSURE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Abstract. We analyzed characteristics of humanitarian service workers (HSWs) seen pre-travel at Global TravEpiNet (GTEN) practices during 2009-2011. Of 23,264 travelers, 3,663 (16%) travelers were classified as HSWs. Among HSWs, 1,269 (35%) travelers were medical workers, 1,298 (35%) travelers were non-medical service workers, and 990 (27%) travelers were missionaries. Median age was 29 years, and 63% of travelers were female. Almost one-half (49%) traveled to 1 of 10 countries; the most frequent destinations were Haiti (14%), Honduras (8%), and Kenya (6%). Over 90% of travelers were vaccinated for or considered immune to hepatitis A, typhoid, and yellow fever. However, for hepatitis B, 292 (29%) of 990 missionaries, 228 (18%) of 1,298 non-medical service workers, and 76 (6%) of 1,269 medical workers were not vaccinated or considered immune. Of HSWs traveling to Haiti during 2010, 5% of travelers did not receive malaria chemoprophylaxis. Coordinated efforts from HSWs, HSW agencies, and clinicians could reduce vaccine coverage gaps and improve use of malaria chemoprophylaxis.