Epidemiologic profile of patients seen in primary care clinics in an urban and a rural setting in Haiti, 2010–11

BACKGROUND: This study examined the demographic and epidemiological differences between patient populations presenting to a rural and an urban clinic in Haiti. METHODS: A primary health clinic was established in urban Leogane, and a once-weekly clinic was established in Magandou, a rural village. Patient data were recorded for all individuals presenting to each clinic. RESULTS: Over 7 months, 6632 patients (median age 25) were seen in the urban clinic, and 567 (median age 47) in the rural clinic. There was a female majority at both sites. Hypertension was diagnosed in 41.9% (238/567) of the rural population over 40 years of age, while 29.5% (1956/6632) of patients in the urban setting had the same diagnosis (p<0.001). Among women of reproductive age, 20.4% (1353/6632) were diagnosed with STDs in the urban setting versus 8.6% (49/567) at the rural clinic (p=0.004). Eighty-eight patients at the urban clinic had a vector-borne disease, while none were diagnosed among the rural population. CONCLUSIONS: Screening and treatment of hypertension in Haiti must address the wide rural prevalence. STDs are a major urban health issue requiring treatment for both patients and their partners. Vector-borne disease was unseen in the rural clinic, despite an altitude insufficient to prevent mosquito-borne illness.