Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study
Abstract Background Venezuela is in the throes of a complex humanitarian crisis that is one of the worst in decades to impact any country outside of wartime. This case analysis describes the challenges faced by the ongoing Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS) during the deteriorating conditions in Venezuela....
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
BMC
2021-03-01
|
Series: | BMC Public Health |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10526-0 |
id |
doaj-8365f0762be946e1b5eb14eeb4f438dd |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-8365f0762be946e1b5eb14eeb4f438dd2021-03-11T11:15:09ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-03-0121111010.1186/s12889-021-10526-0Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging studyGladys E. Maestre0Rosa V. Pirela1Carmen L. Paz2Jesus D. Melgarejo3Luis J. Mena4Carlos A. Chavez5Reinier Leendertz6Michele Petitto7Eglé Silva8Gustavo E. Calmón9Lama Al-Aswad10Joseph H. Lee11Joseph D. Terwilliger12Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineDepartment of Human Genetics, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of MedicineLaboratory of Neurosciences, University of ZuliaLaboratory of Neurosciences, University of ZuliaUniversidad Politécnica de SinaloaLaboratory of Neurosciences, University of ZuliaLaboratory of Neurosciences, University of ZuliaLaboratory of Neurosciences, University of ZuliaCardiovascular Institute (IECLUZ), University of ZuliaCardiovascular Institute (IECLUZ), University of ZuliaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Grossman School of Medicine, New York UniversitySergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia UniversitySergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia UniversityAbstract Background Venezuela is in the throes of a complex humanitarian crisis that is one of the worst in decades to impact any country outside of wartime. This case analysis describes the challenges faced by the ongoing Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS) during the deteriorating conditions in Venezuela. When the MAS began in 1997, it focused on memory-related disorders. Since then, strategic planning and proactive community participation allowed us to anticipate and address logistical, funding, and ethical challenges, and facilitated the enrollment and retention of more than 2500 subjects over 55 years of age. All participants, who are residents of the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, underwent various assessments on several occasions. Here, we discuss how our approach to implementing a longitudinal, population-based study of age-related conditions has allowed our research program to continue throughout this period of political, economic, and social upheaval. Discussion As the social context in Venezuela became more complicated, new challenges emerged, and strategies to sustain the study and participation were refined. We identified five main mechanisms through which the evolving humanitarian crisis has affected implementation of the MAS: 1) community dynamics; 2) morale of researchers, staff, and participants; 3) financial feasibility; 4) components of the research process; and 5) impact on the health of staff, participants, and their families. Strategies to compensate for the impact on these components were implemented, based on inputs from community members and staff. Improved communication, greater involvement of stakeholders, broadening the scope of the project, and strengthening international collaboration have been the most useful strategies. Particular demands emerged, related to the increased mortality and comorbidities of participants and staff, and deterioration of basic services and safety. Conclusion Although the MAS has faced numerous obstacles, it has been possible to continue a longitudinal research project throughout the humanitarian crisis, because our research team has engaged the community deeply and developed a sense of mutual commitment, and also because our project has provided funding to help keep researchers employed, somewhat attenuating the brain drain.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10526-0AgingDementiaVenezuelaHumanitarian crisisResearchEthical challenges |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Gladys E. Maestre Rosa V. Pirela Carmen L. Paz Jesus D. Melgarejo Luis J. Mena Carlos A. Chavez Reinier Leendertz Michele Petitto Eglé Silva Gustavo E. Calmón Lama Al-Aswad Joseph H. Lee Joseph D. Terwilliger |
spellingShingle |
Gladys E. Maestre Rosa V. Pirela Carmen L. Paz Jesus D. Melgarejo Luis J. Mena Carlos A. Chavez Reinier Leendertz Michele Petitto Eglé Silva Gustavo E. Calmón Lama Al-Aswad Joseph H. Lee Joseph D. Terwilliger Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study BMC Public Health Aging Dementia Venezuela Humanitarian crisis Research Ethical challenges |
author_facet |
Gladys E. Maestre Rosa V. Pirela Carmen L. Paz Jesus D. Melgarejo Luis J. Mena Carlos A. Chavez Reinier Leendertz Michele Petitto Eglé Silva Gustavo E. Calmón Lama Al-Aswad Joseph H. Lee Joseph D. Terwilliger |
author_sort |
Gladys E. Maestre |
title |
Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study |
title_short |
Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study |
title_full |
Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study |
title_fullStr |
Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Research on aging during the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the Maracaibo aging study |
title_sort |
research on aging during the venezuelan humanitarian crisis: the experience of the maracaibo aging study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Public Health |
issn |
1471-2458 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Venezuela is in the throes of a complex humanitarian crisis that is one of the worst in decades to impact any country outside of wartime. This case analysis describes the challenges faced by the ongoing Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS) during the deteriorating conditions in Venezuela. When the MAS began in 1997, it focused on memory-related disorders. Since then, strategic planning and proactive community participation allowed us to anticipate and address logistical, funding, and ethical challenges, and facilitated the enrollment and retention of more than 2500 subjects over 55 years of age. All participants, who are residents of the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, underwent various assessments on several occasions. Here, we discuss how our approach to implementing a longitudinal, population-based study of age-related conditions has allowed our research program to continue throughout this period of political, economic, and social upheaval. Discussion As the social context in Venezuela became more complicated, new challenges emerged, and strategies to sustain the study and participation were refined. We identified five main mechanisms through which the evolving humanitarian crisis has affected implementation of the MAS: 1) community dynamics; 2) morale of researchers, staff, and participants; 3) financial feasibility; 4) components of the research process; and 5) impact on the health of staff, participants, and their families. Strategies to compensate for the impact on these components were implemented, based on inputs from community members and staff. Improved communication, greater involvement of stakeholders, broadening the scope of the project, and strengthening international collaboration have been the most useful strategies. Particular demands emerged, related to the increased mortality and comorbidities of participants and staff, and deterioration of basic services and safety. Conclusion Although the MAS has faced numerous obstacles, it has been possible to continue a longitudinal research project throughout the humanitarian crisis, because our research team has engaged the community deeply and developed a sense of mutual commitment, and also because our project has provided funding to help keep researchers employed, somewhat attenuating the brain drain. |
topic |
Aging Dementia Venezuela Humanitarian crisis Research Ethical challenges |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10526-0 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT gladysemaestre researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT rosavpirela researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT carmenlpaz researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT jesusdmelgarejo researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT luisjmena researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT carlosachavez researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT reinierleendertz researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT michelepetitto researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT eglesilva researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT gustavoecalmon researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT lamaalaswad researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT josephhlee researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy AT josephdterwilliger researchonagingduringthevenezuelanhumanitariancrisistheexperienceofthemaracaiboagingstudy |
_version_ |
1724225719866753024 |