[The prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in the rural community of Salamá, Honduras, using the capture-recapture epidemiological method].

INTRODUCTION

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in Honduras. In 2001 the first epidemiological study conducted into stroke or CVD in the urban district of Colonia Kennedy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was published; the prevalence rate was found to be 5.7 x 1000 inhabitants. To date few epidemiological studies have been carried out on CVD in rural areas of Central America.

AIM

To determine the prevalence of CVD in the rural community of Salama, Olancho, Honduras, using the epidemiological method known as capture-recapture.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The capture-recapture technique includes three sources of data: door-to-door interviews, research of medical records and interviews held with community leaders. All the residents in the rural community of Salama, Olancho, in north-western Honduras, were evaluated and the prevalence day was 5th May, 2005. The World Health Organisation's definition of CVD and the recommendations of the 'Global stroke initiative' were used.

RESULTS

A total of 1121 households were visited, which involved a total population of 5608 inhabitants. The prevalence for CVD was found to be 3.6 x 1000 inhabitants.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence rate for CVD in the rural community of Salama, Honduras, is similar to that reported for other rural regions of Latin America. The capture-recapture technique is recommended for conducting studies into the prevalence of stroke in rural areas.