Ecuador has a population of 12 million inhabitants, composed of a variety of ethnic groups. The majority of the population lives in rural areas. There is a severe deficiency in health services, and most diseases are associated with poor life conditions: malnutrition, parasitic diseases and infections. At the same time, however, chronic diseases, e.g. cancer, have increased in prevalence. Most genetic services are provided by the private sector, which offers clinical genetic consultations and counseling, cytogenetic analyses, a limited number of molecular and biomedical tests, and prenatal diagnosis. Genetic research is centered in the universities of important cities (Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca). The government sponsors some university research projects but does not conduct health actions in genetics in the community. There is an incipient interest in ethic and legal issues in genetics, such as how to provide modern genomic medicine in a resource-poor country.

Keywords:
Community health services, Genetic health, Health policies
1.
Paz-y-Miño C: Estado de los Genes de Cánceres en Población de Altura. Revista de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador 2002;69:99–110.
2.
Paz-y-Miño C: Status of Cancer Genes in Populations Living in High Altitude. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2003.
3.
INEC – Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos: Anuario de Estadísticas Vitales. Quito, INEC, 2001.
4.
Naranjo C: Informe del Estudio Colaborativo de Malformaciones Congénitas – ECLAM. Maternidad Isidro Ayora Quito, MIA, 1970.
5.
Espín VH, Arias A, Pizarro J: Morbilidad y Mortalidad Perinatal Intrahospitalaria. Maternidad Isidro Ayora, Quito, MIA, 1996.
6.
Castilla EE, Paz JE, Martínez ML: Incidence of congenital malformations in Latin America. Results of a cooperative study. Rev Med Chile 1975;103:331–334.
7.
Castilla EE, Orioli IM: Prevalence rates of microtia in South America. Int J Epidemiol 1986;15:364–368.
8.
Paz-y-Miño C: Genética Humana: Conceptos Básicos e Investigaciones en el Ecuador. Quito, Fundación Simón Bolívar, 1994.
9.
Paz-y-Miño C: Medical Genetics Services in Latin America: Ecuador. Washington, World Health Organization, 1998, pp 14–16.
10.
Paz-y-Miño C, Creus A, Cabré O, Leone PE: Genética Toxicológica y Carcinogénesis. Quito, FUNDACY-PUCE, 2003.
11.
Amsel J, Waterbor JW, Oler J, Rosenwaike I, Marshall K: Relationship of site-specific cancer mortality rates to altitude. Carcinogenesis 1982;3:461–465.
12.
Castilla EE, Lopez-Camelo JS, Campaña H: Altitude as a risk factor for congenital anomalies. Am J Med Genet 1999;86:9–14.
13.
Penchaszadeh VB, Christianson AL, Giugliani R, Boulyjenkov V, Katz M: Services for the prevention and management of genetic disorders and birth defects in developing countries. Community Genet 1999;2:196–201.
14.
World Health Organization: Cooperation in medical genetics. Report of a meeting of experts. Toronto, 2002. Geneva, WHO, 2002.
© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
2004
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.