newly diagnosed patients. Although there are no easy
answers to these dilemmas, the authors recommend
taking judicious precautions to reduce the risk of
contracting a serious illness during fieldwork and to
ensure one remains healthy and able to complete the
research.
Limited access to running water and soap may make
it difficult to practice good hand hygiene, and illness
can result from poor air or water quality or problematic
food preparation and storage. Taking appropriate
preventive measures to protect oneself against
potentially fatal illnesses, such as obtaining vaccinations
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
2014) and using mosquito nets, is recommended.
Day-to-day life in an LMIC can also increase the likelihood
of more common ailments (e.g., respiratory
problems or sinus infections due to increased levels of
air pollution in urban centers). Bringing prescription
medications from home may be useful to cope with
these issues (as well as any baseline medical
problems), but many prescription medications are
available over-the-counter in LMICs at low prices. As
feasible, the research time line should account for
delays related to unexpected illness.