Global Perceptions of the Term "Tropical Medicine": Results from a Cross-Regional Multilingual Survey.

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Pub Date : 2026-10-20 DOI:10.4269/ajtmh.26-0458

Mirna Safia Abd El Aziz, Viktoria Schneitler, Paul Rahden Aries, Sabine Bélard, Sophie Schneitler

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The term "tropical medicine" has sparked many discussions on its appropriateness because of its colonial history. The aim of this study was to analyze perceptions of the term among international medical professionals. An open online survey, conducted between August 2023 and September 2024, was distributed via professional networks and social media. Of 590 respondents from 66 countries, 80% were employed in the global north. Participants employed in the global south associated "tropical medicine" more with a geographical connotation (77/85 versus 346/471, P <0.001). Only 21% saw the need to replace the term, with stigmatization (35%) mentioned as a major association. Free-text responses showed varying perceptions. Some respondents pointed out that replacing the term is not sufficient to achieve "genuine change". The study's results raise the question whether a change in terminology can act as a driver of decolonization, stressing that the need for structural reforms is far more important.

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全球对“热带医学”一词的看法：来自跨区域多语言调查的结果。

由于其殖民历史，“热带医学”一词引发了许多关于其适用性的讨论。本研究的目的是分析国际医疗专业人员对该术语的看法。这项公开在线调查于2023年8月至2024年9月期间通过专业网络和社交媒体进行。在来自66个国家的590名受访者中，80%受雇于全球北方。在全球南方就业的参与者更多地将“热带医学”与地理内涵联系起来(77/85对346/471，P

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

6.20

自引率

3.00%

发文量

508

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, established in 1921, is published monthly by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. It is among the top-ranked tropical medicine journals in the world publishing original scientific articles and the latest science covering new research with an emphasis on population, clinical and laboratory science and the application of technology in the fields of tropical medicine, parasitology, immunology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, basic and molecular biology, virology and international medicine. The Journal publishes unsolicited peer-reviewed manuscripts, review articles, short reports, images in Clinical Tropical Medicine, case studies, reports on the efficacy of new drugs and methods of treatment, prevention and control methodologies,new testing methods and equipment, book reports and Letters to the Editor. Topics range from applied epidemiology in such relevant areas as AIDS to the molecular biology of vaccine development. The Journal is of interest to epidemiologists, parasitologists, virologists, clinicians, entomologists and public health officials who are concerned with health issues of the tropics, developing nations and emerging infectious diseases. Major granting institutions including philanthropic and governmental institutions active in the public health field, and medical and scientific libraries throughout the world purchase the Journal. Two or more supplements to the Journal on topics of special interest are published annually. These supplements represent comprehensive and multidisciplinary discussions of issues of concern to tropical disease specialists and health issues of developing countries