Introduction

The treatment of celiac disease is a gluten-free diet, which requires the knowledge, skills and attitudes of those affected to be carried out, as well as a favorable social environment. The objective was to determine the circumstances that facilitate and difficult a gluten-free diet in celiac disease carriers in Paraguay in 2021.

Material and Methods

We develop a descriptive exploratory study was carried out. A telematic survey was applied to adults, adolescents and parents of children with celiac disease who agreed to participate voluntarily. Demographic and clinical variables were measured and 17 aspects that are presumed to be facilitating factors or barriers to a gluten-free diet. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Universidad Privada del Este, Paraguay.

Results

364 surveys were included, of which 85% were adults. The circumstances identified as facilitators were their own knowledge and that imparted by the health personnel about celiac disease, in addition to the little fear of the opinion of others and the few feelings of shame due to the dietary restriction. In contrast, the factors considered as barriers were the limited knowledge of society about dietary requirements, the low participation of respondents in self-help groups and the high cost of gluten-free foods.

Conclusions

The circumstances that can facilitate and hinder a gluten-free diet in patients with celiac disease in Paraguay are described. Analytical studies are suggested to evaluate their exact influence and apply corrective measures to reduce barriers to adherence to this diet.

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