10-year educational programme aimed at rheumatic fever in two French Caribbean islands.

Background: In less developed countries, rheumatic fever still occurs. We started a long-term educational programme in two French Caribbean islands that was directed at the public and at health-care workers to see whether we could reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever.

Methods: Our 10-year programme started in 1981 in Martinique and Guadeloupe, and was based in the community and in clinics and hospitals.