Abstract
This cross-sectional study evaluated the impact of socioeconomic status on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among dog owners from the municipality of Rondonópolis-a highly endemic area for the disease in Central-Western Brazil. Data were collected between 2016 and 2017 during a household survey. A probabilistic sample of 404 dog owners were interviewed assessing sociodemographic characteristics, previous occurrence of VL cases, and KAP about human VL, vector, and canine VL. Responses regarding KAP were compared among social classes, which are indicators of socioeconomic status. Correct/appropriate answers were scored, and a multivariate Poisson regression analysis evaluated the impact of social class on scoring. The overall KAP regarding VL was limited. Dog owners from higher social classes differed from those of the lower classes regarding the recognition of abdominal distension (p = 0.026) and skin lesions (p < 0.001) as clinical manifestations of human and canine VL, respectively, knowledge of VL transmission (p = 0.020), use of topical repellents (p < 0.001), use of insecticide-impregnated collars (p = 0.003), and previous attempts of treatment for canine VL (p = 0.005). Higher scores were associated with the upper social classes (IRR = 1.18; CI = 1.08-1.29) adjusted by the age (IRR = 1.13; CI = 1.04-1.24) and the previous occurrence of human (IRR = 1.21; CI = 1.07-1.36) and canine (IRR = 1.25; CI = 1.14-1.36) VL in the household/neighbourhood of the respondents. Improved KAP concerning VL was associated with better socioeconomic status of dog owners.
Highlights
This cross-sectional study evaluated the impact of socioeconomic status on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among dog owners from the municipality of Rondonópolis—a highly endemic area for the disease in Central-Western Brazil
Preventive tools to cause a positive impact on canine infection and canine disease progression have been licensed in Brazil, such as vaccination, use of insecticide-impregnated collars, and treatment with miltefosine, these items are not yet covered by the VL Surveillance and Control Program (VLSCP) because of the lack of evidence to support their incorporation as large-scale policies [3,4]
Of the 405 dog owners enrolled in the present study, one refused to provide answers about socioeconomic characteristics
Summary
This cross-sectional study evaluated the impact of socioeconomic status on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) among dog owners from the municipality of Rondonópolis—a highly endemic area for the disease in Central-Western Brazil. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected tropical disease caused by a systemic infection by the protozoa of the genus Leishmania It occurs in more than 80 countries through anthroponotic or zoonotic transmission cycles. In Brazilian urban settings, domestic dogs are considered the main reservoir hosts of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidade) [2] Based on this transmission chain, the Brazilian Ministry of Health implemented the VL Surveillance and Control Program (VLSCP) nationwide. Dog management in the scope of public health is currently performed by the screening and euthanasia of seropositive dogs [2]
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