Validation of a documentary on Chagas disease by a population living in an endemic area.

T F Bianchi,A P Grala,A Sartori,S Jeske,M M Villela

doi:10.1590/1519-6984.228876

Abstract

Educational interventions may trigger actions that contribute to prevent parasitic diseases, such as Chagas disease (CD). This study aimed at investigating the impact of an instructional video named "Documentary on Chagas Disease" on knowledge about CD and its vectors displayed by a population that lives in an endemic area in Brazil, so as to validate it as an educational tool. The video was shown to 226 subjects, divided into two groups. Group 1 was composed of users of Basic Health Units (BHU) in Pelotas and Pinheiro Machado, cities located in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, where CD is endemic. Group 2 consisted of students who attend three public schools located in the rural area in Pinheiro Machado, RS. Two questionnaires with questions about their knowledge about triatomines and CD were applied, before and after the documentary was shown. After the video was shown, there was significant increase in individuals' knowledge (in both groups) about "kissing bugs", their notification, the disease and its prevention. Besides, watchers considered that the quality of the material was satisfactory. Since the "Documentary on CD" can be easily accessed on the internet and was effective in teaching the population that lives in endemic areas, its use should be encouraged in places and meetings connected to health that aim at fighting against triatominae and at exposing an updated view of CD.

Highlights

Chagas disease (CD), which was described by the Brazilian physician and researcher Carlos Chagas in 1909 (Chagas, 1909), is caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted to humans byBraz
This study aimed at investigating the impact of an instructional video named “Documentary on Chagas Disease” on knowledge about CD and its vectors displayed by a population that lives in an endemic area in Brazil, so as to validate it as an educational tool
Group 1 was composed of users of Basic Health Units (BHU) in Pelotas and Pinheiro Machado, cities located in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil, where CD is endemic

Summary

Introduction

Chagas disease (CD), which was described by the Brazilian physician and researcher Carlos Chagas in 1909 (Chagas, 1909), is caused by the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted to humans byBraz. 665/673 665 transmission (Moncayo and Silveira, 2009; Howard et al, 2014; Rassi Junior et al, 2010) This disease has a marked medical and socioeconomic impact, since there are about 8 million people who are infected by T. cruzi and around 10,000 deaths annually worldwide, is responsible for high rates of morbidity, affecting around six to eight million people in Latin America and with 90-120 million people at risk. It is fundamental to make people who live in endemic areas build healthy habits to improve their welfare The higher their knowledge about triatominae and CD, the better their actions against the disease and surveillance of its vectors (Villela et al, 2009; Albagli, 1996)

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