Relevance of eco-epidemiologic characteristics and popular knowledge for the development of integral educational program to prevent intestinal parasites diseases

NORES, M J; RIVERO MR; SILVA E; MIRANDA D; HANECK C; ROPOLO ANDREA; TOUZ MC

Armação dos Búzios, RJ, Brasil

Congreso; XIII International Congress of Protistology; 2009

The goal of this work is to test the impact of health education on the prevalence of intestinal parasites among school children (0 to 14 years of age) from a semirural area of Salsipuedes (Córdoba, Argentina). In order to evaluate the initial parasitic burden, coproparasitological examinations were determined in a cohort of inhabitants of the sampled households. The prevalence of intestinal parasitosis was about 28,12% being Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, and the commensal Blastocystis hominis the main parasites found. There were no cases of polyparasitism. Socio-cultural and sanitary information were simultaneously retrieved. Questionnaires, drawing analyses and interviews were used to generate quantitative and qualitative data focusing on knowledge, practices and perceptions of intestinal parasitosis in mothers and children of this community. Mother knowledge about prevention of parasite transmission, epidemiology, symptoms and treatment was generally good, although high contradictions were found. For example, half of the persons consider that parasitosis is not an illness and about 60% that they cannot be prevented. Although recognising sources of infection, people (86%) claim that parasites appear because of sugar and candies ingestion. Mothers and children identify parasites mainly as macroscopic worms and do not recognize protozoan parasites or infectant forms like cysts and eggs. Furthermore, there is no clear association between ways of transmission and prevention practices. Popular medicine and consultation to “witch doctors” are usual practices. Our research highlights the importance of gathering information on perceptions and behaviour for the design and implementation of a community-based intestinal parasite educational programme. In this sense, we developed cartoon-based health educational material for primary school-aged children and teachers, focusing on information about infectant and microscopic forms of the parasites as well as the transmission of parasitic diseases associated with an improvement of hygienic behaviour as major keys in preventing the spread of intestinal parasitic infections. Supported by Secretaría de Extensión Universitaria, UNC.