Knowledge and attitudes about Chagas disease in the population of Avia Terai, Province of Chaco

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Avia Terai (province of Chaco, Argentina), there is a plan to implement a health local program for prevention and control of Chagas disease. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study was to describe the level of knowledge and attitudes about Chagas disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. It included a population survey using cluster sampling, with block as sampling unit and head of household as analysis unit. The questionnaire explored 15 factors related to basic knowledge about Chagas disease. The basic knowledge (BK) was classified according to the number of right answers: Level I (0-4), Level II (5-9) and Level III (10-15). RESULTS: 621 persons were interviewed, the average age was 44 ± 16 years, with 78% of female population and an average years of schooling of 5.4 ± 4. Level I included 5.5%; Level II, 37.8%; and Level III, 56.7%. Congenital transmission was the item with the second lowest percentage of right answers (13.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of heads of household has some basic knowledge about Chagas disease, but the lack of information about congenital transmission is worrying.