Avaliação da implementação de medidas educativas contra leishmanioses em um município de Minas Gerais

Abstract

Leishmaniases are zoonotic diseases caused by infection with protozoans of the genus Leishmania. These parasites are transmitted by females of the phlebotomine bug, popularly known as sandflies. Among the disease control measures recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, health education activities are significantly effective as they enable the population to take action to prevent the disease. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the implementation of educational activities on leishmaniasis among schoolchildren enrolled in Primary School II in the municipality of Ingaí, Minas Gerais. An initial questionnaire containing 20 questions was used to assess the participants' prior knowledge of leishmaniasis. Eight dynamic educational workshops were then given on the diseases, using didactic materials such as games, phlebotomine traps, electronic magnifying glasses and microscopes. Two months after the end of the workshops, the questionnaire was reapplied in order to assess the knowledge acquired after the workshops. In the evaluation of performance on the questionnaires, if the participant got between 0 and 2 correct, performance was characterized as insufficient; if the participant got between 3 and 4 correct, performance was characterized as regular; and if the participant got between 5 and 6 correct, performance was considered satisfactory. The study involved 119 schoolchildren. All the participants performed insufficiently in the initial questionnaire. When asked if they had any prior knowledge of leishmaniasis, 117 (98%) of them answered in the negative. The lack of familiarity with the subject indicates challenges in popularizing the diseases, even in a municipality with reported cases. In the final questionnaire, 33% (39) of the participants performed insufficiently, 40% (47) regularly and 27% (33) satisfactorily. The number of insufficient performances fell by 67.22%, which suggests that the workshops held contributed to better performance in the activity. Furthermore, when asked about their perception of the activities carried out, 94.95% (113) of the participants approved of the game used and 115 (96.63%) considered that the phlebotomine trap helped them understand the vector. Furthermore, when the participants were asked about their overall enjoyment of the workshops, 110 (92.22%) positive views were obtained. The results obtained indicate that the implementation of the educational activities on leishmaniasis was successful, since there was a significant improvement in the participants' knowledge and approval of the activities carried out.