Knowledge, perceptions and practices related to soil-transmitted helminthiases

[摘要] Introduction:almost all soil-transmitted helminthiasis control programs implemented in countriesof Asia, Africa and Latin America have targeted the population at risk (viamass deparasitation actions and health education, and, when possible, environmentalsanitation measures), neglecting the important role played by doctors in thosepopulations. When equipped with the required cognitive tools, doctors are opinionleaders whose participation is crucial in any attempt to control soil-transmittedhelminthiases.Objective:evaluate the knowledge, perceptions and practices of community doctors fromthe municipalities of Playa and San Miguel del Padrón in Havana, in relationto the diagnosis, treatment and control of soil-transmitted helminthiases.Methods:a survey about knowledge, perceptions and practices in relation to the diagnosis,treatment and control of soil-transmitted helminthiases was developed, subjectedto expert criteria and validated. The questionnaire was applied to the universeof resident doctors and Comprehensive General Medicine specialists from themunicipalities of Playa and San Miguel del Padrón. The sample was composed of213 doctors from the network of consultation offices and polyclinics in theaforementioned municipalities. The study period was December 2014 to March 2015.The information obtained were statiscally processed and a value of p< 0.05was considered to be significant. Results:insufficient knowledge, inadequate perceptions and incorrect practices in relationto the diagnosis, treatment and control of soil-transmitted helminthiases werefound among the doctors surveyed.Conclusions:results suggest that it may be required to perform a number of actions in theform of interventions, aimed at enhancing expertise by these professionals sothey can carry out an appropriate diagnosis, treatment and control of soil-transmittedhelminthiases.

[学科分类] 传染病学

[关键词] soil-transmitted helminthiasis;prevention;control;knowledge;perceptionsand practices.