Knowledge and awareness of chagas disease and the kissing bug by possible carriers. A quali-quantitative analysis in Santiago del Estero.

Abstract

Chagas disease has always been associated with poverty and ignorance. PAHO/WHO consider it as a forgotten and neglected disease. Despite being an infectious pathology produced by a parasite, several social, cultural, economic and ecological components greatly obstruct its eradication. Santiago del Estero is a province where Chagas disease is endemic and active due to propiciating socio-economical conditions, but departments Ojo de Agua and Quebrachos were considered “free of infected vectors" in 2013 by PAHO/WHO. 

The aim of the present work as to identify the knowledge level possible human carriers have about Chagas and the kissing bug in three rural areas in the Ojo de Agua and Quebrachos departments.

An observational, cross-sectional descriptive study was accmplished. Study sample: 100 possible carriers of Chagas disease randomly selected. Surveys and interviews were conducted and analyzed qualitatively with subjective interpretation. Student’s T-test model was used for statistical analysis and the chi-squared test for nominal data. There was a significance level of 95%.

The data shows that despite living in poverty, 98% of the surveyed inhabitants are familiar with the kissing bug and 83% of them know of the Chagas disease. However, they had vastly different interpretations about the consequences they bring.

It was interpreted that despite their knowledge and awareness, inhabitants normalize the disease vector and the possible consequences of Chagas disease, and instead focus their concern on animals that spell more imminent death or danger to them.