Dissemination of information on visceral leishmaniasis from schoolchildren to their families: a sustainable model for controlling the disease.
A model for the dissemination of information on visceral leishmaniasis from schoolchildren to their families was evaluated in two schools in Caeté, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Age ranged from 9 to 17 years in the two schools, one receiving the intervention (with 92 students) and the other serving as the control (96 students). All the students attended a class and received a pamphlet on visceral leishmaniasis. The intervention consisted of a homework assignment in which the student discussed the class content and pamphlet with a family member. Knowledge by family members (n = 100) on visceral leishmaniasis was evaluated with a pre and post-intervention questionnaire applied by a health agent, who also completed a form on hygiene around the household as observed during the home visit. A significant improvement was observed in knowledge and hygiene (e.g., sweeping of leaves, fruit, and branches from the yards) among the families that were exposed to the intervention (p < 0.05). The spread of information on visceral leishmaniasis by schoolchildren can contribute to measures for preventing the disease.
de Magalhães
Danielle Ferreira
DF
Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
da Silva
José Ailton
JA
Haddad
João Paulo Amaral
JP
Moreira
Elvio Carlos
EC
Fonseca
Maria Isabel Magalhães
MI
de Ornelas
Marina Lúcia Lima
ML
Borges
Barbara Kellen Antunes
BK
da Luz
Zélia Maria Profeta
ZM
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010174:Pamphlets; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires