title: [How health activities view man and how man rethinks them: an anthropological analysis of Chagas disease control].
abstract: This anthropological study addresses the cultural perceptions of a group of residents in the city of Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in relation to experience with Chagas disease and the impact of health measures on social life. The ethnographic study was based on open interviews, seeking to identify individual perceptions among 35 inhabitants of Bambuí (with and without Chagas disease) living in the region since the 1940s, when Chagas disease control activities were launched. Within a broad analysis of social perceptions concerning the effect of these health measures, the study sought to observe the cultural representations of the illness process. The study is intended to contribute to comprehensive work in health interventions, including the target population's socio-cultural characteristics. The cultural perspective plays an important role in preventing social distress.
authors.affiliation: Universitá di Bologna, Bologna, Italia.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.forename: João Carlos Pinto
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Eliane Dias
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Gontijo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D001938:Brazil; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006285:Health Planning; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping