title: Improving the understanding of schistosomiasis among adolescents in endemic areas in Brazil: A comparison of educational methods.
abstract: To evaluate the effectiveness of two teaching strategies, both guided by the concept of dialogicity, on adolescents' knowledge about schistosomiasis and adherence to diagnostic fecal testing.
  
  
  
  Two teaching strategies related to schistosomiasis were developed, an educational video and group conversation, which were tested in two groups of students aged 10-15 years old. Before and after the intervention, a questionnaire was applied to assess participants' knowledge about schistosomiasis and, after the intervention, two fecal samples were requested from each participant. Comparisons were performed by paired t- and McNemar tests.
  
  
  
  Both strategies resulted in statistically significant improvements in knowledge between the pre- and post-tests. Students who watched the video had a higher return rate of fecal samples and percentage of correct questionnaire answers, mainly on questions about schistosomiasis infection.
  
  
  
  Teaching strategies based on dialogue favored the construction of concepts about schistosomiasis that can influence the adoption of positives attitudes related to health.
  
  
  
  Using teaching strategies based on the concept of dialogicity can favor the increase of knowledge of school age children about schistosomiasis and can influence behavioral change related to health.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology in Tropical Diseases-INCT-DT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Flávia
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gazzinelli
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lobato
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology in Tropical Diseases-INCT-DT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo Ferreira
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Matoso
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Neglected Diseases of Poverty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Diemert
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology in Tropical Diseases-INCT-DT, Brazil. Electronic address: andreag@ufmg.br.
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzinelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014743:Videotape Recording
keywords: Health education; Schistosomiasis; School age children; Teaching strategies