title: Peridomiciliary risk factors and knowledge concerning visceral leishmaniasis in the population of formiga, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmaniasis represents an important burden of diseases in tropical countries, with significant levels of morbidity and mortality where they occur, including in Brazil. In this context, popular participation in prophylactic actions can be decisive for the success of the control strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  For this reason, this study aimed at investigating the population's knowledge concerning leishmaniasis and the occurrence of peridomiciliary risk factors associated with the population of Formiga, Minas Gerais.
  
  
  METHODS
  A household questionnaire with a sample of 427 individuals was conducted between May and July 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 7.5% of the residents presented knowledge regarding leishmaniasis, most of them being women (OR = 3.15; 95%CI 1.30 - 7.65). The prevalence of peridomiciliary risks was 95%. A statistically significant association was found between higher education levels and less peridomiciliary risk factors (OR = 0.45; 95%CI 0.28 - 0.72) and between the place of residence and a higher number of risk factors (OR = 0.84; 95%CI 1.19 - 2.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that the population has low levels of knowledge about leishmaniasis. Moreover, the majority of respondents are subject to some peridomiciliary risk factor, which may contribute to the maintenance of the disease cycle in the city.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil.
authors.forename: Júlia Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Chama Borges
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.affiliation: Fundação Educacional de Divinópolis, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais - Divinópolis (MG), Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabrizio Furtado de
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Fundação Educacional de Divinópolis, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais - Divinópolis (MG), Brasil.
authors.forename: Rafael Negreiros
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Verne
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário de Formiga - Formiga (MG), Brasil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Pinheiro
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou - Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil.|Fundação Educacional de Divinópolis, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais - Divinópolis (MG), Brasil.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Margonari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult