Conhecimento e práticas preventivas sobre dengue, zika e chikungunya em um município da Amazônia Legal

Abstract

The arboviruses are considered a public health problem, and the largest occurrence in Brazil currently refers to dengue, Zika and chikungunya, infections that require the health sector actions for the management of cases. Communication and health education are important strategies for the control of Aedes aegypti, the main vector related to these diseases, providing the construction of knowledge and influencing the adoption of preventive actions. In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge and preventive practices regarding arboviruses in residents of the municipality of Tangará da Serra, state of Mato Grosso. Quantitative, cross-sectional study, through an epidemiological survey, conducted between February and March 2018 with residents in the urban area of Tangará da Serra. A cluster sample was selected by drawing 34 census sectors and 660 households. An interview was conducted with one adult resident per household, a structured questionnaire was applied, and blood samples were collected to detect antibodies to dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. The final sample was composed of 596 individuals. The data was systematized in electronic spreadsheets in double entry making up the final database that was subjected to statistical analysis. Bivariate and multiple analyses were performed using the Poisson regression model with robust variance. The low level of education, characterized by length of study, showed statistical significance in the association with inadequate or insufficient knowledge about the transmission of arboviruses (p<0.001) and about the vector (p<0.001). Inadequate or insufficient knowledge about the vector was also significantly associated with the practice of not covering and cleaning water tanks (p=0.002) and not using anti-insect products at home (p=0.007), as well as not selfreferring to previous infection by an arbovirus disease. Regarding cases of arbovirosis, no association was found between preventive practice and seroreactivity or self-reference, suggesting that the fact of experiencing the infection is not related to the performance of such actions. This study identified sociodemographic characteristics and prevention actions associated with knowledge about arbovirosis transmission and about the vector, subsidizing the planning of control and prevention actions, based on scientific evidence, which identified intervention groups that should be prioritized.