Knowledge and perceptions of Zika virus transmission in the community of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

BACKGROUND: Zika virus is associated with increased cases of both microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Community knowledge, perceptions and practices to prevent infection with the Zika virus are not well understood, particularly among high risk populations living in resource-poor and Zika-endemic areas. Our objective was to assess knowledge of symptoms, health effects and prevention practices associated with Zika virus in rural communities on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. METHODS: Study participants were contacted while attending community events such as free medical clinics and invited to be interviewed regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Zika virus using the World Health Organization's Zika survey tool. RESULTS: Of the 75 Dominicans that participated, 33% did not know who could become infected with Zika. In addition, only 40% of respondents were able to identify mosquitoes or sexual transmission as the primary routes of infection though 51% of respondents thought that Zika was an important issue in their community. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that general knowledge regarding the basic risks and transmission of Zika were not well understood among a sample of rural Dominicans. Our findings highlight disparities in knowledge and perception of risk from Zika in rural areas compared to previous studies conducted in the Dominican Republic. Education about the basic risks and transmission of Zika are critically needed in these remote populations to reduce Zika transmission.

Malaria epidemiology in low-endemicity areas of the northern coast of Ecuador: high prevalence of asymptomatic infections.

BACKGROUND: The recent scale-up in malaria control measures in Latin America has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of reported cases in several countries including Ecuador, where it presented a low malaria incidence in recent years (558 reported cases in 2015) with occasional outbreaks of both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in the coastal and Amazonian regions. This success in malaria control in recent years has led Ecuador to transition its malaria policy from control to elimination. RESULTS: This study evaluated the general knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) about malaria, as well as its prevalence in four communities of an endemic area in northwest Ecuador. A total of 258 interviews to assess KAP in the community indicated that most people in the study area have a basic knowledge about the disease but did not use to contribute to its control. Six hundred and forty-eight blood samples were collected and analysed by thick blood smear and real-time PCR. In addition, the distribution of the infections was mapped in the study communities. Although, no parasites were found by microscopy, by PCR the total malaria prevalence was 7.5% (6.9% P. vivax and 0.6% P. falciparum), much higher than expected and comparable to that reported in endemic areas of neighbouring countries with higher malaria transmission. Serology using ELISA and immunofluorescence indicated 27% respondents for P. vivax and 22% respondents for P. falciparum. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that despite a great malaria reduction in Ecuador, transition from control to elimination would demand further improvement in malaria diagnostics, including active case detection to identify and treat parasite asymptomatic carriers, as well as community participation in its elimination.

Saúde ocular em escolares: conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas dos enfermeiros da estratégia saúde da família de uma área de planejamento no Município do Rio de Janeiro / Eye healthcare for school children: Family Healthcare Strategy's Nurses knowledge, attitudes, and practices at a Planning Area in the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar os conhecimentos, as atitudes e as práticas sobre saúde ocular em escolares dos enfermeiros que atuam na Equipe de Saúde da Família. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, do tipo inquérito KAP (Kowledge, Attitudes and Practices) com enfermeiros (n = 94) lotados na Área de Planejamento 3.1. O período de coleta de dados foi entre maio e junho de 2013, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, sob o protocolo 240.019. Os dados foram digitados, revisados e analisados utilizando o software Epi-Info (versão 3.5.2). Os resultados, após análises univariadas com distribuição de frequências simples, foram apresentados em tabelas e quadros e apresentados separadamente de acordo com cada variável do método. Destaca-se a predominância do sexo feminino (84%), com tempo de formação de um a cinco anos (49,9%) e 21,3% tiveram cargo de gerente de Unidade Básica. No consolidado dos percentuais de respostas adequadas, a população estudada apresentou conhecimento adequado (61,26%), atitude positiva (90,15%) e, em destaque, um percentual baixo de práticas adequadas (36,43%). O nível de conhecimento e atitudes foi favorável, visto que a maioria das respostas demonstrou ser adequada. Com relação à prática, o baixo nível evidenciou que, no momento da realização da pesquisa, poucos praticavam ações voltadas para saúde ocular em ambiente escolar, assim como no ambiente ambulatorial. O método utilizado permitiu que os objetivos fossem alcançados, sendo que o estudo possibilitou a realização de um diagnóstico seccional da área de planejamento sobre a promoção da saúde voltada para saúde ocular, permitindo a descrição dos conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas...

The aim of this study is to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Nurses who work with the Family Health Strategy Staff, in regards to the eye healthcare in school children. This is a descriptive study, of the KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices) kind, with Nurses (n=94) with a position at the Planning Area 3.1. The timeline for data collection was from May to June, 2013, after the approval granted by the Research Ethics Committee at the Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, #240.019. Data was digitalized, revised and analysed using the Epi-Info (version 3.5.2) software. After uni-varied analyses with simple frequency distribution, the results were presented in tables and charts, and were separately presented according to each method's variable. The predominance of female gender (84%), time of finishing education (49.9%), and having occupied the Basic Unit's managing position (21.3%) were highlighted. The consolidated percentages of adequate responses showed that the studied population presented adequate knowledge (61.26%), a positive attitude (90.15%), and, highlighted, a low percentage of adequate practices (36.43%). The level of knowledge and attitude were favorable, since the majority of answers showed to be adequate. In relation to the practice, the low level indicated that, at the time of the research, there were only a few actions in practice that were turned to the Eye Healthcare at the school environment, as well as at the outpatient environment...

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en salud ocular en escolares de los enfermeros que actúan en el Equipo de Salud de la Familia. Este es un estudio descriptivo, de tipo entrevista KAP (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices) con enfermeros (n = 94) que trabajan en el Área de Planeamiento 3.1. El período de coleta de datos fue entre mayo y junio de 2013, después de la aprobación del Comité de Ética en Pesquisa de la Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery, bajo número 240.019. Los datos fueran digitalizados, revisados y analizados usándose el software Epi-Info (versión 3.5.2). Los resultados, después de análisis univariadas con distribución de frecuencias simples, fueran presentados en tablas y cuadros, y fueran presentados en separado de acuerdo con cada nivel del método. Destacase la predominancia del sexo femenino (84%), con tiempo de formación de uno a cinco años (49.9%) y 21.3% tuvieran la posición de gerente de Unidad Básica. El resultado consolidado presentó porcentuales de respuestas adecuadas: la población estudiada presentó conocimiento adecuado (61.26%), actitud positiva (90.15%) y, destacándose, un bajo porcentual de prácticas adecuadas (36.43%)...

Adesão dos profissionais de enfermagem à higienização das mãos: uma análise segundo o modelo de crenças em saúde / Nursing professionals' compliance with hand-washing: an analysis according to the health belief model / Adhesión de los profesionales de enfermería a la higienización de las manos: un análisis según el modelo de creencias en salud

Estudo descritivo e analítico cujo objetivo foi compreender fatores relacionados à prática da higienização das mãos. Participaram 40 profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital de ensino da capital paranaense, no período de abril a maio de 2007. Realizou-se entrevista semiestruturada baseada no Modelo de Crenças em Saúde; a análise dos dados foi realizada com auxílio de estatística descritiva e recortes dos depoimentos foram utilizados para ilustrar a opinião e valor atribuídos à prática de higienização de mãos. A maioria referiu ter participado de treinamento sobre o tema em estudo, reconheceram sua importância e a própria suscetibilidade a infecções, citaram como benefício a prevenção desses agravos e apontaram como barreiras a falta de conhecimento e as lesões cutâneas decorrentes da higienização das mãos. O Modelo de Crenças em Saúde proporcionou reconhecimento da realidade local e pode contribuir para o planejamento das ações que visem a promoção da higienização de mãos.

A descriptive and analytic study, whose objective was to understand factors related to the practice of hand-washing. 40 nursing professionals from a teaching hospital in the capital of Paraná participated in the study in the period from April to May 2007. Semi-structured interviews based on the Health Belief Model were undertaken; data analysis was done with the help of descriptive statistics and excerpts from the statements were used to illustrate the opinions and value given to the practice of hand-washing. The majority referred to having participated in training on the theme under study, recognized its importance and their own susceptibility to infections, cited it as a benefit in the prevention of these, and indicated as barriers lack of knowledge and skin problems arising from hand-washing. The Health Belief Model afforded recognition of the local reality and can contribute to the planning of actions aimed at promoting hand-washing.

Estudio descriptivo y analítico cuyo objetivo fue comprender factores relacionados a la práctica da higienización de las manos. Participaron 40 profesionales de enfermería de un hospital de enseñanza de la capital paranaense, en el periodo de abril a mayo de 2007. Fueron realizadas entrevistas semi estructuradas basadas en Modelo de Creencias en salud; el análisis de los datos fue realizado con ayuda de estadística descriptiva y recortes de los relatos fueron utilizados para ilustrar la opinión y valor atribuidos a la práctica de higienización de manos. La mayoría refirió haber participado de entrenamiento sobre el tema en estudio, reconocieron su importancia y la propia susceptibilidad a infecciones, citaron como beneficio la prevención de eses agravios y apuntaron como obstáculos la falta de conocimiento y las lesiones cutáneas causadas por la higienización de los manos. El Modelo de Creencias en salud proporcionó reconocimiento de la realidade local y puede contribuir para el planeamiento de las acciones para la promoción de la higienización de manos.