The Perception of the American Trypanosomiasis "Disease of Chagas" in the Traditional Community of the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the perception of residents of the Bacuri community in the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari, Pará, about American trypanosomiasis, known as Chagas disease, in order to expand awareness and control strategies for the disease, in addition to providing specific information about its main vector, the popular barber, and reduce the appearance of epidemiological cases in the region.   Method: An “on-site” visit was carried out, applied to questionnaires composed of open and closed multiple-choice questions and in-depth interviews, with a descriptive statistical analysis being carried out with the aid of the Microsoft Excel 2010 program, calculating the relative and absolute frequency in a quantitative way.   Theoretical reference: the research has its main theoretical bases in current scientific articles on the subject.   Result and conclusion: The results showed that 98% of the participants said they knew the disease superficially and also did not receive visits from health agents, 68% said they only knew those in the chronic phase of the disease. As for the vector 72%, the appearance of these insects is common in the community.   Implications of the research: this work is an important tool for raising awareness among traditional peoples of the Brazilian Amazon for the control and prevention of Chagas disease, in addition to expanding the range of information regarding the disease in the region.   Originality/value: The research indicated that popular knowledge about the disease is of fundamental importance for its treatment and an alternative given the lack of awareness campaigns in the region, which portrays a reality within rural communities in the Brazilian Amazon.