Leishmaniose visceral: avaliação do conhecimento dos agentes de saúde pública em Uruguaiana (RS)

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected diseases in the world and occurs mainly in developing countries. Brazil concentrates 96% of the cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Americas, with an incidence of 4.35 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The usual methods of controlling this disease have failed to prevent new epidemics. LV should be handled with the One Health approach, which provides the unification of the medical and veterinary sciences through mutual collaboration for the control of diseases among species. The objective of this project was to evaluate the perception of health professionals regarding the occurrence of VL in Uruguaiana (RS). A cross-sectional observational study was carried out through a self-administered questionnaire, in December 2016 and January 2017. 187 health professionals participated, of which 138 were members of the Family Health Strategy, 22 agents of endemics and 27 veterinarians. Health professionals' knowledge deficiencies regarding the epidemiology and symptomatology of the disease were identified. It is necessary to invest in training strategies on visceral leishmaniasis, in order to correct deficiencies of knowledge and to implement the discussion on the subject.