Del Carmen Díez Hernández María, Elkheir Natalie, Fisayo Temitope, Gonçalves Raquel, Grover Sañer Liendo Edson, Bern Caryn, Moore David A J
Médicos del Mundo, Madrid, Spain.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2025 May 6;113(1):25-31. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.24-0516. Print 2025 Jul 2.
Understanding the at-risk population's perception of Chagas disease is essential for its effective prevention and control. A cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Chagas disease was conducted with Bolivians in a highly endemic region of Bolivia and Latin American migrants in London. In total, 175 participants completed the survey: 100 Bolivians in a highly endemic village in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and 75 Latin American migrants in London (of whom 31 were from Bolivia). All participants from the endemic village and all Bolivian migrants in London knew of Chagas disease, whereas only 25% of other Latin American migrants had heard of it (P <0.001). In London, Bolivians had more knowledge of Chagas disease than those from other Chagas-endemic countries. In Bolivia only, better understanding of Chagas disease was associated with educational attainment. Only 4% of participants overall were aware of the risk of vertical transmission. Few Latin American migrants in London had previously been tested for Chagas disease, and most were not aware of how to access testing. Migration and level of endemicity may shape individuals' understanding of as well as attitudes and practices toward Chagas disease. A better understanding of these factors can guide effective prevention and control program development in both endemic and non-endemic settings.
了解高危人群对恰加斯病的认知对于其有效预防和控制至关重要。在玻利维亚一个恰加斯病高度流行地区的玻利维亚人以及伦敦的拉丁美洲移民中开展了一项关于恰加斯病知识、态度和行为的横断面调查。共有175名参与者完成了调查：100名来自玻利维亚圣克鲁斯一个恰加斯病高度流行村庄的玻利维亚人以及75名伦敦的拉丁美洲移民（其中31人来自玻利维亚）。来自流行村庄的所有参与者以及伦敦的所有玻利维亚移民都知晓恰加斯病，而其他拉丁美洲移民中只有25%听说过该病（P<0.001）。在伦敦，玻利维亚人对恰加斯病的了解比来自其他恰加斯病流行国家的人更多。仅在玻利维亚，对恰加斯病的更好了解与受教育程度相关。总体而言，只有4%的参与者意识到垂直传播的风险。伦敦的拉丁美洲移民中很少有人之前接受过恰加斯病检测，且大多数人不知道如何进行检测。移民和流行程度可能会影响个体对恰加斯病的认知以及态度和行为。更好地了解这些因素可为流行地区和非流行地区制定有效的预防和控制项目提供指导。
