Perception of patients attended in Basic Health Units about toxoplasmosis knowledge and prophylaxis

• Autor(a) principal: Gonçalves, Kéllen Cristina de Oliveira
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Caixeta, Maria Laura de Deus, Cunha, Guilherme Nascimento, Bombonato, Nadia Grandi, Souza, Mariana Assunção de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/25005
• topic: Toxoplasma gondii; Zoonosis; Cats.; Toxoplasma gondii; Zoonosis; Gatos.; Toxoplasma gondii; Zoonose; Felinos.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of patients treated at Basic Health Units (BHU) in the city of Patos de Minas, MG, regarding the knowledge and prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis. A prospective cross-sectional observational survey was conducted in the months of November and December 2019. Respondents were asked a questionnaire with 10  questions. Of the 2,213 interviewed, 52% (1,147 / 2,213) reported having knowledge about toxoplasmosis; 49.66% (1,099 / 2,213) reported knowing the species involved in transmission, of which 89.89% (988/1099) identified the cat, 32.57% (358/1099) dogs, 9.28% (102/1099) bovines, 5% (55/1099) mosquitoes and 3.82% (42/1099) birds. As for the cleaning of fruits and vegetables, 95.75% (2119 / 2,213) perform the procedure before consumption, and of those 36.33% (770/2119) use some product for disinfection. Regarding meat consumption, 97% (2163 / 2,213) consume the food and 76.83% (1,662 / 2,163) choose to eat well-roasted meat. Animal breeding was reported by 65.56% (1451/2213) of the interviewees and cat breeding by 32.5% (472/1451). As for the feline defecation location, 44.27% (209/472) use the litter box and 97% (203/209) clean it. The main place for the disposal of reported feces was 91.42% common waste (256/280). Free access to the street was verified in 63.9% (302/472) of felines. The investigation allowed the identification of important risk factors that contribute to toxoplasmosis and the possibility of establishing control, prophylaxis and epidemiological surveillance actions. It is suggested to prioritize health awareness and education actions aimed at the population.