Avaliação epidemiológica da Doença de Chagas em uma comunidade rural de Paulo Afonso - Bahia

The Northeast Brazil has high epidemiological importance for Chagas disease (CD), since it has high concentration of the transmitting vector. The state of Bahia presents expressive numbers of the Chagasic endemic. Thus, this study aimed to trace the epidemiological profile of CD in a rural population of Bahia. Quantitative and descriptive study in the rural community of Rio do Sal, Paulo Afonso / Bahia. It was used an epidemiological questionnaire with 64 people and analysis of 108 charts followed by data analysis. The prevalence of CD found was 0%. The average age was 44 years and women predominated in the survey (82.81%). Occupations: retirees (20.32%), unemployed (53.12%), employees (23.43%) and students (3.13%). About the educational level, (9.38%) are illiterate; (40.63%) have incomplete elementary education and (12.50%), complete elementary education. All individuals resided in the masonry house. Previous knowledge about the transmitting vector and disease was unsatisfactory. Regarding the data of patients analyzed in medical records, (35.19%) have systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and (7.41%), heart failure. However, only 9 patients had performed the electrocardiogram, with 1 being altered. In addition, none of the patients had CD serology. In this context, it was observed that the epidemiological profile in the studied area is an adult individual, aged 40-50 years, female, with low educational, unemployed, with SAH as the main comorbidity and without diagnosis for Chagas' disease.