Conhecimentos e atitudes sobre a doença de Chagas entre profissionais de saúde – Paraná, Brasil

This work assessed the knowledge and attitudes about Chagas disease among health professionals from the public health network in the cities of Maringa and Paicandu (Parana State), from September 2004 to July 2005. The sample was calculated using the EPI-INFO/2002 software program, and the participants were defined by systematic sampling. The data collection instruments were tested in advance. A total of 480 professionals took part in the survey: 73 physicians, 73 nurses, 147 nursing assistants and 187 community health agents. A considerable percentage of professionals from all categories demonstrated doubts, mainly with regard to the most important mechanisms of Chagas disease transmission, recognition of triatominae and the reporting of sightings of these insects, recommended tests for diagnosis confirmation, possibility of etiologic treatment and disease prognosis. The doubts were more frequent among the community health agents, who are the main link between the community and the basic health unit. It is necessary to invest in epidemiologic surveillance in order to maintain the achieved controlled status of the disease and properly assist people infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Therefore, health professionals must be properly qualified to promote health education.