Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas sobre parasitósis intestinal en adultos de las parroquias rurales del Cantón Cuenca-Ecuador. Intervención educativa. 2013-2014

Abstract

This descriptive and educational research conducted to 202 subjects. The subjects were residents of the suburban areas of Cuenca City. The subjects were selected randomly at Sayausí, Sinincay, Baños y Chiquintad. Subjects were evaluated in their Knowledge, attitudes and practice (CAPs) of intestinal parasites. The evaluation was conducted by using a pre-test and a post-test. The Educational program used parasites general scientific concepts applied in Epidemiology, therapeutics, clinical and preventive areas. During the pre-test, 67% of the subjects demonstrated general knowledge of parasites, 70.8% of the subjects indicated that parasites could be physically observed. 31.2% of the subjects indicated that eating sweets is the source of transmitting parasites. 11.9 % of the subjects indicate that parasites are due to poor hygiene, considering that untreated tap water may help parasites to spread, also the subjects stated that flies are the vector to transmit parasites. 51% of the subjects indicated that parasites are located in the intestines only. 62% of the subjects indicated that parasites could be host in the heart, liver and brain, etc. 64% of the subject indicated no knowledge of physical characteristics of parasites. If having domestic animal is considered a source of spreading parasites. 70.56% of the subjects stated that dogs transmitted parasites. 23.25% of the subjects indicated that domestic births are source of parasites. Regarding to parasites treatment: 54% of the subjects indicated that they prefer to use anti-parasitic medicine available in the local pharmacies, 17.3% of the subjects used home made medicine when they suspect parasitic disease; and 10.9% goes to the doctor. After an educational intervention and using the post-test to evaluated subjects knowledge; the study find out that the knowledge, attitude and practice of subjects concerning parasites improved considerably, All the percentage indicators increase in general, in some cases reaching 100%.