Calendário ilustrativo: uma abordagem no combate à doença de chagas e seus vetores / Illustrative calendar: an approach to combating chagas disease and its vectors

Atualmente, no Brasil, as atividades de controle da transmissão vetorial da doença de Chagas (DCH) são calcadas na vigilância dos vetores com participação comunitária, a partir nas notificações de insetos suspeitos de serem “barbeiros”, pela população. Diversos métodos didáticos podem ser empregados no avanço do conhecimento e sensibilização do público alvo para que haja maior adesão ao Programa de Controle da doença de Chagas (PCDCh). Sendo assim, esse trabalho teve como objetivo a elaboração e distribuição de um calendário ilustrado sobre a DCH, que abordasse como devem ser conduzidas as capturas dos vetores e os modos de prevenção da doença. Como resultado, produziram-se nove mil cópias de um calendário ilustrativo intitulado “Calendário Doença de Chagas”, distribuído para a população rural do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, com frases, figuras e ilustrações no que concerne, sobretudo, o combate, captura e a notificação correta dos vetores da doença, além de citações que auxiliam na prevenção de acidentes com animais peçonhentos e dicas de promoção da saúde. Assim, concebeu-se uma nova ferramenta educativa para o fortalecimento da vigilância entomológica da afecção, tendo a possibilidade de replicação em diversas localidades endêmicas

Assessment of the Housing Improvement Program for Chagas Disease Control in the Northwestern municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The Housing Improvement Program for Chagas Disease Control (HIPCDC) was established in 2001 in Northwestern Rio Grande do Sul State, aiming to improve the conditions of the domiciliary and peridomiciliary environments to make them resistant to triatomine colonization. This study aimed to assess the impact of the HIPCDC on triatomine control by developing local population and authority awareness on the issue. METHODS: The study was conducted by means of questionnaires applied to local authorities and the program beneficiaries. Three municipalities - Ajuricaba, Coronel Barros, and Crissiumal - were visited. RESULTS: A program coordinator from each municipality and 62 individuals from selected households were interviewed. The authorities reported difficulties in the implementation of the program due to differences between the project development period and financial resource availability, in addition to a lack of understanding by the community not included in the program. As for the houses, most improvements were made in the peridomiciliary environments; moreover, construction of 4 new residences, as well as the renovation of others, was also reported. Regarding suggestions to the program, requests for better planning (44.9%) and renovation quality (36.7%) were highlighted. With reference to the presence of triatomine bugs, prior to the HIPCDC adaptations, 12.9% of the respondents reported coming across at least one specimen at home, as compared to 22.6% who found these insects in peridomiciliary areas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reports of difficulties in carrying out the HIPCDC, there was an improvement in the housing conditions, with no triatomine occurrence reports after the program implementation