Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Brazil has considerably reduced the number of cases of malaria in recent years and aims to eradicate the disease completely, however, vivax malaria continues to be a major challenge for the health system. In this context, the key to building a successful elimination programme may...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3c63782ef5fe4aac9b6b5284a558e732 2023-05-15T15:17:08+02:00 Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study Felipe Leão Gomes Murta Maxwell Oliveira Mendes Vanderson Souza Sampaio Abrahim Sena Baze Junior Ximena Pamela Díaz-Bermúdez Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda 2019-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 https://doaj.org/article/3c63782ef5fe4aac9b6b5284a558e732 EN eng BMC http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/3c63782ef5fe4aac9b6b5284a558e732 Malaria Journal, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2019) Social perceptions Health workers Patients Malaria elimination Qualitative methods Acceptability Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 2022-12-31T12:26:00Z Abstract Background Brazil has considerably reduced the number of cases of malaria in recent years and aims to eradicate the disease completely, however, vivax malaria continues to be a major challenge for the health system. In this context, the key to building a successful elimination programme may lie in the knowledge and the perceptions of the health agents, the patients affected by the disease and the personnel responsible for malaria diagnosis, treatment and control at the local level. Methods A qualitative study was undertaken in Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, Western Brazilian Amazon, using a sample of 33 patients who were being treated for malaria and 22 health agents who were working in malaria diagnosis, treatment and control at the local level. A semi-structured interview with a further thematic analysis was performed. Results There are still many myths regarding malaria transmission and treatment that may hinder the sensitization of the population of this region in relation to the use of current control tools and elimination strategies, such as mass drug administration (MDA). Most health professionals reported that the abandonment of treatment for malaria by the patient is related to poor social conditions, the high incidence of alcoholism and the low level of schooling of the affected population. One negative perception, observed in both groups with regard to the use of insecticide-treated nets, is that they may cause skin irritations and allergies. Most patients and health professionals have described malaria as an impossible disease to eliminate because it is intrinsically associated with forest landscapes, and according to them, elimination would only be possible if there were a vaccine against malaria. Conclusion In the Amazon, cultural perceptions about the etiology of this disease can influence the behaviour and practices that social groups adopt in relation to the different forms of living in a malaria-endemic context. Negative perceptions about malaria elimination can act as a ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 18 1 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Social perceptions Health workers Patients Malaria elimination Qualitative methods Acceptability Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Social perceptions Health workers Patients Malaria elimination Qualitative methods Acceptability Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Felipe Leão Gomes Murta Maxwell Oliveira Mendes Vanderson Souza Sampaio Abrahim Sena Baze Junior Ximena Pamela Díaz-Bermúdez Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study |
topic_facet |
Social perceptions Health workers Patients Malaria elimination Qualitative methods Acceptability Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Brazil has considerably reduced the number of cases of malaria in recent years and aims to eradicate the disease completely, however, vivax malaria continues to be a major challenge for the health system. In this context, the key to building a successful elimination programme may lie in the knowledge and the perceptions of the health agents, the patients affected by the disease and the personnel responsible for malaria diagnosis, treatment and control at the local level. Methods A qualitative study was undertaken in Manaus, capital of the state of Amazonas, Western Brazilian Amazon, using a sample of 33 patients who were being treated for malaria and 22 health agents who were working in malaria diagnosis, treatment and control at the local level. A semi-structured interview with a further thematic analysis was performed. Results There are still many myths regarding malaria transmission and treatment that may hinder the sensitization of the population of this region in relation to the use of current control tools and elimination strategies, such as mass drug administration (MDA). Most health professionals reported that the abandonment of treatment for malaria by the patient is related to poor social conditions, the high incidence of alcoholism and the low level of schooling of the affected population. One negative perception, observed in both groups with regard to the use of insecticide-treated nets, is that they may cause skin irritations and allergies. Most patients and health professionals have described malaria as an impossible disease to eliminate because it is intrinsically associated with forest landscapes, and according to them, elimination would only be possible if there were a vaccine against malaria. Conclusion In the Amazon, cultural perceptions about the etiology of this disease can influence the behaviour and practices that social groups adopt in relation to the different forms of living in a malaria-endemic context. Negative perceptions about malaria elimination can act as a ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Felipe Leão Gomes Murta Maxwell Oliveira Mendes Vanderson Souza Sampaio Abrahim Sena Baze Junior Ximena Pamela Díaz-Bermúdez Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda |
author_facet |
Felipe Leão Gomes Murta Maxwell Oliveira Mendes Vanderson Souza Sampaio Abrahim Sena Baze Junior Ximena Pamela Díaz-Bermúdez Wuelton Marcelo Monteiro Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda |
author_sort |
Felipe Leão Gomes Murta |
title |
Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study |
title_short |
Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study |
title_full |
Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study |
title_fullStr |
Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the Brazilian Amazon: a qualitative study |
title_sort |
misperceptions of patients and health workers regarding malaria elimination in the brazilian amazon: a qualitative study |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 https://doaj.org/article/3c63782ef5fe4aac9b6b5284a558e732 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2019) |
op_relation |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/3c63782ef5fe4aac9b6b5284a558e732 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2854-3 |
container_title |
Malaria Journal |
container_volume |
18 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766347409298817024 |