Social and economic aspects of patients with imported malaria in the metropolitan region of S. Paulo City, S. Paulo State, Brazil: I - Characterization of the population and knowledge of the disease

Authors

  • Maria José Chinelatto Pinheiro Alves Superintendência de Controle de Endemias
  • Luiz Carlos Barradas Barata Superintendência de Controle de Endemias
  • Rita de Cássia Barradas Barata Santa Casa de São Paulo; Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
  • Maria do Carmo R. Rodrigues de Almeida Superintendência de Controle de Endemias
  • Eliana B. Gutierrez Superintendência de Controle de Endemias
  • Dalva Marli Valério Wanderley Superintendência de Controle de Endemias
  • José Carlos Rehder de Andrade Superintendência de Controle de Endemias

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101990000400001

Keywords:

Malaria^i2^sepidemiol, Socioeconomic factors, Knowledge^i2^sattitudes, pract

Abstract

With a view to discovering the social and economic characteristics of people from endemic malarial areas of Brazil, 566 suspected malaria cases were studied at the S. Paulo City Metropolitan Region Malaria Laboratory. Data were obtained by means of the application of standardized questionnaires over the period from November 1986 to June 1987 to individuals with as history of transit to Brazil's endemic malarial region. Of the population studied, 345 (61.0%) lived in the endemic area; 479 (84.6%) were males, 513 (90.7%) were between 15 and 55 years old and 307 (54.2%) presented positive plasmodium haemoscopia. The analysis by educational level indicated that 486 (85.9%) had primary or secondary education; 109 (19.3%) worked in mineral extraction; 74 (13.2%) were farmers, and 46 (8.1%) were related to terrestrial transportation activities. With respect, to knowledge of the disease, 384 (67.8%) had at least 1 bout of malaria before and 491 (86.8%) associated the disease with the presence of the vector. Of the 221 residents in S. Paulo, 207 (93.7%), as well as 336 (97.4%) of those residing in the endemic area already know of the riscks of infection prior to travelling through the area of transmission. The interval between the first symptoms and the seeking for medical care varied from 0 to 3 days in 386 cases (68.2%). The frequencies of the variables studied analysed according to the haemoscopic result and the place of residence, were statistically significant.

Published

1990-08-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Alves, M. J. C. P., Barata, L. C. B., Barata, R. de C. B., Almeida, M. do C. R. R. de, Gutierrez, E. B., Wanderley, D. M. V., & Andrade, J. C. R. de. (1990). Social and economic aspects of patients with imported malaria in the metropolitan region of S. Paulo City, S. Paulo State, Brazil: I - Characterization of the population and knowledge of the disease . Revista De Saúde Pública, 24(4), 253-258. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101990000400001