Chagas disease knowledge within the Latin American community in Hamburg

Abstract

Background Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease, used to be confined to the Latin American region. Migration has expanded its geographical boundaries and made it a global disease. Since Chagas disease poses a public health challenge in areas that were formerly free of Chagas disease, the World Health Organization recommends prevention and control measures. If these measures such as targeted screening are to be applied, it would be essential to know what the target group knows about Chagas disease. This thesis aims to evaluate the knowledge about Chagas disease in a sample of Latin American migrants living in Hamburg and to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with the knowledge. Methodology To investigate knowledge about Chagas' disease, a survey questionnaire developed by the German Chagas network ELCiD was used among adult Latin American migrants living in Hamburg. The knowledge assessment of the survey covered knowledge of transmission mechanisms and clinical aspects of the disease. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise knowledge about Chagas disease. In order to identify associations with socio-demographic characteristics of the sample, multiple linear regression analysis with knowledge about transmission pathways as a dependent variable was performed. Principal findings A total of 102 participants (mean age: 36.9; 71.6% female) were recruited. Only one-third of the sample had ever heard of Chagas disease. There was a considerable lack of knowledge regarding the non-vectorial transmission mechanisms and the symptoms of the disease. In the linear regression analysis, having heard of Chagas disease was the only characteristic that was associated with knowledge of transmission pathways. Conclusion More quantitative and qualitative insights into the knowledge about Chagas' disease from representative samples of other German regions are needed. Awareness campaigns about Chagas disease should specifically address the manifestations and transmission routes of the disease.