Conhecimento e práticas preventivas da população de Bambuí-MG acerca da dengue

Considered one of the most serious public health problems worldwide, dengue is a viral infectious disease transmitted mainly by the vector Aedes aegypti. Given the relevance of the topic, a survey and analysis were conducted on the knowledge and preventive practices of the population of Bambuí-MG regarding dengue, and an investigation was also carried out into how socioeconomic factors influence these aspects. For this purpose, a semi-open questionnaire was administered to 210 residents of two neighborhoods in the city. The data collection instrument consisted of sections for participant identification, socioeconomic characterization, and questions related to the disease, and it was also used as a means to correct misconceptions and raise awareness among the sampled population about the issue of dengue. It was found that most respondents demonstrated knowledge about disease prevention. However, a large proportion showed a lack of understanding of issues related to the concept, transmission, and especially treatment and contraindicated medications. The results of Multiple Correspondence Analysis indicated that factors such as neighborhood location, income, education level, age, and gender directly influence the responses. Therefore, by determining the population’s level of knowledge and understanding the situations that interfere with disease control, it was possible to achieve the objective proposed in this study, contributing to the development of prevention and control strategies.