Evaluation of population knowledge about leptospirosis disease

Abstract

The present study aimed to survey the population's knowledge about leptospirosis zoonosis, in which 684 people of different ages, occupations, and housing conditions were interviewed. Due to the circumstance of social isolation resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, we used the Google Forms remote interview method. We sought to bring together different professionals, trying to associate their responses with those of health professionals also questioned, so that the discrepancy or equivalence of responses could be assessed, according to the degree of knowledge of each group about leptospirosis. After completing the questionnaire, a digital folder was made available with the correct information about the disease, aiming to raise awareness among the population. The Leptospira bacterium is the agent responsible for Leptospirosis infection, which adapts in humid and hot environments. The main reservoirs of the disease are synanthropic rodents that eliminate the agent through urine. For this reason, conditions of low basic sanitation and areas of floods are areas of risk that appropriate the infection. It´s important that the population has minimal knowledge about the disease to prevent it and, with that, fight the contamination points. Our study had access to the knowledge of people from different occupations to assess whether government campaigns are being effective with the provision of information and awareness.