CREATING AWARENESS ON CYSTIC ECINOCOCCOSIS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN
Project no. 65 · Status: Kapanmış · 2016
Summary
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus one of the most important and common parasitic zoonosis in the world. In human, although the disease is seen at all ages, children are at greater risk. In this study, we aimed to create awareness in primary and secondary school students for CE, to evaluate their knowledge about the disease and to inform them. The PowerPoint presentation, questionnaire form with 10-questions, brochures and posters were prepared for primary and secondary school students who study in different regions (Seferihisar, Foça, Bornova, Çiğli, Bayraklı) of Izmir. The questionnaires were administered in two stages as pre and post-presentation. The questions in pre-presentation were prepared in order to determine risk factors and measure knowledge about CE and at the second stage of questionnaire was prepared how effective the presentation was and to confirm the students' level of knowledge increased. A total 3717 students participated from 26 schools in 5 districts in İzmir province. According to survey forms, the majority of the students (89.2%) stated that they did not hear of CE before. After presentation, more than 80% of the students gave correct answers to the questions. Although 89.2% of students reported have no idea about CE, after presentation, 83% of students defined that they had an information about CE. It is important that public awareness should be increased distributing printed materials and giving information to educate the children. In present study, brochures were distributed to all students, posters were hung in school boards and PowerPoint presentations enriched with animations were presented about CE. We reached more than 3500 children with this study and best of our knowledge, this is first study informing student levels about CE in Izmir. Further studies should be done including much more students and also for public.