DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A HEALTH-EDUCATION INTERVENTION AGAINSTTAENIA-SOLIUM IN A RURAL-COMMUNITY IN MEXICO

A comprehensive study was undertaken in a rural community in the state of Morelos, Mexico to evaluate health education as an intervention me asure against Taenia solium. An educational program was developed to p romote recognition and knowledge of the transmission of the parasite a nd to improve hygienic behavior and sanitary conditions that foster tr ansmission. The effects of educational intervention were evaluated by measuring changes in knowledge and practices and prevalence of human t aeniasis and swine cysticercosis before and after the campaign. The he alth education strategy was implemented with the active participation of the population based on the information obtained from a sociologic study. A questionnaire was designed and used before, immediately after the intervention, and six months later. Statistically significant imp rovements occurred in knowledge of the parasite, its life cycle, and h ow it is acquired by humans; however, changes in behavior related to t ransmission were less dramatic and persistent. The prevalences of cyst icercosis in pigs at the start of the education intervention were 2.6% and 5.2% by lingual examination and antibody detection (immunoblot as say), respectively, and approximately one year after the intervention they were 0% and 1.2% (P < 0.05). These changes were accompanied by si gnificant reductions in the reported access of pigs to sources of infe ction and freedom to roam. We conclude that health education, develope d along with community involvement, reduced opportunities for transmis sion of T. solium in the human-pig cycle.