Empowering communities through One Health and ArtScience: An innovative approach to combat Chagas disease in endemic areas of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Background: Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected zoonosis that requires study through the One Health approach, as it involves various aspects of animal, environmental, and human health in its transmission cycle. This disease affects 7 million people in 20 countries in Latin America, resulting in approximately seven thousand deaths annually worldwide. Local knowledge is crucial for developing educational strategies to mitigate the risks of disease transmission, particularly in endemic areas.
Aims: In this study, we present the experience of integrating five stands with complementary subjects on CD, focusing on environmental, biological, and human life factors, as well as its invertebrate and vertebrate hosts.
Methods: This research was conducted as part of the Chagas Express XXI initiative, a social‐educational technology conceived as an imaginary train consisting of six thematic “wagons” (education stations) related to CD. The current study took place in the northern region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, focusing on the activities of wagon 4, which involved 649 participants in two municipalities: Espinosa and Montes Claros, both endemic rural and urban areas for CD.
Results: Participants’ prior knowledge was assessed through a series of questions, and educational mediators engaged in dialog during voluntary sessions. We found that crucial aspects related to the prevention and control of vector‐borne transmissions, such as host and vector diversity, as well as household risks, were neglected in local education activities or unknown to the populations of both municipalities.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that zoonosis, particularly CD, should be included in basic education and health professional training courses, employing strategies that consider the different socio‐environmental interfaces and aim to improve human, animal, and environmental living conditions.