Article Category:
Research Article

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices toward Chagas Disease: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Bolivians in the Gran Chaco and Latin American Migrants in London

María del Carmen Díez Hernández Médicos del Mundo, Madrid, Spain;

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Natalie Elkheir London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom;
United Kingdom Chagas Hub, London, United Kingdom;

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Temitope Fisayo United Kingdom Chagas Hub, London, United Kingdom;
King’s College London, London, United Kingdom;

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Raquel Gonçalves University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom;

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Edson Grover Sañer Liendo Hospital Japonés, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia;

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Caryn Bern University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California

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David A. J. Moore London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;
Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom;
United Kingdom Chagas Hub, London, United Kingdom;

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.24-0516
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
Open access
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Understanding the at-risk population’s perception of Chagas disease is essential for its effective prevention and control. A cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Chagas disease was conducted with Bolivians in a highly endemic region of Bolivia and Latin American migrants in London. In total, 175 participants completed the survey: 100 Bolivians in a highly endemic village in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and 75 Latin American migrants in London (of whom 31 were from Bolivia). All participants from the endemic village and all Bolivian migrants in London knew of Chagas disease, whereas only 25% of other Latin American migrants had heard of it (P <0.001). In London, Bolivians had more knowledge of Chagas disease than those from other Chagas-endemic countries. In Bolivia only, better understanding of Chagas disease was associated with educational attainment. Only 4% of participants overall were aware of the risk of vertical transmission. Few Latin American migrants in London had previously been tested for Chagas disease, and most were not aware of how to access testing. Migration and level of endemicity may shape individuals’ understanding of as well as attitudes and practices toward Chagas disease. A better understanding of these factors can guide effective prevention and control program development in both endemic and non-endemic settings.

Author Notes

Financial support: N. Elkheir is supported by a Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellowship.

Disclosures: Ethical approval was obtained from the ethical committees of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Universidad Católica Boliviana. Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants.

Authors’ contributions: M. del Carmen Díez Hernández, N. Elkheir, E. Grover Sañer Liendo, C. Bern, and D. A. J. Moore designed the study. M. del Carmen Díez Hernández and E. Grover Sañer Liendo implemented the study. M. del Carmen Díez Hernández, N. Elkheir, T. Fisayo, R. Gonçalves, C. Bern, and D. A. J. Moore provided study analysis and interpreted the data. M. del Carmen Díez Hernández, N. Elkheir, C. Bern, and D. A. J. Moore made major contributions to the writing. All authors read and approved the final version.

Current contact information: María del Carmen Díez Hernández, Médicos del Mundo, Madrid, Spain, E-mail: mamendhdez@gmail.com. Natalie Elkheir and David A. J. Moore, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom, E-mails: natalie.elkheir@lshtm.ac.uk and david.moore@lshtm.ac.uk. Temitope Fisayo, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom, E-mail: temitope.fisayo2@nhs.net. Raquel Gonçalves, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom, E-mail: leish.raq@gmail.com. Edson Grover Sañer Liendo, Hospital Japonés, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, E-mail: edxand30@gmail.com. Caryn Bern, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, E-mail: caryn.bern2@ucsf.edu.

Address correspondence to Natalie Elkheir, Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. E-mail: natalie.elkheir@lshtm.ac.uk
Copyright:
© The author(s) 2025
Received:
31 Jul 2024
|
Accepted:
12 Feb 2025
|
Published Online:
06 May 2025
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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