Leishmaniasis and textbook: how are endemic diseases addressed in public education?

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonosis, considered a public health problem in Brazil, because of their magnitude, geographic expansion and lethality. The disease is the etiologic agent trypanosamatid Leishmania infantum, is transmitted by the bite of Lutzomyia longipalpis, an insect of the order Diptera that has hematophagous habits. Typically considered rural, the disease emerged in the urban scene in Teresina, Piauí state, in the 80´s, reaching the other urban producing several epidemiological outbreaks. Control of the disease, based on the slaughter of seropositive dogs, chemical vector control and treatment of human patients as strategies recommended by the Ministry of Health, do not have satisfactory results, it is imperative to integrate these strategies to the actions of health education. Considering the role of the school in the dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of health education actions and, above all, the importance of the textbook as an important educational tool for the teaching-learning process, this study aimed to analyze the books as they are atopted by public schools of the city of Floriano, Piauí state, address endemic diseases, particularly leishmaniasis. Physical criteria, as aspects of the brochure and binding aspects and the contents were used in the analyzes. The selection of books was made by teachers and managers of schools based on the National Textbook Program (PNLD) tab and then were approved in the pedagogical evaluation of the Ministry of Education. Copies of each level of education (primary and secondary) were analyzed according to conceptual and physical aspects. The analysis of conceptual and methodological aspects was based on the literature and a thorough observation of the images that complement the content. The physical aspects were evaluated according to the type of binding, size, font size and spacing employ, didactic presentation order of the content and illustrations. It was found that there are no pictures or illustrations, comparactive tables from beyond the distinction between the clinical forms of the disease, or aspects of the transmission, which can lead to misconception about the mechanims of transmission and control and hinder learning. Considering the physical features, binding the text are consistent with levels of education, easy reading and understanding. The analysis indicates that although the textbooks configured as an indispensable tool to make teaching the teacher, they still address the endemic disease simplistically, leaving it to the teacher´s role to contextualize the approach of endemics.