Evaluation of School-Based Creating Awareness of Cystic Echinococcosis: A Pilot Study

: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is the most prevalent disease in Europe, and probably accounts for more than 95% of the estimated 2-3 million global cases. CE is a fatal and serious disease. Turkey is among the countries where this problem still poses a public threat. This study was a pilot study to create the awareness of CE among 10 different districts of Izmir province, Turkey. Awareness raising seminars are essential component of this study for students and schoolteachers. Questionnaire forms were created and applied before and after the presentations. Printed materials, posters and brochures were disseminated and posters put on the walls or boards where students can see continuously. Even 4090 students attended to the trainings, questionnaires were filled by 3793 of the students. Out of 3793 students, 1978 (52.1%) were female and 1815 (47.9%) were male. The majority of students (94.2%) did not know anything about this disease. 93.1% students were stated that there were stray dogs in their environment. More than half of the students were playing with stray dogs. Nearly 90% of the students answered correctly the questions which were asked after presentation.The total number of administrators and teachers who attended to the seminars were 242. This is the first pilot study regarding creating awareness on CE in the Izmir Province, Turkey that covers the big sample-size of children including schoolteachers. This study helped them understand the importance of the problem and how it can be solved by protecting themselves while respecting human and animal rights. It will be used for establishing nationwide control programme.

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