MEDICAL STUDENT’S KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MEASLES FOR OPERATIONS AGAINST EPIDEMICS IN BRAZILIAN NORTHEASTERN COMMUNITIES

INTRODUCTION / OBJECTIVES: Ceará faced in 2015 an outbreak of measles, raising some doubts about basic knowledgement and the preparation of future health professionals about epidemics of contagious diseases, such as measles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of medical students of a University Center on some typical characteristics of measles after its resurgence. METHODS: The study was quantitative and cross-sectional, occurring from August to October 2015. The questionnaires were structured with following subjects: clinical manifestations, pathognomonic sign, treatment and measles vaccine, then, were applied to students from 1st to 8th period of a University Center of Fortaleza. After the consolidation of the data, the results were organized and analyzed in Excel 2010 and Epi Info 7. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: 322 students answered the questionnaires. Regarding the knowledge of the pathognomonic sign of disease, Koplik‘s sign, 81% of participants were found to be aware of this characteristic of the disease. Regarding vaccination coverage with use of MMR vaccine, 93% of students demonstrated knowledge on this subject. However, for main clinical manifestations and treatment of disease, the hit rates were only 48% and 40%, respectively. Therefore, it can be inferred that it is still necessary provide instructions for academics from medicine area about this pathology, given that formation of future professionals in the primary health care is important for epidemiological surveillance and for the basic and initial assistance to community.