ZIKA VIRUS IN BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF THE POPULATION’S KNOWLEDGE IN ACTIVITIES DEVELOPED BY MEMBER OF IFMSA BRAZIL

Introduction and Objectives: Zika is a viral disease, transmitted mainly by vectors, like Aedes aegypti. At the beginning of 2016, OMS warned about the risks of explosive proliferation of the disease, with potential to become an international emergency. There are forecasts that Brazil will reach 1.5 million infected people until the beginning of 2017 and the Americas, 4 million. The objective is to compare the knowledge of the population of Natal-RN and Belém-PA, about the Zika virus; further, to expose the initiative of medical students to combat the epidemic in their locations. Methods: The International Federation of Medical Students’ Association of Brazil (IFMSA Brazil), through medical students of federal universities of Pará, and Rio Grande do Norte, developed health education activities with the population, talking about the basics concepts of the disease, the present epidemiological situation in the country and the prevention. Using a questionnaire, it was collected data of people’s previous knowledge about this theme. Results and Conclusion: Approximately 80% of the people who participated of the activity (145 people) have a good knowledge about Zika, the relation with Aedes aegypti and the prevention methods - the best results were obtained in Natal. When they were asked which population group that have the biggest risk when infected by Zika virus, in Natal, more than 75% correlated with pregnancy, where as in Belém, only 37% did it. Therefore, the need of more actions to inform the population is evident – and should go beyond the theorization of knowledge.