Attitudes and Practices from People of a Mayan Community of Mexico, Related to Tick-Borne Diseases: Implications for the Design of Prevention Programs

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne diseases are caused by several pathogens whose transmission could be associated to the life conditions of communities settled in endemic areas. We aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the exposition and prevention of tick-borne diseases among people living in a typical Mayan community of Yucatan, Mexico between Dec 2012 and May 2013. METHODS: A directed survey was applied to 212 (100%) householders (women and men) from Teabo, Yucatan, Mexico. Answers and field notes were recorded and analyzed with central statistics. RESULTS: People have been bitten at least once in the community, but the majority of them consider those bites innocuous. In addition, people do not consider prevention measures, and only a few mentioned the use of some chemicals on their backyards. CONCLUSION: This study found little awareness among the participants regarding the importance and the transmission of these diseases even though they possess a vast knowledge regarding ticks. Therefore, educational strategies and prevention programs that include these habits for its modification are required to minimize the exposition to the vectors.