Conhecimento de alunos de escola pública do Recife sobre o sarampo, sua vacina e situação atual.

Abstract

Measles is a strong infectious disease and due to its propensity of transmission, it has great epidemiological value. Its high level of severity is related to its central nervous system involvement. The measles virus represented, until the beginning of the 90's, a huge public health relevance, considering its epidemics. With the arising of new cases, it is the role of the health and education professionals to act actively in prevention, stimulating vaccination and information about the disease. Thus, it was intended to assess the knowledge of adolescent students from public schools in Recife. This evaluation was conducted by the use a questionnaire that included questions about students' knowledge related to measles, its vaccine and its current situation in Brazil. As the result, 96% of participants were aware about measles, however, lower numbers were acquired in the following questions, which were about disease transmission, infection and symptoms. Therefore, the data are not yet satisfactory, being necessary the development of activities with the professionals mentioned before for the adequate exchange of information.