The Role of Gender in Chagas Disease Prevention and Control in Honduras: An Analysis of Communication and Collaboration Networks

In Honduras, where Chagas disease is a serious health and environmental concern, prevention measures face the challenge of achieving widespread and long-term sustainable adoption by communities. The article integrates social network analysis and a gender-sensitive approach to understand the role of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:EcoHealth 2016-09, Vol.13 (3), p.535-548
Main Authors: Triana, Diana Rocío Rodríguez, Mertens, Frédéric, Zúniga, Concepción Valeriano, Mendoza, Yolanda, Nakano, Eduardo Yoshio, Monroy, Maria Carlota
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Ecology
Communications networks
Disease control
Disease prevention
Ecosystems
Environmental Health
Gender
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Microbiology
Original Contribution
Public Health
Sustainable materials
Water and Health
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Summary:In Honduras, where Chagas disease is a serious health and environmental concern, prevention measures face the challenge of achieving widespread and long-term sustainable adoption by communities. The article integrates social network analysis and a gender-sensitive approach to understand the role of men and women in the implementation of a community-level intervention, based on the adoption of housing improvements to reduce the presence of the insect vector. A total of 108 people in the community of El Salitre were interviewed. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, participation in project activities, communication and collaboration networks related to Chagas disease prevention, knowledge of Chagas disease, and adoption of housing improvements techniques. Communication mostly occurred between the same gender individuals and was associated with knowledge of Chagas disease. Socioeconomic status, Chagas disease knowledge, and collaboration with men were associated with women adopting housing improvements. For men, however, participation in project activities, formal education, and collaboration with women were associated with adoption. These findings suggest that men and women were driven by distinct concerns, interests, and motivations when adopting new Chagas disease prevention strategies. Participatory community interventions that seek to generate health knowledge and foster collaborations to reduce health risk should address gender differences.
ISSN:1612-9202
1612-9210
DOI:10.1007/s10393-016-1141-9