To Really Know the Disease: Creating a Participatory Community Education Workshop about Taenia solium Focused on Physical, Economic, and Epidemiologic Evidence

Michelle Beam School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon;

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Angela G. Spencer School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, Portland, Oregon;

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Ruth Atto Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;

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Roberto Camizan Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;

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Percy Vilchez Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;

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Claudio Muro Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;

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Ricardo Gamboa Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;

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Ian Pray School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, Portland, Oregon;

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Brian Garvey School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon;

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Lauralee Fernandez School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, Portland, Oregon;

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Hector H. Garcia Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;
Department of Microbiology, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

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Seth E. O’Neal School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, Portland, Oregon;
Center for Global Health Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru;

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for the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru
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Cysticercosis, caused by Taenia solium, is a neglected disease that causes preventable epilepsy. We conducted an experiential learning workshop in northern Peru to educate community members on T. solium transmission and motivate participation in community-led prevention and control. The workshop included presentation of local economic and epidemiologic data, followed by hands-on participation in pig dissection, group discussion of the T. solium life cycle, and viewing of eggs and nascent tapeworms with light microscopes. Among heads of household, we used community survey data to compare knowledge of the three-stage parasite life cycle at baseline and 2 months postworkshop. Knowledge of the life cycle increased significantly after the workshop, with greater gains for workshop attendees than non-attendees. Prior knowledge and workshop attendance were significant predictors of postworkshop knowledge. The use of local evidence and experiential learning positively affected knowledge of T. solium transmission, laying the foundation for subsequent community-engaged control efforts.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Seth E. O’Neal, School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97239. E-mail: oneals@ohsu.edu

Authors’ addresses: Michelle Beam, Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, E-mail: beam@ohsu.edu. Angela G. Spencer, Lauralee Fernandez, and Seth E. O’Neal, School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University–Portland State University, Portland, OR, E-mails: angela.g.spencer@pdx.edu, fernanla@ohsu.edu, and oneals@ohsu.edu. Ruth Atto, Roberto Camizan, Percy Vilchez, Claudio Muro, and Ricardo Gamboa, Centro de Salud Global, Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru, E-mails: ratto@peruresearch.org, rcamizan1@gmail.com, pvilchez@peruresearch.org, claudio.muro@peruresearch.org, and rgamboa@peruresearch.org. Ian Pray and Brian Garvey, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, E-mails: pray@ohsu.edu and garveyb@ohsu.edu. Hector H. Garcia, Centro de Salud Global Tumbes, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru, and Department of Microbiology, School of Sciences, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru, E-mail: hgarcia1@jhu.edu.

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