Social Representations and Practices Towards Triatomines and Chagas Disease in Calakmul, México

In the Zoh-Laguna landscape of Calakmul, Mexico, structural factors such as gender-related knowledge gaps and public health neglect contribute to vulnerability to vector-borne transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi (VBTTc), a condition causing Chagas disease. The study reveals that while men possess detailed ethno-ecological knowledge about triatomines (vectors for T. cruzi) and their association with mammals, women primarily focus on the dermal effects of bites, lacking awareness about the broader implications of Chagas disease. Triatomine bites are often normalized and treated with home remedies, if at all, highlighting a critical gap in disease prevention. The research employs qualitative ethnographic methods, including in-depth interviews and participatory observation, to analyze health-disease-care-seeking practices and territorial land use. It underscores the need for culturally relevant, community-based intervention strategies that address these structural vulnerabilities, particularly given the continuous movement of vectors across diverse habitats.

Valdez-Tah, A., Huicochea-Gómez, L., Ortega-Canto, J., Nazar-Beutelspacher, A., & Ramsey, J. M. (2015). Social Representations and Practices Towards Triatomines and Chagas Disease in Calakmul, México. Plos One, 10(7), e0132830. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132830