ENTEROBACTERIACEAE DIVERSITY AND WATERBORNE DISEASES: ENVIRONMENTAL PERCEPTION AND SCIENTIFIC DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES IN SEMIARID REGION OF RN – BRAZIL
semiarid, enterobacteria, waterborne diseases
The Brazilian semiarid region, located mostly in the Northeast, represents a vulnerable territory and as a result of morphoclimatic characteristics, the population faces problems related to quality and water availability for several months throughout the year. The construction of reservoirs represents an infrastructure that has arisen as an alternative to supply the water need of the population. However, they are reported serious quality problems, which directly affect people's lives. The identification of microorganisms present in these reservoirs stand out as a necessity, as it directly influence the quality of water, because they represent a possibility of contamination and can cause waterborne diseases in case of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Stands out in this context, the importance of survey of ideas and the development of health education activities with elementary school teachers and health workers who act as disseminators of knowledge to the local population. This project aims to identify the diversity of Enterobacteriaceae and evaluate the microbiological quality of the reservoir water used for public supply in the Rio Grande do Norte semi-arid. It is proposed also to identify the perceptions of teachers and health workers on the quality of water from reservoirs in the perspective of the development of health education activities, as well as to survey the occurrence of diarrheal waterborne diseases in the region, The project is being developed in the reservoirs Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves, Gargalheiras and Boqueirão, in the municipalities of Assu, Acari and Parelhas respectively. In schools and health posts in the region were applied questionnaires with teachers and health workers to investigate their conceptions about water quality, waterborne diseases and also analyze the activities developed by them. The study revealed that these professionals recognize the importance of the reservoirs, but many have no knowledge about the organisms present in its waters. Moreover, a part of the professionals does not have knowledge about waterborne diseases, enterobacteria and bacteria pathogenicity. With regard to the activities performed, the majority claims to develop actions to minimize the problems related to contamination of water, as well as surveillance activities of waterborne diseases. It is also being done survey of diarrheal waterborne diseases in the region between the years 2005 and 2015 through the DATASUS database. Considerable numbers of cases were verified in the cities studied, which represents a concern. Furthermore, they are also being made water collects in the reservoirs in order to know the enterobacteria presents in them, through metagenomics sequencing. From there, it may be related to occurrence of diarrheal diseases to existing microorganisms. Based on the results, educational materials will be produced and health education activities are being planned in order to sensitize users of reservoirs of water on this problematic.