Knowledge level about depression of community health agents of Belém, Pará

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the knowledge level of Community Health Agents (CHAs) of a Health Strategy of the city of Belém - Pará about depression. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive and interventional study, approved by the Research Ethics Committee (CEP), which evaluated the knowledge of CHA's about depression through a sociodemographic questionnaire and one to assess the level of knowledge about the disease. Results: 11 CHAs participated, being 63.63% female, 54.55% aged 30-39 years, 54.55% had incomplete higher education, 73% had training as CHAs, 64% do not know any prevention method of depression (p <0.0051), all found it valid to receive training in mental disorders (p <0.0001). Of the total, 9 agents knew the signs and symptoms of depression (p <0.0001), added that women are the main public of this pathology (p <0.0001), reporting that there are preventive methods (p <0.0051) but they cannot define examples, and who know that the treatment is done with drugs and psychotherapeutic approach (p <0.0001). Conclusion: The ACSs surveyed know the importance of the subject (depression) and that early intervention in the patient may be important in the course of the disease, but do not know the clinical course of the disease, its prevention, and the fact that it is a disabling condition.