EDUCATIONAL TECHOLOGY FOR COMMUNICAION AND PREVENTION OF CHAGAS DISEASEIN IN THE AMAZON CONTEXTO: THE DIGITAL BOOK “IN THE AÇAÍ FOREST”

Abstract

This article aims to discuss Chagas disease (CD) poses a persistent public health challenge in the Americas, with notable oral transmission in the Brazilian Amazon, especially associated with the consumption of contaminated açaí. This methodological study describes the development, validation, preliminary evaluation, and dissemination of the e-book "In the Açaí Forest," an educational technology anchored in the principles of educational design thinking and the One Health approach. Built from a literature review, the e-book presents accessible language, illustrations contextualized in the Amazonian culture and economy, and an emphasis on preventive practices in the açaí chain, environmental sustainability, and participatory surveillance. It was validated by 20 specialists, achieving a content validity index (CVI) for scientific accuracy and content presentation of 0.92 and 0.88, respectively, and a score of 88% in the evaluation of material adequacy. In the evaluation by 40 education and primary healthcare professionals, it achieved a content validity index (CVI) of 0.90, with high scores in comprehension, attractiveness, self-efficacy, cultural acceptance, and persuasion. Made available for free in Portuguese, Spanish, and Brazilian Sign Language, the e-book recorded 296 downloads in two months. The results demonstrate its potential as an interdisciplinary, culturally sensitive, and effective resource for health education and DC prevention in the Amazon, integrating scientific and local knowledge.