Conoscenze, attitudini e comportamenti nei confronti della malattia di Chagas nei Paesi non endemici: una scoping review

Background: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, has become a global health issue due to migration from Latin America to non-endemic countries. Despite the growing population at risk, access to diagnosis and treatment remains limited. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KAB) of both at-risk populations and healthcare professionals play a key role in the care pathway. This scoping review aimed to map the available evidence on KAB regarding Chagas disease in non-endemic countries and identify barriers and facilitators to diagnosis and treatment. Methods: The review was conducted according to the PCC framework (Population, Concept, Context). Searches were performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and CINAHL. Studies addressing KAB on Chagas disease among migrant populations, healthcare workers and the general population in non-endemic countries were included. Results: Most studies were conducted in the USA and Spain and were predominantly cross-sectional. The review identified persistent gaps in awareness of vertical transmission, limited translation of knowledge into clinical practice among healthcare professionals, and stigma associated with the disease in migrant communities. These factors negatively affect screening uptake, diagnosis and treatment access. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for strengthened public health interventions, improved professional training and integration of Chagas screening into healthcare pathways in non-endemic countries. Greater attention is needed to address stigma and improve access to care among populations at risk.