scholarly journals Lay attitudes and misconceptions and their implications for the control of brucellosis in an agro-pastoral community in Kilombero district, Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. e0009500
Author(s):  
Caroline M. Mburu ◽  
Salome A. Bukachi ◽  
Kathrin H. Tokpa ◽  
Gilbert Fokou ◽  
Khamati Shilabukha ◽  
...  

Brucellosis is a priority zoonotic disease in Tanzania that causes ill-health in people and affects livestock productivity. Inadequate awareness and behavior risking transmission can impede control efforts. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 333 livestock owners in three villages in the Kilombero district, Tanzania, to understand their awareness, knowledge and behavior associated with brucellosis. Six Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), two in each village, were conducted, as well as an additional FGD with male herders from one of the villages. Factors associated with knowledge on brucellosis, food consumption and animal husbandry behavior risking transmission of this disease, were identified using generalized linear models. Predictors for knowledge of brucellosis were being male and having a higher educational level, while age was positively associated with a higher level of knowledge. Faith and ethnicity were associated with the performance of practices risking transmission. Following traditional religion and belonging to the Wamaasai ethnicity significantly increased the odds of carrying out these practices. Qualitative analysis gave insight into risk practices and reasoning. Of the 333 respondents, 29% reported that they had experienced abortions in their herds, 14% witnessed retained placentas, and 8% had seen still-births in their cattle within the previous year. However, survey results also showed that only 7.2% of participants had heard about brucellosis as a disease in livestock. Of those who had heard about brucellosis in livestock, 91% associated abortions with it and 71% knew that humans can get infected through raw milk consumption. People overwhelmingly attributed symptoms and transmission of brucellosis in livestock to infection with trypanosomiasis and to supernatural reasons instead. In the community, consumption of raw milk was valued and handling of aborted material was not considered a risk for infection. This agro-pastoralist community holds on to long-held beliefs and practices and lacks understanding of the biomedical concept of brucellosis. Transmission routes and symptoms of brucellosis in humans and livestock are completely unknown. The disparity between risk perception and actual transmission risk related to animal handling and consumption of animal products presents a challenge for disease awareness communication. This study recommends focused community engagement and sensitization to address the limited awareness and misconceptions among agro-pastoralists.

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 385-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather B. Barkin ◽  
Samantha B. Saltz ◽  
Joshua D. Fox ◽  
Katherine L. Baquerizo Nole ◽  
Gazelle Rouhani ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Sadia Jahan ◽  
Md. Saddam Hossain ◽  
Md. Anisur Rahman Bhuiyan ◽  
Susmita Roy Lisa ◽  
Somaia Haque Chadni

Aim: To evaluate the household iodine content and knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding salt iodization among the residents of Cumilla, Bangladesh. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 700 inhabitants in Cumilla's urban and rural areas to determine the iodine concentration of salt they consume. The participants were asked about what they know about iodine deficiency and salt iodization as well as how their salt was packaged and stored. Among them, 338 people provided a sample of salt to be tested of its iodine content by the titrimetric method. Results: 46.57% of people knew that iodization was the best way to prevent iodine deficiency while 35.14% considered salt iodization during purchasing. Most people stored salt in plastic boxes (89.7%) and closed containers (84.14%).Among all participants, only 37.14% of people were aware of the iodine requirement during pregnancy. In urban regions, the median iodine content was 36.76 ppm (OR=0.658, 95% CI, 0.469-0.925), while in rural areas, the median iodine content was 40.92 ppm (OR=1.188, 95% CI, 1.022-1.380). Iodine levels were less than 15 ppm (minimum limit) in 6.8% of samples and greater than 40 ppm (maximum limit) in 56.5%. Only 36.7% of the salt samples contained adequate iodine. Conclusion: An effective and consistent approach for controlling iodine concentration in distributed salt is required at Cumilla, Bangladesh.


Sexual Health ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
Finley J. Charleson ◽  
Christopher K. Fairley ◽  
Jane S. Hocking ◽  
Lenka A. Vodstrcil ◽  
Catriona S. Bradshaw ◽  
...  

Background The kissing practices of heterosexual men are not well understood, despite the potential of kissing to be a significant risk factor for gonorrhoea transmission. This study aimed to explore kissing and sex practices among heterosexual men. Methods: A cross-sectional survey among heterosexual men attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre in 2016–2017 was conducted. Men were asked to report their number of kissing-only (in the absence of sex), sex-only (in the absence of kissing) and kissing-with-sex partners in the last 3 months. The mean number of each partner type was calculated, and multivariable negative binomial regression was used to investigate associations between the number of different types of partners and demographic characteristics. Results: Of the 2351 heterosexual men, men reported a mean of 2.98 kissing-only, 0.54 sex-only and 2.64 kissing-with-sex partners in the last 3 months. Younger men had a mean higher number of kissing-only partners than older men (4.52 partners among men aged ≤24 years compared with 1.75 partners among men ≥35 years, P < 0.001). Men born in Europe had the most kissing-only partners (mean: 5.16 partners) and men born in Asia had the fewest kissing-only partners (mean: 1.61 partners). Men recently arrived in Australia, including travellers from overseas, had significantly more kissing-only partners (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR): 1.53; 95% CI: 1.31–1.80) than local men. Conclusions: This study provides novel data about kissing practices of heterosexual men. Studies assessing oropharyngeal gonorrhoea should include measurements of kissing until studies can clarify its contribution to transmission risk.


Burns ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 850-854
Author(s):  
Altuğ Kut ◽  
İbrahim Tokalak ◽  
Özgür Başaran ◽  
Gökhan Moray ◽  
Mehmet Ali Haberal

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Bernhardsson ◽  
Kajsa Johansson ◽  
Per Nilsen ◽  
Birgitta Öberg ◽  
Maria E.H. Larsson

BackgroundUnderstanding of attitudes, knowledge, and behavior related to evidence-based practice (EBP) and use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines in primary care physical therapy is limited.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate self-reported attitudes, knowledge, behavior, prerequisites, and barriers related to EBP and guideline use among physical therapists in primary care and (2) to explore associations of self-reported use of guidelines with these social cognitive factors along with demographic and workplace characteristics.DesignThis was a cross-sectional survey.MethodsA web-based survey of 419 physical therapists in primary care in western Sweden was performed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with guideline use.ResultsThe response rate was 64.7%. Most respondents had positive attitudes toward EBP and guidelines: 90% considered EBP necessary, and 96% considered guidelines important. Approximately two thirds reported confidence in finding and using evidence. One third reported being aware of guidelines. Thirteen percent knew where to find guidelines, and only 9% reported having easy access to guidelines. Fewer than half reported using guidelines frequently. The most important barriers to using guidelines were lack of time, poor availability, and limited access to guidelines. Young age and brief work experience were associated with positive attitudes toward EBP. A postgraduate degree was associated with higher application of EBP. Positive attitudes, awareness of guidelines, considering guidelines to facilitate practice, and knowing how to integrate patient preferences with guideline use were associated with frequent use of guidelines.LimitationsData were self-reported, which may have increased the risk of social desirability bias.ConclusionsUse of guidelines was not as frequent as could be expected in view of the positive attitudes toward EBP and guidelines among physical therapists. Awareness of and perceived access to guidelines were limited. The identified determinants can be addressed when developing guideline implementation strategies.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 671-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila Londono-Obregon ◽  
Elizabeth Goldmuntz ◽  
Brooke T. Davey ◽  
Xuemei Zhang ◽  
Gail B. Slap ◽  
...  

AbstractPurposeCurrent guidelines recommend that patients with CHD receive age-appropriate counselling on reproduction, pregnancy, and risk of heredity. Our aim was to examine patient knowledge of reproductive health and explore the association between patient knowledge of CHD transmission risk and earlier physician counselling in adults with CHD.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional survey of patients with CHD aged 18 years and older in a paediatric hospital.ResultsOf the 100 patients who completed the questionnaire, most did not report counselling on heredity (66%) or contraception (71%). Of the 54 women, 25 (46%) identified their contraceptive options correctly; 42 (78%) women were classified as being at significantly increased risk for an adverse outcome during pregnancy, and of these 20 (48%) identified this risk correctly. Of all patients surveyed, 72% did not know that having CHD placed them at increased risk for having a child with CHD. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with correct knowledge about risk of recurrence were correct identification of CHD diagnosis (p=0.04) and patient-reported counselling (p=0.001).ConclusionsKnowledge about heredity, pregnancy risk, and contraceptive options is inadequate among adults with CHD followed-up in a paediatric subspecialty clinic. The majority of patients did not report a history of counselling about reproductive health. There is a strong correlation between history of counselling by the patient’s cardiologist and correct knowledge about recurrence risk, suggesting that effective reproductive counselling can positively impact this knowledge gap.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-23
Author(s):  
Fazidah Aguslina Siregar

Abstract Nowdays, COVID 19 is still health problem in many countries in the world including Malaysia and Indonesia. The number of confirmed cases remains high. An effort to resolve the Covid 19 problem, both Indonesian and Malaysian governments had been taken preventive strategies to break the chain of transmission through the implementation of health protocol including  using a mask, keeping a physical distance from another people at least 2 meters and washing hands as often as possible with running water. However in reality, there are many people had not implemented yet health protocol properly. This activity using cross sectional survey with the purpose of this activity was to analyze knowledge and behavior of community  in facing COVID 19  in  Malaysia and Indonesia. The results showed that in Medan, Indonesia. Out of 203 respondents, half of respondents (59.1%) had good knowledge regarding Covid 19, as much as 21.2% with fair knowledge and 19.7% had poor knowledge. While most of respondent had good practice (72.9%) and 27.9% had bad practice in applying health protocols to prevent the covid transmission. In Malaysia, out of 317 respondents aged 18 years and more, 78.9% of respondents had knowledge regarding symptoms of Covid 19, as much as 69.1% of respondents had knowledge regarding cause of the disease, 71.6% had knowledge about  transmission of the disease. Most of them (96.3%) had good practice to preventive measures for Covid 19, only 6.3% of respondent had not implemented preventive measures.  To prevent the transmission of  covid 19 in future time, it is necessary to identify knowledge and behaviour of community and then followed by  socialize regarding the disease to increased knowledge of community regarding the disease and apply new norm to prevent transmission of the disease.    


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Guan ◽  
Si-Min Dai ◽  
Jie Zhou ◽  
Xiao-Bing Ren ◽  
Zhi-Qiang Qin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Fishermen and boatmen are a risk population for contracting schistosomiasis due to their high frequency of water contact in endemic areas of schistosomiasis in the People’s Republic of China (P. R. China). To develop specific interventions towards this population, our present study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) towards schistosomiasis of fishermen and boatmen, and to identify the risk factors associated with schistosome infection using molecular technique in the selected area of Hunan Province in P.R. China.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in the Dongting Lake Basin of Yueyang County, Hunan Province, P. R. China. A total of 601 fishermen and boatmen were interviewed between October and November 2017. Information regarding socio-demographic details and KAPs towards schistosomiasis were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Fecal samples of participants were collected and tested by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the risk factors related to the positive results of PCR. Results: Of the 601 respondents, over 90% knew schistosomiasis and how the disease was contracted, the intermediate host of schistosomes and preventive methods. The majority of respondents had a positive attitude towards schistosomiasis prevention. However, only 6.66% (40/601) of respondents had installed a latrine on their boats, while 32.61% (196/601) of respondents defecated in the public toilets on shore. In addition, only 4.99% (30/601) respondents protected themselves while exposed to freshwater. The prevalence of schistosomiasis, as determined by PCR, among fishermen and boatmen in Yueyang County was 13.81% (83/601). Age, years of performing the current job, number of times receiving treatment, and whether they were treated in past three years were the main influencing factors of PCR results among this population.Conclusions: Fishermen and boatmen are still at high risk of infection in P.R. China and gaps exist in KAPs towards schistosomiasis in this population group. Chemotherapy, and health education encouraging behavior change in combination with other integrated approaches to decrease the transmission risk in environments should be improved.


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