Q fever in the Netherlands: public perceptions and behavioral responses in three different epidemiological regions: a follow-up study

BMC Public Health

Hélène Voeten¹  Jan Hendrik Richardus¹  Clementine Wijkmans²  Desirée Beaujean³  Marloes Bults¹ 

[1] Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 Rotterdam, CA, The Netherlands;Municipal Public Health Service “Hart voor Brabant”, P.O. Box 3166, 5203 DD ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands;National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1, 3720 Bilthoven, BA, The Netherlands

关键词: risk communication;    General public;    Behavioral responses;    Risk perception;    Q fever;    Zoonotic infections;   

Others  :  1131878
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-263

 received in 2013-07-02, accepted in 2014-03-14,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Over the past years, Q fever has become a major public health problem in the Netherlands, with a peak of 2,357 human cases in 2009. In the first instance, Q fever was mainly a local problem of one province with a high density of large dairy goat farms, but in 2009 an alarming increase of Q fever cases was observed in adjacent provinces. The aim of this study was to identify trends over time and regional differences in public perceptions and behaviors, as well as predictors of preventive behavior regarding Q fever.

Methods

One cross-sectional survey (2009) and two follow-up surveys (2010, 2012) were performed. Adults, aged ≥18 years, that participated in a representative internet panel were invited (survey 1, n = 1347; survey 2, n = 1249; survey 3, n = 1030).

Results

Overall, public perceptions and behaviors regarding Q fever were consistent with the trends over time in the numbers of new human Q fever cases in different epidemiological regions and the amount of media attention focused on Q fever in the Netherlands. However, there were remarkably low levels of perceived vulnerability and perceived anxiety, particularly in the region of highest incidence, where three-quarters of the total cases occurred in 2009. Predictors of preventive behavior were being female, older aged, having Q fever themselves or someone in their household, more knowledge, and higher levels of perceived severity, anxiety and (self-) efficacy.

Conclusions

During future outbreaks of (zoonotic) infectious diseases, it will be important to instil a realistic sense of vulnerability by providing the public with accurate information on the risk of becoming infected. This should be given in addition to information about the severity of the disease, the efficacy of measures, and instructions for minimising infection risk with appropriate, feasible preventative measures. Furthermore, public information should be adapted to regional circumstances.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Bults et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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