Trends in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of travel risk groups towards prevention of malaria: results from the Dutch Schiphol Airport Survey 2002 to 2009

Malaria Journal

Research

Paul GH Mulder¹  Pieter PAM van Thiel²  Perry JJ van Genderen³  David Overbosch³ 

[1] Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine and Center for Infection and Immunity Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Harbor Hospital and Institute for Tropical Diseases, Haringvliet 72, 3011 TG, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Travel Clinic Havenziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;

关键词: Malaria;    Traveller;    Travel;    Risk;    Knowledge;    Attitude;    Practice;    KAP;    VFR;    Business;    Solo;    Single;    Elderly;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2875-11-179

 received in 2012-01-23, accepted in 2012-05-29,  发布年份 2012

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPrevious studies investigating the travellers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) profile indicated an important educational need among those travelling to risk destinations. Initiatives to improve such education should target all groups of travellers, including business travellers, those visiting friends and relatives (VFRs), and elderly travellers.MethodsIn the years 2002 to 2009, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted at the Dutch Schiphol Airport with the aim to study trends in KAP of travel risk groups towards prevention of malaria. The risk groups last-minute travellers, solo-travellers, business travellers, VFRs and elderly travellers were specifically studied.ResultsA total of 3,045 respondents were included in the survey. Travellers to destinations with a high risk for malaria had significantly more accurate risk perceptions (knowledge) than travellers to low-risk destinations. The relative risk for malaria in travellers to high-risk destinations was probably mitigated by higher protection rates against malaria as compared with travellers to low risk destinations. There were no significant differences in intended risk-taking behaviour. Trend analyses showed a significant change over time in attitude towards more risk-avoiding behaviour and towards higher protection rates against malaria in travellers to high-risk destinations. The KAP profile of last-minute travellers substantially increased their relative risk for malaria, which contrasts to the slight increase in relative risk of solo travellers, business travellers and VFRs for malaria.ConclusionsThe results of this sequential cohort survey in Dutch travellers suggest an annual 1.8% increase in protection rates against malaria coinciding with an annual 2.5% decrease in intended risk-seeking behaviour. This improvement may reflect the continuous efforts of travel health advice providers to create awareness and to propagate safe and healthy travel. The KAP profile of last-minute travellers, in particular, substantially increased their relative risk for malaria, underlining the continuous need for personal protective measures and malaria chemoprophylaxis for this risk group.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© van Genderen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2012