The knowledge, attitudes and practices of wintersun vacationers to the Gambia toward prevention of malaria: is it really that bad?

Malaria Journal

Research

Paul GH Mulder¹  Perry JJ van Genderen²  David Overbosch³ 

[1] Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus University Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Institute for Tropical Diseases, Havenziekenhuis, Haringvliet 72, 3011, Rotterdam, TG, The Netherlands;Travel Clinic Havenziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;Travel Clinic Havenziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;

关键词: Malaria;    Traveller;    Travel;    Risk;    Knowledge;    Attitude;    Practice;    KAP;    VFR;    Gambia;    Tourist;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2875-13-74

 received in 2014-02-19, accepted in 2014-02-23,  发布年份 2014

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEach year clusters of imported malaria cases are observed in Dutch wintersun vacationers returning from The Gambia. To gain more insight in the travel health preparation and awareness of these travellers, the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of this travel group was studied by analysing the data of the Continuous Dutch Schiphol Airport Survey.MethodsIn the years 2002 to 2009 a questionnaire-based survey was conducted at the Dutch Schiphol Airport with the aim to study the KAP, i.e. accuracy of risk perception (“knowledge”), intended risk-avoiding behaviour (“attitude”) and use of personal protective measures and malaria chemoprophylaxis (“practice”) toward prevention malaria in travellers to The Gambia. Travellers to other high-risk destinations served as controls.ResultsThe KAP of travellers to The Gambia toward prevention of malaria was significantly better than that observed in other travellers. Trend analyses indicated that attitude improved over time in both groups but knowledge did not change. Only in travellers to high-risk countries other than The Gambia significant increases in protection rates were observed over time.ConclusionsThe KAP of travellers to The Gambia toward prevention of malaria was better than that observed in travellers to destinations other than The Gambia. Trend analyses revealed a significant improvement of intended risk avoiding behaviour but not in protection rates or risk perception.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© van Genderen et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014