| Autor: |
Shafie NJ; 1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia., Abdul Halim NS; 1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia., Nor Zalipah M; 1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia., Mohd Amin NAZ; 1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia., Syed Esa SM; 1Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia., Md-Nor S; 2School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia., Casanovas-Massana A; 3Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut., Ko AI; 3Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut.; 5Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil., Palma F; 4Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, UFBA, Salvador, Brazil., Neves Souza F; 4Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, UFBA, Salvador, Brazil., Costa F; 3Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut.; 4Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, UFBA, Salvador, Brazil.; 5Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. |
| Abstrakt: |
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease and a worldwide public health problem that affects mainly high-risk groups. Characterizing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among high-risk groups is important to develop appropriate prevention programs. Here, we performed a cross-sectional study among 300 visitors of a recreational forest in Malaysia to examine leptospirosis KAP and demographics. These variables were integrated to create knowledge and practice scores for each respondent. All respondents had heard about leptospirosis, and 87% of them correctly identified it as a disease. The majority of respondents had high knowledge (63%), positive attitude, and good practice (68%) toward prevention of the disease. However, there were gaps in knowledge, with 78% of the respondents indicating eating without washing hands as the major cause of leptospirosis transmission. Our final model identified that higher knowledge score was associated with higher practice score. Our results indicate that it is important to increase knowledge, especially on transmission routes of leptospirosis, among visitors in recreational areas. Moreover, more attention needs to be paid to promote good practice habits among visitors, targeting those at higher risk of being infected by leptospirosis to prevent potential outbreaks in the recreational areas. |
