Evaluation of students’Knowledge, Attitude and Practice in Relation to Preventive Strategies against Leishmaniasis in the Hyperendemic Region of Shahid Babaie Airbase

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine And Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of community Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of community Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

5 Associate Professor, Skin Disease and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan And Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6 General Practitioner, Shahid Babaie Airbase Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

7 Associate Professor, Department of Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Shahid Babaie airbase is one of the most important centers of leishmaniasis in Isfahan province. It has been suggested that the training of high risk communities about preventive methods is one of the most effective strategies against leishmaniasis. Regarding the higher incidence rates of the disease among the youth and their sensitivity to the infection, we decided to examine the knowledge, attitude and practice of guidance and high school students in relation to preventive strategies in that region. We also aim to provide training programs to improve preventive behaviors against leishmaniasis in the next phase of the project.Methods: The target population of this cross-sectional study was the students of guidance and high schools in Shahid Babaie Airbase region of Isfahan. Sampling was done by consensus method. The questionnaires consisted of items about knowledge, attitude and practice which were categorized into 3 grades (weak, intermediate and strong) on the basis of collected scores. The questionnaires were filled out during personal interviews.Findings: From 450 subjects enrolled, 245 were high school (126 males and 119 females) and 215 were guidance school (91 males and 124 females) students. Mean knowledge score was 17.47 (score range: 0-30) which corresponds to intermediate grade. Mean attitude score was 37 (score range: 13-52) which corresponds to the intermediate grade. Finally and corresponding to a weak grade, their mean practice score was 1.8 (score range: 0-6). Attitude and knowledge showed statistically significant correlation with gender with higher scores in female students. Specific knowledge about leishmaniasis symptoms, carriers and reservoirs were higher than the knowledge about preventive methods. Our results showed that 47.2% of students believed in “fortune” in getting the infection. Although 97.9% of students knew that sand-fly is the carrier, only 28.6% knew what exactly the sand-fly is. Conclusion: Increasing knowledge by giving direct and face to face training to students (the high risk community), teachers and mothers who have a significant role in changing the behavior of the youth is essential. In conclusion, improved knowledge will result in the promotion of the attitude level and especially the behavior of the students to prevent leishmaniasis.

Keywords

References

  1. World Health Organization. Leishmaniasis control Report by the Secretariat, Sixty-Third World Health Assembly. Provisional agenda item 11.13; 2010.
  2. WHO. Leshmaniasis, the progress for surveillance and control of leishmaniasis. Geneva, Switzerland: OMS; 2001.
  3. World Health Organization. Control of the leishmaniases. Report of a WHO expert committee. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1990.
  4. Nilforoushzadeh MA, Sadeghian G. Cutaneous Leishmaniosis. Isfahan, Iran: Oroj; 2002.
  5. Desjeux P. The increase in risk factors for leishmaniasis worldwide. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2001; 95(3): 239-43.
  6. Doroudgar A, Tashakkor Z. Effect of education on teachers' knowledge towards leshmaniasis in Kashan. Feyz 2003; 7(3): 57-63.
  7. Ewles L, Simnett I. Promoting Health: A Practical Guide. 2nd ed. London, England: Scutari Press; 1992.
  8. Vazquez ML, Kroeger A, Lipowsky R, Alzate A. Popular conceptions regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia and their applicability in control programs. Bol Oficina Sanit Panam 1991; 110(5): 402-12. [In Spanish].
  9. Mazloumi S. Knowledge, attitude and performance of mothers toward cutaneous leishmaniasisin in Yazd endemic areas. [Thesis]. Tehran, Iran: Tarbiat Modares Uinversity; 2008. [In Persian].
  10. Leishmaniasis report. Isfahan, Iran: Isfahan Health Center No. 1; 2006. [In Persian].
  11. Pardo RH, Carvajal A, Ferro C, Davies CR. Effect of knowledge and economic status on sandfly control activities by householders at risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the subandean region of Huila department, Colombia. Biomedica 2006; 26(Suppl1): 167-79.
  12. Koirala S, Parija SC, Karki P, Das ML. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about kala-azar and its sandfly vector in rural communities of Nepal. Bull World Health Organ 1998; 76(5): 485-90.
  13. Niknami Sh, Nadim A, Shojaezadeh D, Hajizadeh E, Shafii F. Study of the knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers about Kala-azar in the rural communities of endemic area of Meshkin-Shahr. Iranian Journal of Public Health 1995; 24(1-2): 15-24.
  14. Nadim A, Seyedi-Rashti MA. A brief review of the epidemiology of various types of leishmaniasis in Iran. Acta Medica Iranica 1971; 8: 99-106.
  15. Tashakori M, Ajdary S, Kariminia A, Mahboudi F, Alimohammadian MH. Characterization of Leishmania Species and L. major Strains in Different Endemic Areas of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran. Iranian Biomedical Journal 2003; 7(2): 43-50.
  16. Singh SP, Reddy DC, Mishra RN, Sundar S. Knowledge, attitude, and practices related to Kala-azar in a rural area of Bihar state, India. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2006; 75(3): 505-8.
  17. Bern C, Joshi AB, Jha SN, Das ML, Hightower A, Thakur GD, et al. Factors associated with visceral leishmaniasis in Nepal: bed-net use is strongly protective. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2000; 63(3-4): 184-8.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 29, Issue 173 - Serial Number 173
November and December 2012
Pages 1962-2970

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 12 March 2012
  • Revise Date: 30 April 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics