Low Levels of Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices on Leptospirosis among a Rural Community in Hulu Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia

Bibliographic Data

ID15504149
AuthorsNoramira Nozmi (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Suhailah Samsudin (0000-0003-4299-8676, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Surianti Sukeri (0000-0003-0974-7074, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Mohd Nazri Shafei (0000-0002-7023-9717, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Wan Wan Mohd (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Zawaha Idris (RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus), Wan Nor Arifin (0000-0001-7786-4251, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Wan Arifin (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Norazlin Idris (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Siti Nor Sakinah Saudi (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Siti Saudi (0000-0003-0115-5912, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Nurul Fadhilah Abdullah (0000-0002-9816-629X, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Nurul Abdullah (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Zainudin Abdul Wahab (Ministry of Health), Tengku Zetty Maztura Tengku Jamaluddin (0000-0002-8269-5699, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Hejar Abd Rahman (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Siti Norbaya Masri (0000-0001-5979-1968, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Siti Masri (Universiti Putra Malaysia), Aziah Daud (0000-0002-2706-1175, Universiti Sains Malaysia), Malina Osman (0000-0001-5591-3315, Universiti Putra Malaysia), Rukman Awang Hamat (0000-0001-6288-3791, Universiti Putra Malaysia, corresponding author)
Year2018
Volume15
Issue4
Pages693-693
Publication date2018-04-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph15040693
PMID29642390
OpenAlexW2795824576
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited42

Little is known on the knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices (KAP) of leptospirosis worldwide. This study embarked on assessing the KAP of leptospirosis among rural communities in Malaysia. A total of 444 participants (223 male; 221 female) aged between 18 and 81 years old were surveyed by using a self-administered questionnaire. A majority of participants had poor knowledge level (57.0%), unacceptable attitudes (90.3%) and unacceptable preventive practices (69.1%) on leptospirosis, and only 29.7% knew "rat-urine disease" as leptospirosis. Only 34.2% of the participants knew the bacteria could enter via wound lesions. Ethnicity and income were strongly associated with knowledge level and preventive practices, respectively ( p -values p -values < 0.05). Only 36.5% of the participants were willing to see a doctor and did not mind if their house or surrounding area is dirty (59.7%). Surprisingly, only 32.9% had used rubber boots during floods. By logistic regression analysis, ethnicity was the only significant predictor for both knowledge level (an odds ratio (AOR) = 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.222-0.680) and preventive practices (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.204-2.734). Ethnicity (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.239-0.665), income (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.041-2.385) and education type (AOR = 3.69, 95% CI = 1.237-10.986) were strong predictors for attitudes. Among the KAP variables, attitude (AOR = 4.357, 95% CI = 2.613-7.264) was the only predictor for the preventive practices by logistic regression analysis. The KAP elements on leptospirosis are still lacking and poor health seeking behavior and attitudes are of our utmost concern. Thus, effective strategies should be planned to impart knowledge, and develop proactive approaches and good preventive modules on leptospirosis to this leptospirosis-prone community

Confidence interval · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Family medicine · Leptospirosis · Logistic regression · Odds ratio · Rural area · Veterinary medicine · Demography · Leptospirosis research and findings · Medicine · Viral Infections and Vectors · Epidemiology · Internal Medicine

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