Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan.
<h4>Objective</h4>This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture regarding tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and preventive strategies.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270411 |
| _version_ | 1818193113307414528 |
|---|---|
| author | Taichi Narita Hansani Madushika Abeywickrama Marcello Otake Sato Kozo Watanabe Reiko Arai Tsutomu Tamura Megumi Sato |
| author_facet | Taichi Narita Hansani Madushika Abeywickrama Marcello Otake Sato Kozo Watanabe Reiko Arai Tsutomu Tamura Megumi Sato |
| author_sort | Taichi Narita |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Objective</h4>This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture regarding tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and preventive strategies.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted to assess the KAP of the community.<h4>Results</h4>In total, 186 responses were received. Among the respondents, 130 (69·9%) were men, and the mean age was 51.1 (14·3). Nine (4·8%) respondents reported having experienced tick bites. Of the respondents, 44 (23.7%) knew about both scrub typhus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, while 156 (83·9%) and 71 (38·2%) recognized limiting skin exposure and use of insect repellents as preventive measures, respectively. The attitudes towards TBDs: being worried about tick bites (p = 0·018) and interested in preventing TBDs (p = 0·001), were significantly higher among women than men. About 75% of the respondents reported taking preventive measures against tick bites, and limiting skin exposure was the most frequently applied method (69·9%). Insect repellents were used by 58 (31·2%) respondents. Age (p = 0·049), being worried about tick bites (p = 0·046), and knowledge of ticks score (p = 0·024) were the significant independent predictors of practicing countermeasures.<h4>Conclusion</h4>We identified gaps in knowledge and practices regarding TBDs. Public health interventions should be implemented to improve public awareness of TBDs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:41:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-82b1dc57572041da8a371cbf45086186 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:41:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-82b1dc57572041da8a371cbf450861862022-12-22T00:44:14ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01176e027041110.1371/journal.pone.0270411Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan.Taichi NaritaHansani Madushika AbeywickramaMarcello Otake SatoKozo WatanabeReiko AraiTsutomu TamuraMegumi Sato<h4>Objective</h4>This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture regarding tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and preventive strategies.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted to assess the KAP of the community.<h4>Results</h4>In total, 186 responses were received. Among the respondents, 130 (69·9%) were men, and the mean age was 51.1 (14·3). Nine (4·8%) respondents reported having experienced tick bites. Of the respondents, 44 (23.7%) knew about both scrub typhus and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, while 156 (83·9%) and 71 (38·2%) recognized limiting skin exposure and use of insect repellents as preventive measures, respectively. The attitudes towards TBDs: being worried about tick bites (p = 0·018) and interested in preventing TBDs (p = 0·001), were significantly higher among women than men. About 75% of the respondents reported taking preventive measures against tick bites, and limiting skin exposure was the most frequently applied method (69·9%). Insect repellents were used by 58 (31·2%) respondents. Age (p = 0·049), being worried about tick bites (p = 0·046), and knowledge of ticks score (p = 0·024) were the significant independent predictors of practicing countermeasures.<h4>Conclusion</h4>We identified gaps in knowledge and practices regarding TBDs. Public health interventions should be implemented to improve public awareness of TBDs.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270411 |
| spellingShingle | Taichi Narita Hansani Madushika Abeywickrama Marcello Otake Sato Kozo Watanabe Reiko Arai Tsutomu Tamura Megumi Sato Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan. PLoS ONE |
| title | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan. |
| title_full | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan. |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan. |
| title_short | Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding tick-borne diseases among an at-risk population living in Niigata prefecture, Japan. |
| title_sort | knowledge attitudes and practices regarding tick borne diseases among an at risk population living in niigata prefecture japan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270411 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT taichinarita knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan AT hansanimadushikaabeywickrama knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan AT marcellootakesato knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan AT kozowatanabe knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan AT reikoarai knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan AT tsutomutamura knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan AT megumisato knowledgeattitudesandpracticesregardingtickbornediseasesamonganatriskpopulationlivinginniigataprefecturejapan |