1. An Analysis of Leptospirosis Control in a Flood-Affected Region of Kerala and the Role of Accredited Social Health Activists – A Questionnaire Study
- Author
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Ramanarayanan Subramaniam, M K Sreelakshmi, Ramanarayanan Venkitachalam, Pooja Latti, and Suneesh Kuruvilla
- Subjects
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ,030231 tropical medicine ,Population ,Asha ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Humans ,Medicine ,Leptospirosis ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Social determinants of health ,education ,education.field_of_study ,Flood myth ,business.industry ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Outbreak ,medicine.disease ,Floods ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Sample size determination ,Observational study ,business ,Demography - Abstract
Background:Chengannur, a town in the south Indian state of Kerala, was 1 of the worst affected towns during the floods of 2018. Post-flood, Kerala state was under the threat of many infectious diseases including leptospirosis, but did not report any leptospirosis infections.Objectives:This study was conducted with the following objectives: (1) Assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the prevention of leptospirosis among the flood affected population and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) of Chengannur; and (2) Analyze the factors responsible for and contributing to leptospirosis control in the area post flood.Methodology:A cross-sectional questionnaire based observational study was conducted among 2 groups: the flood affected population, and ASHA. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts. Part A contained the socio-demographic information. Part B contained questions on assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the prevention, and control of leptospirosis. Part C was only for the ASHA involved.Results:The final sample size was 331 (244 from the general population and 87 ASHAs). With respect to knowledge, attitude, and practice, the responses were dichotomized into correct and wrong responses. The mean knowledge score was 9.01 ± 1.08 (maximum score of 10), mean attitude score was of 3.61 ± 0.55 (maximum score of 4) and the mean practice score was 4.12 ± 1.05 (maximum score of 5).Conclusion:Knowledge and attitude scores did not significantly differ between the general population and ASHA, but the practice score showed a higher score among the ASHA, all of which could have probably contributed to the prevention of a leptospirosis outbreak in the region.
- Published
- 2021
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