Eurosurveillance
Volume 20, Issue 33, 2015

Malaria knowledge, attitudes and practices among migrants from malaria-endemic countries in evrotas, Laconia, Greece, 2013 (Article) (Open Access)

Evlampidou I. , Danis K. , Lenglet A. , Tseroni M. , Theocharopoulos Y. , Panagiotopoulos T.
  • a Field Epidemiology Service, Public Health England, Bristol, United Kingdom, European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
  • b European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (Institut de Veille Sanitaire, InVS), Saint-Maurice, France
  • c Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP), Athens, Greece
  • e Independent scholar, Athens, Greece
  • f National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece

Abstract

Following re-emergence of malaria in Evrotas, Laconia, in 2009-12, a malaria-control programme was implemented in 2011-12 targeting migrants from malaria- endemic countries, including house-to-house active case detection, health education and distribution of mosquito protection items. In June 2013, we surveyed migrants in Evrotas to assess their malaria knowledge, attitudes and practices to guide prevention activities. We selected participants using simple random sampling and interviewed them, using structured questionnaires. We defined mosquito protection practices (MPPs) as the use of full-length clothes/topical repellent, mosquito screens, fans or air-conditioning, and insecticides. We calculated prevalence ratios (PRs) using Poisson regression and we allowed for clustering of participants in a residence. Of 654 migrants, we invited 132 and 130 participated (all men; 120 (92%) from Pakistan). Of the 130, 56 (43%) identified fever as a malaria symptom; those who were aware of this had higher level of education (PR: 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-9.0). A total of 111 (85%) used insecticide-treated bednets and 95 (73%) used more than two MPPs. Poor housing conditions (warehouses/ shacks: PR: 0.8; 95% CI: 0.6-0.9), were associated with use of up to two MPPs. Despite extensive interventions in Evrotas, the level of malaria awareness among migrants remained suboptimal and poor housing conditions hindered effective mosquito protection. We recommend culturally adapted health education and improvement of housing conditions to minimise the risk of new cases and re-establishment of malaria in Greece. © 2015, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

information processing regression analysis demography human middle aged statistics and numerical data Malaria mosquito housing morbidity Health Surveys procedures Residence Characteristics interview disease surveillance Young Adult Humans Adolescent Interviews as Topic male female Socioeconomic Factors risk factor socioeconomics Greece questionnaire prevalence Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article disease transmission disease control Questionnaires adult fever migration health education utilization Mosquito Control disease severity bed net Transients and Migrants Insecticide-Treated Bednets attitude to health public health health care delivery health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84940180181&doi=10.2807%2f1560-7917.ES2015.20.33.21208&partnerID=40&md5=2aef56a297fe140d6a8fd2f604c35eb5
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES2015.20.33.21208
ISSN: 1025496X
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English