Abstract

A COMMUNITY BASED STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE ON LEPTOSPIROSIS AND ITS PREVENTION IN SOUTH INDIA

Chitra C. Nair*, Aleena Roy, Asheeta A., Hima C. S., Beena M. I. and Najiya N.

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection acquired from contact through skin, mucosa or conjunctiva with water or soil polluted with the urine or faeces of diseased animals. It is of concern in Thiruvananthapuram as flooding is more common during heavy rainfall. The present study intends to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) among selected risk group people living in and around Thiruvananthapuram district. A cross sectional observational study was carried out for a period of three months in people between the age group of 18-80 years. A self-administered questionnaire was used as study tool. Total sample size was 200, out of which 181 participants responded with a response rate of 90.5%. According to the study, 64.64% respondents are aware that leptospirosis is caused by rats. More than half of participants know that contact with rat urine can lead to the disease condition, but most of them are ignorant of the different modes of transmission. 61.87% participants know that fever is the main symptom, but do not know all signs and symptoms of the disease. Majority are unaware of the various factors to prevent the disease. Most of participants have high attitude towards leptospirosis prevention. Regarding practice, 96.6% do not use any type of protection while handling waste. The study outcome reveals that, even though most of respondents have high attitude in disease prevention, their knowledge level and practice are less than optimum, which necessitates interventions directed at the personal and household levels to lessen threat of leptospirosis.

Keywords: Leptospirosis, KAP, Flooding, Zoonotic infection.