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

Author

Listed:
  • Noramira Nozmi

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Suhailah Samsudin

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Surianti Sukeri

    (Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Nazri Shafei

    (Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia)

  • Wan Mohd Zahiruddin Wan Mohd

    (Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia)

  • Zawaha Idris

    (Health Promotion Unit, Penang State Health Department, Floor 7, Bangunan Persekutuan, Jalan Anson, Penang 10400, Malaysia)

  • Wan Nor Arifin

    (Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia)

  • Norazlin Idris

    (Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia)

  • Siti Nor Sakinah Saudi

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Nurul Munirah Abdullah

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Zainudin Abdul Wahab

    (Health Department of Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya, Jalan Cenderasari, Kuala Lumpur 50590, Malaysia)

  • Tengku Zetty Maztura Tengku Jamaluddin

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Hejar Abd Rahman

    (Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Siti Norbaya Masri

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Aziah Daud

    (Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia)

  • Malina Osman

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

  • Rukman Awang Hamat

    (Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor 43400, Malaysia)

Abstract

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 < 0.05). As for attitudes, ethnicity, income and education type were significantly associated ( 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Noramira Nozmi & Suhailah Samsudin & Surianti Sukeri & Mohd Nazri Shafei & Wan Mohd Zahiruddin Wan Mohd & Zawaha Idris & Wan Nor Arifin & Norazlin Idris & Siti Nor Sakinah Saudi & Nurul Munirah Abdull, 2018. "Low Levels of Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices on Leptospirosis among a Rural Community in Hulu Langat District, Selangor, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:693-:d:139848
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joseph Arbiol & Pedcris M. Orencio & November Romena & Hisako Nomura & Yoshifumi Takahashi & Mitsuyasu Yabe, 2016. "Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Leptospirosis among Lakeshore Communities of Calamba and Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-12, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Surianti Sukeri & Wan Mohd Zahiruddin & Mohd Nazri Shafei & Rukman Awang Hamat & Malina Osman & Tengku Zetty Maztura Tengku Jamaluddin & Aziah Binti Daud, 2020. "Perceived Severity and Susceptibility towards Leptospirosis Infection in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Nurul Natasya Azhari & Rosliza Abdul Manaf & Shing Wei Ng & Siti Farhana Bajunid Shakeeb Arsalaan Bajunid & Abdul Rahman Mohd Gobil & Wan Zuhainis Saad & Syafinaz Amin Nordin, 2019. "Gamification, a Successful Method to Foster Leptospirosis Knowledge among University Students: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Suhailah Samsudin & Sakinah N.S. Saudi & Norbaya S. Masri & Nur Raihana Ithnin & Jamaluddin T.Z.M.T & Rukman A. Hamat & Zahiruddin W.M. Wan Mohd & Mohd S. Nazri & Sukeri Surianti & Aziah B. Daud & Mun, 2020. "Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practice of Leptospirosis Among Healthy Malaysian and Non-Malaysian Wet Market Workers in Selected Urban Areas in Selangor, Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-13, February.

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