Publication: Awareness Regarding Preventive Measures of Avian Influ- enza Among the Adult People of Thimi Municipality, Nepal
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Avian influenza is considered as a threat to global public health. Prevention and
control depends on the awareness of the general population as well as high risk-
groups. The avian influenza should be viewed more seriously because it may lead
to pandemic influenza when the virus mutates its strain with the common human
influenza. Thus, this study aims to explore the awareness regarding preventive
measures of avian influenza among the adult population of Thimi Municipality.
Objective
The objective of this study was to explore awareness regarding preventive measures
of avian influenza among the adult population of Thimi Municipality.
Methods
It is a cross-sectional, population based study. It was carried out in Thimi
Municipality from May 15 to June 15, 2012. Pre tested structured questionnaire
was used for face to face interview with randomly selected 250 subjects.
Results
Out of 250 subjects, 123 (49.2 %) were males. The mean age of subjects was 36
± 11.8 year. Among total subjects, 94.4 percent had heard about avian influenza.
The main source of information was television (94.1%). Majority of subjects (84.9
%) thought that keeping infected birds and poultry as the mode of transmission
followed by eating not well cooked poultry meat (82.8 %). Out of total study
subjects, 165 (66.0 percent) mentioned fever and 138 (55.2 percent) thought
fatigue as the signs and symptoms. As for knowledge about preventive measures,
majority (85.6%) stated that cleaning the surfaces that had come in contact with
the poultry could prevent the disease and 83.2 % had knowledge that the infection
could be prevented by washing hands with soap and water after poultry handling.
Awareness regarding preventive measures was found significantly low in females,
middle adults, illiterates, and house wives.
Conclusion
The awareness regarding avian influenza was quite satisfactory among the adult
people of Thimi Municipality. However level of awareness was seen lower in female,
illiterate and middle adult. So that along with large scale mass education, there
should be specific health education program for the specific group of population.
KEY WORDS
Awareness, avian influenza, preventive measures
Description
Manandhar K,1 Chataut J,1 Khanal K,1 Shrestha A,2 Shrestha S,3 Shrestha S4
1Department of Community Medicine
2B Sc Nurse
3Public Health Officer, Department Community Health
4Community Nursing
Dhulikhel Hospital-Katmandu University Hospital
Katmandu University School of Medical Sciences Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal