Evaluation of West Nile Virus Education Campaign (original) (raw)
Related papers
2005
Case studies of the public health response to West Nile virus, SARS, monkeypox, and hepatitis A in seven states show that public health was challenged by risk communication issues (e.g., transmission of West Nile virus by mosquitoes versus insecticides for mosquito control). Public health officials learned that motivating behavior change among the public can be difficult even with a well-designed communications campaign. Public health made efforts during the outbreaks to target communications to high-risk populations, minorities, and vulnerable populations. The outbreaks underscored the need for "surge capacity" for providing information to hard-toreach populations and to address high demand from the public. Health officials emphasized the need for public health to "speak with one voice," to designate spokespersons, and to provide media training to key staff. Establishing relationships with the media in advance, anticipating their needs, and providing information that works within their constraints are important to using the media effectively. Improved communications with the public and the media during the outbreaks yielded significant benefits to public health departments, in terms of their increased visibility and a better understanding of public health among the public and the media.
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
During the last decade, cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) have occurred in the Emilia Romagna Region (ERR). Even though the notification rates remain relatively low, ranging from 0.06 to 1.83 cases/100,000 inhabitants, the persistent pathogen’s circulation in settings characterized by favorable environmental characteristics suggests that WNV is becoming endemic to the Po River Valley. This study assesses knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices toward WNV prevention among residents from 10 high-risk municipalities from the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia (total population: 82,317 inhabitants, census 2020). A web-based survey, based on the health belief model, was performed during the month of January 2021, with a convenience sampling of 469 participants from a series of closed discussion groups on social media (i.e., 2.1% of the potential responders). A total of 243 participants knew the meaning of WNV: Of them, 61.3% were aware of previous WNV infections in ERR, 76.5% ackno...
Limited Precision in Print Media Communication of West Nile Virus Risks
Science Communication, 2003
The emergence of West Nile virus in the United States provides an opportunity to examine the effectiveness with which the print media communicate risks associated with a specific health threat. The authors surveyed articles on West Nile virus published in major North American newspapers in the year 2000 to assess the efficacy of risk communication related to this disease. They found that articles generally presented risk information with a low degree of contextual precision; that is, information was generally more qualitative than quantitative, and quantitative information that was present generally did not provide the relative context of a denominator. Therefore, the information provided was of limited usefulness to readers, in that it was insufficient to help readers make personal decisions required to reduce overall personal risk while minimizing personal cost. Their findings suggest that there is a distinct need for the media to provide more precise information about health risks.
Public Health …, 2007
Objectives. Emerging evidence suggests that children are at higher risk for West Nile virus (WNV) exposure, but may have a lower risk for infection-related morbidity and mortality. Limited data exist regarding risk determinants of childhood WNV infection. We conducted a survey to analyze the differences between pediatric and adult behavior relevant to WNV exposure. Methods. Residents of participating sampled households responded to a questionnaire that measured knowledge, attitudes, personal protective behaviors, and clinical history to evaluate the association between personal behavior and exposure to WNV. Results. Children were more likely to have high levels of outdoor exposure compared to adults (83% vs. 70%). Children were less likely to avoid going outdoors (4% vs. 13%) and to wear long sleeves or pants compared to adults (8% vs. 19%). Both groups were highly educated about WNV. Television, not health-care provider education, was the most common source of WNV information. Participants were more concerned about WNV infection than pesticide usage. Conclusions. Our study demonstrates that children exhibit behaviors that could put them at greater risk for WNV infection and suggests that children could benefit from greater education about practices that can decrease WNV exposure to limit their risk for infection.
Characterizing the acceptability of a vaccine for West Nile virus by public health practitioners
Vaccine, 2010
This study examines health care personnel's knowledge of West Nile virus (WNv) and attitudes towards a proposed chimeric yellow fever/WNv vaccine within the province of Saskatchewan. Telephone and in-person interviews with medical health officers and public health nurses provided information with which to assess the acceptability of implementing vaccination as a component for prevention of WNv within the province with the highest number of WNv cases to date in western Canada. The majority of health care professionals felt confident in the potential efficacy of vaccination for prevention of WNv but suggested that targeted vaccination programs could be most effective.
Protective Behavior Survey, West Nile Virus, British Columbia
Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2004
We investigated personal protective behaviors against West Nile virus infection. Barriers to adopting these behaviors were identified, including the perception that DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide and related compounds) is a health and environmental hazard. Televised public health messages and knowing that family or friends practiced protective behaviors were important cues to action.
Dengue Awareness Campaigns in the Media: A Study on Selangor Residents’ Perception
2016
This research sought to fulfill three (3) objectives; 1. To study the audiences’ perception towards the dengue awareness campaigns based on the visual content in the campaign, 2. To study the audiences’ perception towards the dengue awareness campaigns based on the verbal content in the campaign, and 3. To study the audiences’ perception towards the dengue awareness campaigns based on the type of media used for the campaign. This research is a combination of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (in-depth interview) method based on a non-probability sampling (purposive sampling) of 738 respondents from three (3) areas in Selangor namely Shah Alam (269 respondents), Subang Jaya (199 respondents) and Petaling Jaya (270 respondents) and six (6) informants of which two (2) from each area. These respondents and informants were chosen based on the following criteria; 1. Malaysian citizens, 2. Selangor residents (more than 5 yearsof residency and aged from 25 years old to 50 years old). Th...
Parasites & Vectors, 2015
Background: The current study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of at-risk populations for malaria and/or dengue fever in relation to mosquito exposure and household mosquito control practices. Specific objectives included comparison of individual and household level health practices between a rural and urban setting in Thailand. Findings are intended to guide Thailand Ministry of Health educational campaigns targeting arthropod-borne disease. Methods: A mixed method design was employed using a forced choice and open-ended questionnaire to assess KAP of participants seeking point-of-care treatment for malaria and/or dengue fever at government health-care facilities. Following informed consent, household construction characterization (percent eave gap, floor, wall, and roof material) and mosquito collections both indoors (using aspiration) and outside (using traps) were conducted at a subsample of participant homes. All mosquitoes were identified to genus and anopheline and aedine samples processed for potential pathogen infection. Results: A total of 64 participants were recruited from both study sites; 62 categorized as malaria symptomology and 2 categorized as dengue across all study healthcare facilities. Significant associations between study site and household construction were indicated. Trends also identified household level practices and both occupation and household construction regarding type of mosquito control products purchased and the abundance of mosquitoes in sampled homes.