Knowledge and attitude about Seasonal Influenza in Clients visiting Primary Health Centers in Baghdad
Pages : 38-43Download PDF
Background: Influenza is a major human pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality and it is the most frequent cause of death from a vaccine-preventable disease. The best opportunity for reducing the impact of influenza virus infection and subsequent morbidity and mortality in the human population remains influenza immunization.
Objectives: 1- To assess knowledge and attitude about seasonal influenza (symptoms and preventive measures)
2-To explore knowledge and attitude about influenza vaccine in clients attending primary health centers
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out during the period between 1st February and 30th June 2015at four primary health center in Baghdad. A total of 323 participants were included. Health care centers visitors who were under age 15 years old and who refused to participate and those who didn’t complete the questionnaire were excluded. Data were collected by using direct interviewing, questionnaire about symptom of influenza, mode of transmission , preventive measures ,treatment and questions about taking the vaccine and cause of taken or not taken the vaccine.
Results: 55.1% belonged to the age 25 – 44 years. Female participants were dominant, that most of participant knew the common symptom of influenza like nasal discharge 79.6%, fever 78% and fatigue 73.1% and the majority of participants (92.3%) correctly identified that avoid direct contact with sick person as a method of prevention of influenza, and70(21.7%) of them did receive the vaccine .The most common cause of not being vaccinated in the study sample was that they did not know there is a vaccine against influenza(58.5%) and only 22.9% of the study sample knew that the vaccine can be given to children after 6 month of age.
Conclusion and recommendation: We found that more than two third of participants knew that nasal discharge and fatigue and fever are a symptom of flu and avoiding direct contact with sick people and avoid using patient tool as a preventive measure. Yet, only 21% of the study sample took the vaccine as preventive measure.
We recommend reinforcing the education and training program and enhancing vaccination coverage.
Keywords: Influenza, Human pathogen etc.