Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Zika Virus Infection in a Rural Indian Community: A Cross-sectional Survey

Sreelakshmi PR; Gurav YK; Jadhav U; Abraham P

Sreelakshmi PR Scientist-D, Medical Entomology and Zoology group, ICMR- National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra.
Gurav YK Scientist-F and Group Leader, Health Technology Assessment Group, ICMR- National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra.
Jadhav U MBBS, DPH, Taluka Health Officer, Purander, Pune, Maharashtra.
Abraham P Ex-Director, ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, Maharashtra and Professor, Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Keywords: Zika Infection, Zika Virus, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice, Outbreak, Rural Community, India

Abstract

Background: In recent years Zika virus outbreaks have been reported from different parts of India. It is essential to understand the community’s level of awareness and behaviour with regard to Zika infection to devise effective preventive and control measures.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the adult residents of Belsar village, a rural community in Maharashtra state where a Zika case was confirmed. The Knowledge Attitude and Practices of the residents in relation to Zika virus infection were assessed using a questionnaire adapted from the WHO’s resource pack on KAP studies for Zika viral disease. Composite scores were calculated for each domain. The mean score was considered the cut-off for determining good knowledge, attitude and practice. Factors associated with good scores of KAP were assessed using chi-square and binary logistic regression analysis.
Results: Two hundred and eighty-five adult individuals were surveyed with a mean (SD) age of forty-two years. Less than half of the population had good knowledge and practice levels. Only one-third of the population had the right attitude towards the prevention of Zika infection. Most of the participants received information through campaigns conducted by the local government. Knowledge scores were significantly correlated with attitude and practice scores. Younger age and higher education emerged as significant factors for good knowledge.
Conclusion: This community’s knowledge attitude and practice regarding Zika virus infection call for improvement. Community-based health education activities regarding such viral infections must be undertaken under the leadership of local governments.
How to cite this article:
Sreelakshmi PR, Gurav YK, Jadhav U, Abraham P. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Zika Virus Infection in a Rural Indian Community: A Cross-sectional Survey. XIV Annual Conference of Indian Society for Malaria & Other Communicable Diseases (ISMOCD). 2023;49-55.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202336

References

Mourya DT, Yadav PD, Ullas PT, Bhardwaj SD, Sahay RR, Chadha MS, Shete AM, Jadhav S, Gupta N, Gangakhedkar RR, Khasnobis P, Singh SK. Emerging/re-emerging viral diseases & new viruses on the Indian horizon. Indian J Med Res. 2019;149(4):447-67. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31411169/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Emerging/re-emerging+viral+diseases+%26+new+viruses+on+the+Indian+horizon&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5]

Bhardwaj S, Gokhale MD, Mourya DT. Zika virus: current concerns in India. Indian J Med Res. 2017;146(5):572-5. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29512599/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Zika+virus%3A+current+concerns+in+India&btnG=]

Sapkal GN, Yadav PD, Vegad MM, Viswanathan R, Gupta N, Mourya DT. First laboratory confirmation on the existence of Zika virus disease in India. J Infect. 2018;76(3):314-7. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28988896/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=First+laboratory+confirmation+on+the+existence+of+Zika+virus+disease+in+India&btnG=]

Yadav PD, Malhotra B, Sapkal G, Nyayanit DA, Deshpande G, Gupta N, Padinjaremattathil UT, Sharma H, Sahay RR, Sharma P, Mourya DT. Zika virus outbreak in Rajasthan, India in 2018 was caused by a virus endemic to Asia. Infect Genet Evol. 2019;69:199-202. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30703541/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Zika+virus+outbreak+in+Rajasthan%2C+India+in+2018+was+caused+by+a+virus+endemic+to+Asia&btnG=]

Malhotra B, Gupta V, Sharma P, Singh R, Sharma H, Vyas M, Mathur RP, Mathur VK, Meena D, Malhotra H, Yadav PD, Sapkal G, Pt U, Deshpande GR, Gunjikar R, Shaman H, Mourya DT, Gupta N, Singh S, Ravindran P, Tiwari J, Nyayanit DA, Kumar N, Phalke S, Chugani A, Bhandari S, Suravajhala P, Solanki PS, Salaria M. Clinico-epidemiological and genomic profile of first Zika Virus outbreak in India at Jaipur city of Rajasthan state. J Infect Public Health. 2020;13(12):1920-6. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33172818/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Clinico-epidemiological+and+genomic+profile+of+first+Zika+Virus+outbreak+in+India+at+Jaipur+city+of+Rajasthan+state&btnG=]

World Health Organization [Internet]. Zika virus disease – India; 2021 Oct 14 [cited 2021 Dec 27]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/zika-virus-disease-india

World Health Organization [Internet]. Knowledge, attitudes and practice surveys: Zika virus disease and potential complications; 2016 [cited 2021 Dec 1]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/204689/WHO_ZIKV_RCCE_16.2_eng.pdf [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge%2C+attitudes+and+practice+surveys%3A+Zika+virus+disease+and+potential+complications&btnG=]

Gupta N, Randhawa RK, Thakar S, Bansal M, Gupta P, Arora V. Knowledge regarding Zika virus infection among dental practitioners of tricity area (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali), India. Niger Postgrad Med J. 2016;23(1):33-7. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27098947/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge+regarding+Zika+virus+infection+among+dental+practitioners+of+tricity+area+%28Chandigarh%2C+Panchkula+and+Mohali%29%2C+India&btnG=]

Nelson EJ, Luetke MC, Kianersi S, Willis E, Rosenberg M. Knowledge and perceptions of Zika virus transmission in the community of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. BMC Infect Dis. 2019;19(1):339. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31014275/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge+and+perceptions+of+Zika+virus+transmission+in+the+community+of+Puerto+Plata%2C+Dominican+Republic&btnG=]

Delet J, Cabié A, Merle S, Voluménie JL, Monthieux A. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women in Martinique in the immediate aftermath of the Zika virus outbreak. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018;222:70-4. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29353134/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge%2C+attitudes+and+practices+of+pregnant+women+in+Martinique+in+the+immediate+aftermath+of+the+Zika+virus+outbreak&btnG=]

Whittemore K, Tate A, Illescas A, Saffa A, Collins A, Varma JK, Vora NM. Zika virus knowledge among pregnant women who were in areas with active transmission. Emerg Infect Dis. 2017;23(1):164-6. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27855041/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Zika+virus+knowledge+among+pregnant+women+who+were+in+areas+with+active+transmission&btnG=]

Pires LC, Dantas LR, Witkin SS, Bertozzi AP, Dezena RC, Rodrigues MM, Gazeta RE, Passos SD. Knowledge of Zika virus transmission and its prevention among high-risk pregnant women in Brazil. Viruses. 2021;13(2):242. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33557048/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge+of+Zika+virus+transmission+and+its+prevention+among+high-risk+pregnant+women+in+Brazil&btnG=]

Pooransingh S, Parasram R, Nandram N, Bhagwandeen B, Dialsingh I. Zika virus disease-knowledge, attitudes and practices among pregnant women-implications for public health practice. Public Health. 2018;165:146-51. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30448643/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Zika+virus+disease-knowledge%2C+attitudes+and+practices+among+pregnant+women-implications+for+public+health+practice&btnG=]

Mouchtouri VA, Papagiannis D, Katsioulis A, Rachiotis G, Dafopoulos K, Hadjichristodoulou C. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about the prevention of mosquito bites and Zika virus disease in pregnant women in Greece. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017;14(4):367. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28362340/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge%2C+attitudes%2C+and+practices+about+the+prevention+of+mosquito+bites+and+zika+virus+disease+in+pregnant+women+in+Greece&btnG=]

Samuel G, DiBartolo-Cordovano R, Taj I, Merriam A, Lopez JM, Torres C, Lantigua RA, Morse S, Chang BP, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Thakur KT. A survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices on Zika virus in New York City. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):98. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29291723/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=+survey+of+the+knowledge%2C+attitudes+and+practices+on+Zika+virus+in+New+York+City&btnG=]

Argüelles-Nava VG, Alvarez-Bañuelos MT, Córdoba-Suárez D, Sampieri CL, Ortiz-León MC, Riande-Juárez G, Montero H. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about Zika among a university community located in an endemic zone in Mexico. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(11):2548. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30441747/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Knowledge,+attitudes,+and+practices+about+Zika+among+a+university+community+located+in+an+endemic+zone+in+Mexico&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5]

Francis DL, Wongsin U, Chien SC, Hsu YH, Lohmeyer FM, Jian WS, Lin LF, Iqbal U. Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards Zika virus among healthcare workers in St. Kitts. BMC Infect Dis. 2021;21(1):237. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33663410/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Assessment+of+knowledge%2C+attitudes%2C+and+practices+towards+Zika+virus+among+healthcare+workers+in+St.+Kitts&btnG=]

Cheema S, Maisonneuve P, Weber I, Fernandez-Luque L, Abraham A, Alrouh H, Sheikh J, Lowenfels AB, Mamtani R. Knowledge and perceptions about Zika virus in a Middle East country. BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):524. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28747174/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge+and+perceptions+about+Zika+virus+in+a+Middle+East+country&btnG=]

Ibrahim NK, Moshref RH, Moshref LH, Walid JB, Alsati HS. Knowledge and attitudes towards Zika virus among medical students in King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health. 2018;11(1):18-23. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28697901/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge+and+attitudes+towards+Zika+virus+among+medical+students+in+King+Abdulaziz+University%2C+Jeddah%2C+Saudi+Arabia&btnG=]

Harapan H, Rajamoorthy Y, Utomo PS, Anwar S, Setiawan AM, Alleta A, Bambang A, Ramadana MR, Ikram I, Wahyuniati N, Maulana R, Ichsan I, Indah R, Wagner AL, Kuch U, Groneberg DA, Rodríguez-Morales AJ, Andalas M, Müller R, Mudatsir M, Imrie A. Knowledge and attitude towards pregnancy-related issues of Zika virus infection among general practitioners in Indonesia. BMC Infect Dis. 2019;19(1):693. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31387537/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge+and+attitude+towards+pregnancy-related+issues+of+Zika+virus+infection+among+general+practitioners+in+Indonesia&btnG=]

Maharajan MK, Rajiah K, Belotindos JA, Basa MS. Social determinants predicting the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women toward Zika virus infection. Front Public Health. 2020;8:170. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32582602/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Social+determinants+predicting+the+knowledge%2C+attitudes%2C+and+practices+of+women+toward+Zika+virus+infection&btnG=]

Nery Jr N, Ticona JP, Gambrah C, Doss-Gollin S, Aromolaran A, Rastely-Junior V, Lessa M, Sacramento GA, Cruz JS, de Oliveira D, Dos Santos LL, da Silva CG, Botosso VF, Soares CP, Araujo DB, Oliveira DB, Alves RP, Andreata-Santos R, Durigon EL, de Souza Ferreira LC, Wunder Jr EA, Khouri R, Oliveira-Filho J, de Siqueira IC, Almeida AR, Reis MG, Ko AI, Costa F. Social determinants associated with Zika virus infection in pregnant women. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(7):e0009612. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34329305/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=ocial+determinants+associated+with+Zika+virus+infection+in+pregnant+women&btnG=]

Huang Y, Xu S, Wang L, Zhao Y, Liu H, Yao D, Xu Y, Lv Q, Hao G, Xu Y, Wu Q. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Zika: paper- and internet-based survey in Zhejiang, China. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2017;3(4):e81. [PubMed - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084711/] [Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Knowledge%2C+attitudes%2C+and+practices+regarding+Zika%3A+paper-+and+internet-based+survey+in+Zhejiang%2C+China&btnG=]