Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 50 patients with surgically treated cystic echinococcosis from Basrah Province, Iraq

Abdulhameed, M.F., Robertson, I.D.ORCID: 0000-0002-4255-4752, Al-Azizz, S.A. and Habib, I. (2018) Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of 50 patients with surgically treated cystic echinococcosis from Basrah Province, Iraq. Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health, 8 (3-4). pp. 196-202.

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is recognised worldwide as a neglected disease of public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The objectives of this study were to describe, using a questionnaire survey, the characteristics, attitudes, knowledge, and practices of patients with CE from Basrah Province, Iraq. We interviewed 50 patients, 31 female and 19 male, of whom, 74% originated from rural areas. Approximately half (48%) of the participants reported slaughtering livestock at home for their families’ consumption; 78% indicated the presence of a large number of stray dogs roaming freely about their village; 86% reported that they never boiled water prior to drinking it; and 26% reported not washing vegetables prior to eating them. Although a large proportion of the participants (72%) had heard of hydatid disease prior to becoming ill, over half (57%) were not aware how the disease was transmitted from animals to humans. This study highlighted a gap in health education efforts regarding CE in Southern Iraq, with a lack of counselling of patients on how to prevent reinfection. An intensive control programme should be implemented and founded on health education to reduce CE disease in Basrah.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	Veterinary Medicine
Publisher:	Atlantis Press
Copyright:	© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
United Nations SDGs:	Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/51570

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