Impact of Educational Intervention Concerning Awareness and Behaviors Relating to Avian Influenza (H5N1) in a High-Risk Population in Vietnam

Abstract

BackgroundEarly initiation of treatment is essential for treatment of avian influenza A/H5N1 viral infection in humans, as the disease can lead to rapid development of severe pneumonia which can result in death. Contact with infected poultry is known to be a significant risk factor for contraction of H5N1 infection. However, handling and encountering poultry are a part of most peoples' daily lives, especially in rural communities in Vietnam where epidemic outbreaks among poultry have been continuously reported. Enhancing proper knowledge relating to H5N1 and to the importance of early initiation of treatment are crucial. The aim of this study was to develop an effective educational program to enhance awareness of H5N1 and motivate people to access to health care earlier when H5N1 infection is suspected or likely.Methodology and Principal FindingsA study was conducted in two agricultural communities (intervention and control groups) in the Ninh Binh province in Vietnam, where epidemic outbreaks of avian influenza have recently occurred in birds. A unique educational intervention was developed and provided to the intervention group, and no intervention was provided to the control group. A knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey was conducted in both groups with a face-to-face interview by trained local healthcare workers at time points before and after the educational intervention. KAP scores were compared between the different time points and between the groups. How educational intervention influenced awareness relating to H5N1 and accessibility of healthcare in the population was analyzed. The study indicated an increased awareness of H5N1 and increased reliance on local health care workers.ConclusionsThe novel educational program which was developed for this study impacted awareness of H5N1, and resulted in more people seeking early access to healthcare, and also resulted in earlier medical intervention for patients with H5N1 avian influenza infection in Vietnam.

Understanding the failure of a behavior change intervention to reduce risk behaviors for avian influenza transmission among backyard poultry raisers in rural Bangladesh: a focused ethnography

“…Educational interventions to improve biosecurity have typically been used to change behaviors among backyard poultry raisers [2–7, 55]. A study in Laos assessed the impact of countrywide intensive educational campaigns on awareness and behavior related to HPAI in 2007 and reported higher rates of cessation of poultry consumption and dead poultry burial but no improvement in poultry raising practices, immunization or reporting mortality to authorities compared to 2006 [7].…”

The Role of Health Education on Emerging Diseases: A Systematic Review

“…*The studies that surveyed interventions were carried out without the use of theories and models of health education [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

“…In this group, 40 percent of changes of intend to do preventive behaviors by perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy and perceived benefits were predictable. According to the findings, if health education helps young girls to understand their susceptibility to hepatitis B, the effect of self-efficacy from the prevention of it and the advantages of doing preventive behaviors, probability it increases the decisions to carry out preventive behaviors from hepatitis B [12].…”

Evaluation of an educational intervention on villagers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in Sichuan province, China

“…Health education has been an important means of suppressing transmission of many infectious diseases (Ghosh et al, 2006; Aiello et al, 2008; Manabe et al, 2011; Amoran et al, 2012; Bieri et al, 2012; Gao et al, 2012). Despite the various mechanisms of disease transmission, the common goal is to enhance people’s awareness of the infection risks, emphasise the significance and methods of disease prevention, increase their adoption of self-protective behaviours, and improve compliance with infection testing and treatment.…”