Knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare-seeking behaviour in leptospirosis among farmers in a Medical Officer of Health area in Sri Lanka – a cross sectional study in lower-middle income country

Abstract

Background Leptospirosis is with a relatively high disease burden with significant mortality mainly affecting working age population in Sri Lanka. In its secondary prevention, early health-care seeking is given priority. The aim of the study was to describe the knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare-seeking behaviour in leptospirosis among farmers in Pelmadulla Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area.Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among paddy farmers in the Pelmadulla MOH area. The cluster-sampling method was used taking a farming community as a cluster unit. Pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized by trained interviewers. Scoring systems for knowledge, attitude and practices were developed using expert inputs. Descriptive statistics were used.Results The response rate was 97% with 426 farmers being recruited. The majority of farmers were between 40 to 59 years. Male to female ratio was 10 to 1. The mean (SD) knowledge, attitudes and practice scores on health care seeking were; 7.17(1.59), 5.14(2.96) and 7.78 (2.7) respectively. The majority, 66% (n = 281) of the study sample had the good knowledge of healthcare-seeking behaviour in leptospirosis, out of all the participants, 13.6% (n = 58) had zero total attitude score, with 50% categorized as poor, while 50% (n = 213) of the study sample had a good attitude. Only, 25.1% (n = 107) of the study sample had a good practice score.Conclusion About half of the study population had good knowledge and attitudes but evident poor practice of healthcare-seeking behaviour in the study sample. The identified deficiencies need to be addressed through targeted programs.