Knowledge of Zika Virus Disease Prevention Methods, among Female Caregivers That Bring Babies for Immunization in a Teaching Hospital, Southeast Nigeria
Zika virus disease is a disease of public health importance and was declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”, by the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. It is mostly transmitted through the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitos. Transmission can also occur through blood transfusion and sexual intercourse. It could cause microcephaly and other neurological problems in newborns and adults, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome. It could also lead to abortion and stillbirth in pregnant women. Prevention methods are essentially targeted at transmission routes, which are mosquito bite, sexual intercourse, and blood transfusion. The study was of observational, descriptive, cross-sectional design, and conducted in a tertiary health institution in the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Two hundred and fifty-six female caregivers participated in the study, with most of them being within the childbearing age group, and educated up to tertiary level. The objective was to assess the knowledge of Zika virus infection prevention methods, among female caregivers that bring babies for immunization in a Teaching Hospital, Southeast Nigeria. Out of the eight questions that sought to assess the knowledge level of the respondents, they scored 50% and above only in three, which were on prevention through protection against mosquito bite (60.5%), avoiding unnecessary blood transfusion in endemic areas (53.9%), and avoidance of oily meals not being a preventive measure (51.2%). Respondents in the childbearing age group, and those with higher educational qualifications, generally exhibited higher knowledge level than the other respondents. Scores on questions that sought to assess their knowledge on prevention aspects related to sexual behavior, and vaccination were poor. Sensitization, or awareness creation activities for persons in this study area, ought to be designed to address the observed gaps.
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