In:
Postgraduate Medical Journal, Oxford University Press (OUP), Vol. 91, No. 1073 ( 2015-03-01), p. 127-131
Abstract:
Malaria remains a significant cause of travel-related mortality and morbidity. Asians are known to have higher risks because they are less careful in pre-travel health preparations. This study reports on a cohort of travellers to malaria-prone regions examined in a previous study, which explored general levels of pre-travel health preparation. Objectives To describe the preparations taken by travellers at Hong Kong International Airport going to destinations with significant malaria risks according to the WHO. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted by personal interviews at the boarding gates of flights in April 2013. The flights were chosen from those to malaria-prone regions (type I or above) from the 2012 WHO International Travel and Health Country List. Results 403 respondents (75.6% Chinese ethnicity) were travelling to malaria-prone regions. 95.3% were travelling to developing countries including China, Thailand, Malaysia and India. 55.1% of respondents had taken at least one mosquito prevention measure and 8.9% of respondents had malaria chemoprophylaxis. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (OR=2.21, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.97), residence outside Hong Kong (OR=2.71, 95% CI 1.46 to 5.04) and travel including rural areas (OR=5.67, 95% CI 3.11 to 10.34) were predictors of optimum pre-travel health preparations. Conclusions Underestimation of malaria risks was a major barrier to adequate pre-travel health preparations. Targeted health education and information about risk is necessary to improve levels of travel health preparedness.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1469-0756
,
0032-5473
DOI:
10.1136/postgradmedj-2014-133126
Language:
English
Publisher:
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2009568-5
