Tick-Borne Disease Preventive Practices and Perceptions in an Endemic Area

Publication date: Available online 7 December 2015 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Amber D. Butler, Tannaz Sedghi, Joann R. Petrini, Ramin Ahmadi Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States. Since the institution of Nationally Notifiable surveillance efforts for Lyme disease in the United States in 1991, there has been a consistent increase in the number of reported cases. Thus, the need for targeted prevention strategies is underscored. The purpose of this study was to investigate knowledge about tick-borne diseases as well as beliefs and practices related to a variety of personal tick-borne disease prevention methods among individuals in southwestern Connecticut, a Lyme disease-endemic area. Between June and September 2014, an anonymous questionnaire was administered to 275 participants through a point-of-contact convenience sample obtained at community events in southwestern Connecticut. The questionnaire assessed individuals’ general knowledge about tick-borne diseases, performance of four selected tick-borne disease prevention methods, and perceived effectiveness and burdensomeness of those four behaviors. Some 80% of participants were female; median age was 55 years (IQR 45-64 years); 30% reported having been treated for a tick-borne illness and 50% reported a family member having been treated for a tick-borne illness. Overall, participants’ knowledge of tick-borne diseases was poor; the average kn...
Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases - Category: Zoology Source Type: research