Factors associated with preventive behaviors regarding Lyme disease in Canada and Switzerland: a comparative study

Abstract

BackgroundLyme disease (LD) is a vector-borne disease that is endemic in many temperate countries, including Switzerland, and is currently emerging in Canada. This study compares the importance of knowledge, exposure and risk perception for the adoption of individual preventive measures, within and between two different populations, one that has been living in a LD endemic region for several decades, the Neuchâtel canton in Switzerland, and another where the disease is currently emerging, the Montérégie region in the province of Québec, Canada.MethodsA web-based survey was carried out in both study regions (814 respondents) in 2012. Comparative analysis of the levels of adoption of individual preventive measures was performed and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to test and compare how knowledge, exposure and risk perception were associated with the adoption of selected measures in both regions and globally.ResultsIn Montérégie, the proportion of reported adoption of five of the most commonly recommended preventive measures varied from 6% for ‘applying acaricides on one’s property’ to 49% for ‘wearing protective clothing’, and in Neuchâtel, proportions ranged from 6% (acaricides) to 77% for ‘checking for ticks (tick check)’. Differences were found within gender, age groups and exposure status in both regions. The perceived efficacy of a given measure was the strongest factor associated with the adoption of three specific preventive behaviors for both regions: tick check, protective clothing and tick repellent. Risk perception and a high level of knowledge about LD were also significantly associated with some of these specific behaviors, but varied by region.ConclusionsThese results strongly suggest that social and contextual factors such as the epidemiological status of a region are important considerations to take into account when designing effective prevention campaigns for Lyme disease. It furthermore underlines the importance for public health authorities to better understand and monitor these factors in targeted populations in order to be able to implement preventive programs that are well adapted to a population and the epidemiological contexts therein.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1539-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Can interventions that aim to decrease Lyme disease hazard at non-domestic sites be effective without negatively affecting ecosystem health? A systematic review protocol

“…Even amongst those who had previously suffered LD, during-visit precautionary measures remained unpopular [26]. Similar findings have been reported from the Netherlands [27], the USA [28], Switzerland and Canada [29]. Even when adopted, most personal preventative measures are not highly effective [30][31][32].…”

“…Eradications may seem justified from a narrow pathogen-focused perspective, but community disassembly may have significant effects on ecosystem function, especially where the disease system involves a diverse range of species. As areas with high tick-human contact are often managed for both recreation and biodiversity such actions may neither be desirable nor politically feasible [29,38]. More broadly there is active debate within Public Health about the ethics involved in widespread culling of wildlife as a disease control strategy [39].…”

Attention for Lyme prevention

“…Respondents were asked to identify the main motivators and barriers for wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent skin products and checking skin / removing ticks from their skin ( Table 2. 4). Overall, the main motivators that were mentioned were: the perceptions that LD can be severe, the perception that the preventive measure is effective in preventing tick bite/LD, a person's feeling of responsibility regarding his/her health and the perception that there is a high chance of tick bites.…”

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks and rodents in western Maryland

“…Lyme disease is the most common vector‐borne disease in temperate regions across the globe (Aenishaenslin et al ). In the United States, two blacklegged tick species, Ixodes scapularis , found in the northeastern and northcentral states, and Ixodes pacificus , of the northwest, serve as the vector for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato , the bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans.…”