Japanese Encephalitis in Assam, India: Need to Increase Healthcare Workers’ Understanding to Improve Health Care

Abstract

IntroductionJapanese encephalitis (JE) is a major cause of high morbidity and mortality in several states across India. However, in 2014, a sharp rise was observed in the number of cases of JE in north-eastern Assam state, and 51% of the total cases of JE in India were reported from the Assam in the same year. In this regard, a study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers in Darrang, a district of Assam highly affected by JE.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted for 2 months among HCWs in the major district hospital of Darrang, Assam. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Convenience sampling approach was used to collect data from different departments of the hospitals. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to express the results.ResultsThe knowledge of HCWs regarding JE was poor with a mean knowledge score of 11.02±2.39 (out of 17), while their attitudes were positive with a mean attitudes score of 43.16± 2.47 (ranging from 13 to 52). Overall, 40.4% and 74.3% of participants demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes respectively. Cut-off score for good knowledge and positive attitudes toward JE was set as ≥12 and >40 respectively. Older participants (40–49 years) and experienced workers (>10 years) were significantly associated with good knowledge as compared to their referent group (p<0.05), while knowledge of nurses and other orderlies were significantly lower than physicians (p<0.01). Similar factors were associated with the positive attitudes of the participants with the exception of experience. Television was the major source of information regarding JE reported by HCWs (79%).ConclusionAlthough the knowledge was not optimized, HCWs exhibited positive attitudes towards JE. Future research is required to design, implement and evaluate interventions to improve the knowledge of JE among HCWs.

An assessment of community participation in control and prevention of Japanese encephalitis in rural Uttar Pradesh

“…[3,5] Children under age of 15 years are major victim of JE. [6] Studies showed that in JE endemic area, nearly all cases occur in children <10 years of age. Those who survived, majority of them followed by some sort of morbidity.…”

“…Those who survived, majority of them followed by some sort of morbidity. [6,7] JE infections are mostly asymptomatic. 1 in 300 infections is symptomatic.…”

“…1 in 300 infections is symptomatic. [1,6,7] Siddharthnagar was created in 1988 out of Basti district in UP. JE emerged for the first time as a problem in Siddhart Nagar district in 1989.…”

“…Transmission is very predominant in rice-producing areas. [6,9] Pigs population estimated to be more than 135 million in India. UP contributed 31.7% of this.…”

Past, Present and Future about Ebola Virus Diseases: An Updated Review

“…[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] There is also a need to increase health workers' understanding on Ebola disease to improve healthcare like any other viral disease. [39] …”