Knowledge and perceptions of Zika virus transmission in the community of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Abstract

Background Zika virus is associated with increased cases of both microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Community knowledge, perceptions and practices to prevent infection with the Zika virus are not well understood, particularly among high risk populations living in resource-poor and Zika-endemic areas. Our objective was to assess knowledge of symptoms, health effects and prevention practices associated with Zika virus in rural communities on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. Methods Study participants were contacted while attending community events such as free medical clinics and invited to be interviewed regarding their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Zika virus using the World Health Organization’s Zika survey tool. Results Of the 75 Dominicans that participated, 33% did not know who could become infected with Zika. In addition, only 40% of respondents were able to identify mosquitoes or sexual transmission as the primary routes of infection though 51% of respondents thought that Zika was an important issue in their community. Conclusions This study found that general knowledge regarding the basic risks and transmission of Zika were not well understood among a sample of rural Dominicans. Our findings highlight disparities in knowledge and perception of risk from Zika in rural areas compared to previous studies conducted in the Dominican Republic. Education about the basic risks and transmission of Zika are critically needed in these remote populations to reduce Zika transmission.

Knowledge of Zika Virus Transmission and Its Prevention among High-Risk Pregnant Women in Brazil

“…This was also consistent with findings from prior studies [33,35,36]. This reinforces the need for comprehensive educational campaigns and widely available information [37], appropriate to the social cultural condition of target population [20,38].…”

“…The use of condoms to prevent transmission of ZIKV during sexual intercourse was infrequently used in our population. Consistent with prior studies [ 32 , 34 , 37 , 39 ], condom usage for a reason other than contraception is understandably unpopular. Being a participant in a stable union was associated with the absence of condom usage, repeating findings from another Brazilian study [ 43 ].…”

Uncertainties, Fear and Stigma: Perceptions of Zika Virus among Pregnant Women in Spain

“…Our findings reveal very low awareness among ZIKV infected women about the sexual route as a mode of transmission of ZIKV, and those women who had this information did not use condoms because they did not understand the reasons underlying the use of this measure, as the fetus was already developing. These results are aligned with other studies where sexual transmission was known by fewer than half of participants [ 12 , 24 , 35 ] and an analysis of the news published in the U.S.A. that revealed that almost all publications (96.8%) mentioned mosquitoes as a transmission route, but just over a half cited the sexual transmission of ZIKV (55.3%) [ 36 ]. A knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) analysis with American travelers concluded that knowledge of the sexual transmission of Zika significantly increases the odds of using condoms, thus improving targeted messaging through media may increase awareness and the use of preventive measures [ 37 ].…”

Communicating the risk of contracting Zika virus to low income underserved pregnant Latinas: A clinic-based study

“…Reproductive rights and pregnancy decision-making are the topics that are closely tied to religious and other cultural factors that limit access to contraception, which was highly recommended during the ZIKV outbreak [ 34 , 35 ]. Research suggests that knowledge of the sexual transmissibility of ZIKV significantly increases the odds of taking a preventive action against the infection, especially condom use or sexual abstention [ 36 ]. Borges et al in their Brazilian study reported that there were missed opportunities for prevention of perinatal transmission of the virus through behavioral change, including effective contraception to prevent pregnancy and condoms to prevent perinatal transmission, as a complement to vector control [ 37 ].…”