Zika Virus Awareness and Prevention Practices Among University Students in Miami: Fall 2016

Abstract

In January 2016, the first case of mosquito-borne Zika infection in the mainland United States was confirmed in Miami, Florida. The first locally acquired case was reported 6 months later. Local public health and school officials began warning students of the outbreak on their return to the classroom in August 2016. In November-December 2016, we conducted a survey of students attending a large public university in Miami to determine how well informed they were about Zika. A multistage sampling design was used to contact teaching assistants and ask them for help in recruiting their students. Eligible students had to be 18 years of age or older and enrolled in at least one three-credit course during fall semester. A 25-item questionnaire based on the World Health Organization Zika Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Resource Pack was developed, pretested, and approved by the university's institutional review board before it was made available to eligible students through Blackboard Learn or a survey link. About half (50.4%) of the 139 respondents had heard about Zika prior to 2016. Only one student was unaware of Zika before our survey. Most (47.1%) first learned about Zika through television, 18.8% from family or friends, and 15.2% from the Internet, social media, or university e-mail. Two thirds (66.2%) believed Zika could be prevented, 15.1% thought it might be prevented, and 85.7% had taken some precautions. A high level of awareness of the risk of Zika infection was apparent. Most students reported taking steps to avoid exposure to the Zika virus.

The prevention of arboviral diseases using mobile devices: a preliminary study of the attitudes and behaviour change produced by educational interventions

“…This was the first study to use a learning platform that employed mobile devices and behaviour change models to carry out an educational intervention aimed at promoting the prevention of arboviral diseases in Brazil. In the literature, most of the studies describes knowledge, attitudes and practices related to other arboviral diseases [24][25][26][27][28][29][30], few of them being educational intervention studies. They have, for example, investigated perceptions of risk and susceptibility [31], evaluated differences between groups such as pregnant and non-pregnant women [32], assessed individuals living inside or outside a risk area [33], and determined differences between those who live in rural and non-rural areas [34].…”

“…Whereas the women participate in preventive activities more often, the men experience more risk situations, such as doing outdoor activities [24,25,27]. In a study on the Zika virus conducted in Florida, about 62% of the participants were women, 90.5% of whom believed that the disease was preventable [26]. Pregnant women show a greater perception of risk and more engagement in preventive activities than those who are not pregnant [27].…”

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward Zika virus among staff of comprehensive health services centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2020

“…In the present study, 53.8% and 45.3% of the participants responded Yes to the question about using long sleeved clothes and using mosquito nets while sleeping to prevent mosquito bites. In studies conducted on Miami students, the United States, 42.1% of the participants, 26 and on pregnant women in Greece only 16.9%, 25 of the participants responded Yes to the question about the use of long sleeved clothes. Moreover, in a study on healthcare providers in Washington, DC, USA, 35% of the subjects responded Yes to the question of using mosquito nets while sleeping, 24 which is less than the findings of the present study.…”

Factors associated with changing behaviour for arboviruses prevention: evidence from a quasi-experimental intervention study using mobile devices.

“…[18]. In the literature, most studies describe perceptions and knowledge about arbovirus prevention [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] with few reports of educational interventions using ICTs.…”