[A comparative study of public knowledge and awareness of echinococcus in relation to anti-echinococcus policies of towns in Hokkaido].
A population-based comparative study was performed on public awareness and knowledge about the risk of Echinococcosis and the life habits of the people living in 2 towns in eastern Hokkaido, Bekkai and akan. Bekkai has had an anti-echinococcosis policy and Akan has only limited experiences with such countermeasures. The results of the survey were as follows: 1) Compared with the inhabitants in the town of Akan, the residents in Bekkai had significantly higher correct response rates for many questions concerning parasitological knowledge and the risks of echinococcosis, and knew about subjects such as the pathogen, latency period, susceptible organs, the prognosis, the possibility of transmission of echinococcosis from human to human and methods for the sterilization of eggs from infected animals. 2) The rate of correct answers to such questions were approximately 70 to 90% in both towns. However the percentage of correct answers to questions about carrier animals and the question of human susceptibility were relatively low, ie., 45% and 20%, respectively, even in Bekkai. 3) The residents of Akan knew more about carrier animals of echinococcosis than the inhabitants of Bekkai. In Akan woman and persons in their 20's and 30's had lower rates of correct answers. Further health education should be aimed toward such people. 4) Foxes appeared near private homes more frequently in Akan than in Bekkai. More inhabitants of Akan used spring water as drinking water than in Bekkai, while more inhabitants used tap water as drinking water in Bekkai. Only a few inhabitants paid attention to how to prepare vegetables for cooking. This information suggests that echinococcosis may spread in Akan in the near future. 5) Our results suggest that better organized health education programs, the extension of tap water services in Akan, and the establishment of proper methods for disposal of garbage and the afterbirth of cattle are necessary to reduce the presence of foxes in inhabited areas.
Yamamoto
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N
Abashiri Public Health Center, Hokkaido Prefectural Government.
Kishi
R
R
Miyake
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D012306:Risk