A note from a survey of some knowledge aspects of leptospirosis among a sample of rural villagers in the highly endemic area, Thailand.
BACKGROUND
The main purpose of this pilot study was to assess knowledge of leptospirosis among a sample of rural villagers in the highly endemic area, Thailand.


METHODS
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among a sample of 300 rural villagers in the highly endemic area of leptospirosis, Buriram Province in Thailand. A self-administered questionnaire on some knowledge aspects of leptospirosis was used.


RESULTS
The response rate was 100%. Most participants (80%) had a poor knowledge of leptospirosis. There was no significant correlation of sex and age of the subjects as to the level of knowledge (chi2, p > 0.05); however, there was significant correlation of level of education and occupation of the subjects to the level of their knowledge (chi2, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Although this was a limited pilot study, the results imply that the present leptospirosis control program is not successful, and that the main problem is the knowledge level of people in endemic areas. A program to improve the basic knowledge of leptospirosis of rural villagers in endemic areas must be initiated.
Wiwanitkit
Viroj
V
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. wviroj@yahoo.com
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology