title: Knowledge, attitudes, practices and emotional reactions among residents of avian influenza (H5N1) hit communities in Vietnam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Awareness of individuals' knowledge and predicting their behavior and emotional reactions is crucial when evaluating clinical preparedness for influenza pandemics with a highly pathogenic virus. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) relating to avian influenza (H5N1) virus infection among residents in communities where H5N1 patients occurred in Vietnam has not been reported.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Face-to-face interviews including KAP survey were conducted in Bac Kan province, located in the northeast mountainous region of Vietnam. Participants were residents who lived in a community where H5N1 cases have ever been reported (event group, n = 322) or one where cases have not been reported (non-event group, n = 221). Data on emotional reactions of participants and healthcare-seeking behavior after the event in neighboring areas were collected as well as information on demographics and environmental measures, information sources, and KAP regarding H5N1. These data were compared between two groups. Higher environmental risk of H5N1 and improper poultry-handling behaviors were identified in the event group. At the time of the event, over 50% of the event group sought healthcare for flu-like symptoms or because they were scared. Awareness of the event influenced KAP scores. Healthcare-seeking behavior and attention to H5N1 poultry outbreaks diminished in the event group as time passed after the outbreak compared with the non-event group. Factors that motivated participants to seek healthcare sooner were knowledge of early access to healthcare and the risk of eating sick/dead poultry, and perception of the threat of H5N1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of H5N1 patients in neighboring areas can provoke panic in residents and influence their healthcare-seeking behavior. Periodic education to share experiences on the occurrence of H5N1 patients and provide accurate information may help prevent panic and infection and reduce mortality. Local conditions should be taken into account when emphasizing the need for early access to healthcare.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. manabe@dcc.go.jp
authors.forename: Toshie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manabe
authors.forename: Thuy Hanh
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Manh Lam
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Doan
authors.forename: Thi Hong Van
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Thi Phuong Thuy
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Thi Thanh Huyen
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dinh
authors.forename: Thi Mai Phuong
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Hung Minh
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Quy Chau
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Quoc Toan
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001364:Awareness; D002645:Chickens / Q000821:virology*; D004372:Ducks / Q000821:virology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D058873:Pandemics; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D012306:Risk; D012923:Social Class; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology