title: Factors affecting the use of anti-amoebiasis protective measures among Taiwan immigrants returning to amoebiasis-endemic regions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the predictors of use of anti-amoebiasis protective measures (AAPMs) among Taiwan immigrants returning to their country of origin, using the Health Belief Model (HBM) to guide the investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March and May 2011, all permanent immigrants originating from amoebiasis-endemic countries who received services at the immigrant service centres in Taipei or Tainan and who reported that they had returned to their country of origin within the past five years were enrolled in the study. A structured questionnaire containing questions on sociodemographic characteristics and items related to the constructs of the HBM was used as the data collection instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete information was collected from 384 immigrants, with a response rate of 80% (384/480). The mean age of the subjects was 38.4 years (standard deviation 10.6 years). The majority (70%) of participants did not receive travel information through a pretravel consultation, and more than 17% reported that they did not use measures to prevent amoebiasis. Multiple regression analyses revealed that Chinese proficiency, pretravel consultation and lower barriers to using protective measures were significantly associated with the use of AAPMs during return trips to country of origin (R(2) = 0.45; F = 77.5; P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HBM significantly predicted the use of AAPMs in this study. A high proportion of immigrants did not use appropriate AAPMs when they returned to their country of origin. Educational approaches should be targeted at immigrants originating from amoebiasis-endemic regions who return to their country of origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Da-Chien General Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan; General Education Centre, Ta Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Amoebiasis; Health Belief Model; Prediction; Taiwan