title: Public risk perception and attitudes towards live poultry markets before and after their closure due to influenza A(H7N9), Hong Kong, January-February 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study investigated public risk perception regarding influenza A(H7N9) and attitudes towards closure of live poultry markets (LPMs) before and after LPMs closed in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two population-based surveys were conducted before and after LPMs closed in January-February 2014, respectively. Adults were recruited using random digital dialing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 670 and 1011 respondents completed the survey before and after closure of LPMs, respectively. Perceived susceptibility to H7N9 infection was low across surveys. Among respondents who completed the survey after LPMs closed, only 14.6% agreed that temporary closure of LPMs caused inconvenience to the daily life; 38.7% valued the Chinese tradition of live poultry consumption more than controlling the risk of avian influenza; 54.6% recognized greater risk of influenza epidemic associated with LPMs. Support for permanent closure of LPMs which was comparably low across surveys was strongly associated with perceived risk of avian influenza related to LPMs, the effectiveness of LPM closure in control of avian influenza and the inconvenience caused by closure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk communication that promotes people's perceived risk of avian influenza associated with LPMs and the effectiveness of LPM closure in control of avian influenza outbreaks may improve support for permanent closure of LPMs.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Qiuyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Wendy Wing Tak
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Vicky J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Gabriel M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cowling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003132:Commerce; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D064766:Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000517:prevention & control; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011200:Poultry / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attitudes; avian influenza a(H7N9); live poultry markets