French Hajj pilgrims' experience with pneumococcal infection and vaccination: A knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Transmission of respiratory infections poses a major public health challenge during the Hajj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Acquisition of Streptococcus pneumoniae during Hajj has been studied in the past and recommendations for vaccination against S. pneumoniae have been made for high risk groups.


METHODS
The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of French Hajj pilgrims towards pneumococcal vaccination. Adult pilgrims departing from Marseille, France to Mecca for the 2014 Hajj season were administered a face-to-face questionnaire to ascertain their knowledge and attitudes towards pneumococcal vaccination before departing for Hajj.


RESULTS
A total of 300 participants took part. Their overall knowledge about the severity of pneumonia and the existence of the vaccine was very low. Out of 101 participants who had an indication for pneumococcal vaccination, irrespective of their travel status, only 7% were advised to have the vaccine by their general practitioner.


CONCLUSIONS
These results reinforce the need for better dissemination of information either before or during the pre-travel counselling. The visit to the travel clinic for receiving the mandatory meningococcal vaccination for Hajj is a good opportunity to update routine immunizations, including pneumococcal vaccination.
Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France.
Shruti
S
Sridhar
Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France.
Khadidja
K
Belhouchat
Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France.
Tassadit
T
Drali
Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France.
Samir
S
Benkouiten
Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France.
Philippe
P
Parola
Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France.
Philippe
P
Brouqui
Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France; Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 13005, Marseille, France. Electronic address: philippe.gautret@club-internet.fr.
Philippe
P
Gautret
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines
Hajj; KAP; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Vaccination