title: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Related to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Sand Flies in Punjab, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent outbreaks of cutaneous leishmaniasis make the disease a public health concern in Punjab, Pakistan. The knowledge of how the population perceives the disease and its vector is essential in order to design an effective management strategy, but such studies are rare in Pakistan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study was based on a cross-sectional self-administered survey comprising 250 household samples collected from five localities including Bhawalpur, Multan, Jhang, Faisalabad and Lahore. The results revealed that the respondents had a poor knowledge of the vector and disease. Few of the respondents were aware about the identification of sand flies, their breeding place, biting time, transmission of leishmaniasis and control measures. Skin infection and sandflies as the main disease symptom and vector of the disease, respectively, were known to some of the respondents. Some believed that summer was the main peak incidence of the disease and it could be transmitted from man to man via contact. However, most of the respondents believed that the disease could be cured. Admission to hospitals, cleanliness and use of bed nets were the treatment measures for the disease in suspected patients, whereas some thought that the use of bed nets could be helpful in preventing leishmaniasis infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Poor knowledge of the disease and its vector in the study population emphasize the need to initiate health education and awareness campaigns to minimize the risks of cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks in the future.
authors.affiliation: College of Earth and Environmental Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akram
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hafiz Azhar Ali
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: College of Earth and Environmental Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qadir
authors.affiliation: Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Arshad Makhdoom
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sabir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult