title: What is cholera? A preliminary study on caretakers' knowledge in Bangladesh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholera has afflicted the Indian sub-continent for centuries, predominantly in West Bengal and modern-day Bangladesh. This preliminary study aims to understand the current level of knowledge of cholera in female Bangladeshi caretakers, which is important in the outcome of the disease and its spread. A pilot study was conducted among 85 women in Bangladesh using qualitative questionnaires to explore the ability of female caretakers in identifying cholera and its transmission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey revealed that though all the female caretakers were aware of the term "cholera," nearly a third of the respondents did not associate diarrhea with cholera or mentioned symptoms that could not be caused by cholera (29 %). Approximately half of the respondents associated water with the cause of cholera (56 %) and only 8 % associated cholera with sanitation or hygiene. Shame and stigma (54 %) were more commonly described than death (47 %) as negative effects of cholera.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study are suggestive of a need for reformulation of cholera and diarrhea communication. Messaging should be based on signs of dehydration, foregoing the use of medical terminology.
authors: Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 9, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. ctamason@sund.ku.dk.|Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. ctamason@sund.ku.dk.
authors: Charlotte C
authors: CC
authors: Tamason
authors: Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 9, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. suhella@sund.ku.dk.|Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. suhella@sund.ku.dk.
authors: Suhella M
authors: SM
authors: Tulsiani
authors: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, GPO Box 128, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh. siddique@icddrb.org.
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Siddique
authors: Environment and Population Research Centre, House# 292, Road# 19/B, New DOHS Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1206, Bangladesh. bilqisdhaka@yahoo.com.|Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Uttara University, House# 4, Road# 15, Uttara, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh. bilqisdhaka@yahoo.com.
authors: Bilqis A
authors: BA
authors: Hoque
authors: Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building 9, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. mackie@sund.ku.dk.|Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Building, 1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. mackie@sund.ku.dk.
authors: Peter K
authors: PK
authors: Mackie Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000635:transmission; D003681:Dehydration / Q000209:etiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012306:Risk; D057566:Self Report; D012752:Shame; D057545:Social Stigma; D055815:Young Adult