title: Differences in Perceived Severity of Zika Virus Infection and Dengue Fever and its Influence on Mosquito Control Practices in Malaysia.
abstract: The aims of this study were to explore the differences in (1) the perception of severity towards ZIKV infection and dengue fever, and (2) mosquito control practices before and after the ZIKV outbreak were declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Data were collected between Feb to May 2016 using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. The median scale score for perceived severity of ZIKV was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] 1-5) versus 4 (IQR 3-5) for dengue (P < 0.001). The scores for mosquito control practices before and after ZIKV was declared a PHEIC were similar, at 4 (IQR 3-5). Multivariate analysis revealed that participants with a higher score for perception of severity of ZIKV were more likely to report greater mosquito control practices after the declaration of the PHEIC (OR 1.822 [95% CI 1.107-2.998]). The emerging ZIKV pandemic requires concerted efforts to enhance mosquito control practices among the Malaysian public. Efforts to improve public mosquito control practices should focus on enhancing the perception of the severity of ZIKV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. wonglp@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Li Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Haridah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alias
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aghamohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: I-Ching
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Sam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.|Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Educational Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sazaly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: AbuBakar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003715:Dengue / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Dengue; Mosquito prevention; Perceived severity; Zika