Weber Roger, Schlagenhauf Patricia, Amsler Lorenz, Steffen Robert
Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
J Travel Med. 2003 Jul-Aug;10(4):219-24. doi: 10.2310/7060.2003.40574.
This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Swiss business travelers with regard to malaria.
Questionnaires printed in three languages were distributed by employers, travel agencies and tropical medicine specialists to business travelers with destinations in malaria endemic countries.
In total, 401 questionnaires were evaluated. Thirty-three percent visited high-risk areas, 27% visited low-risk areas, and 40% visited only malaria-free areas within endemic countries. Among the investigated business travelers, 6% had experienced malaria infection, and 29% had previously had blood smears tested for malaria at least once. Almost all business travelers, 95%, knew that mosquitoes are the main vectors of malaria. The infection risk between dusk and dawn was known to 71%, and the incubation time to 36%. Apart from fever (99%) and headache (63%), other malaria symptoms were known to only 13% to 36% of the travelers. If signs of illness such as fever and headache occurred, 63% would react adequately and seek medical advice within 24 h. Only 16% of the travelers to African high-risk areas followed the recommended behavior concerning anti-mosquito and antimalarial strategies; 31% of those on trips to low-risk areas used an adequate protective strategy. Of the business travelers using chemoprophylaxis during travel, just 50% continued intake post travel, as requested, after leaving the endemic area.
Business travelers are well informed regarding the mode of transmission and the risk of malaria at specific destinations but tend to comply poorly with anti-mosquito and chemoprophylactic strategies. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of business travelers with regard to malaria prevention need to be improved.
本研究旨在确定瑞士商务旅行者对疟疾的知识、态度和行为。
雇主、旅行社和热带医学专家向前往疟疾流行国家的商务旅行者发放了三种语言印制的问卷。
共评估了401份问卷。33%的人前往高风险地区，27%的人前往低风险地区，40%的人仅前往流行国家内无疟疾地区。在接受调查的商务旅行者中，6%曾感染疟疾，29%此前至少进行过一次疟疾血涂片检测。几乎所有（95%）商务旅行者都知道蚊子是疟疾的主要传播媒介。71%的人知道黄昏至黎明期间感染风险较高，36%的人知道潜伏期。除发热（99%）和头痛（63%）外，只有13%至36%的旅行者知道其他疟疾症状。如果出现发热和头痛等疾病症状，63%的人会做出适当反应并在24小时内寻求医疗建议。前往非洲高风险地区的旅行者中，只有16%遵循了推荐的防蚊和抗疟策略；前往低风险地区的旅行者中，31%采取了适当的防护策略。在旅行期间使用化学预防药物的商务旅行者中，只有50%在离开流行地区后按要求继续服药。
商务旅行者对特定目的地的疟疾传播方式和风险有充分了解，但在遵守防蚊和化学预防策略方面往往较差。商务旅行者在疟疾预防方面的知识、态度和行为需要改进。
