Knowledge and behavior of tourists to Manu National Park, Peru, in relation to Leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND

Tourists have been infected with Leishmania braziliensis and the lack of appropriate travel information on the disease has been documented. The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge and behavior of tourists booked on a trip to Manu National Park in Peru in relation to leishmaniasis and its prevention.

METHODS

The clients of two tour operators in Cusco, Peru, represented the experimental and control group. The experimental group completed a questionnaire after the tour briefing the night before the trip and received the information leaflet. A second questionnaire was completed just before returning from the park. The clients in the control group did not receive the leaflet.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seventy-three questionnaire pairs were collected (173 experimental, 200 control). Only 24 (6%) of all participants claimed to have heard of leishmaniasis. Of the 92.5% of tourists who read the leaflet, 156 (97.5%) found it informative, although 50 (32.5%) wanted more information. It was suggested that the leaflet should be distributed by tour operators (56.9%), general practitioners/family doctors (49%), and travel agents (47.1%). There was no significant difference in the use of preventive measures between the groups. One-third of the experimental group claimed to have paid more attention to protection due to the information given in the leaflet.

CONCLUSIONS

There is generally a lack of knowledge on leishmaniasis with a great feeling of need for more and detailed information. Correct and complete information on leishmaniasis should be included in the health advice for travelers to endemic areas.