Di Giuseppe Gabriella, Abbate Rossella, Albano Luciana, Marinelli Paolo, Angelillo Italo F
Department of Public, Clinical and Preventive Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
BMC Infect Dis. 2008 Mar 17;8:36. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-8-36.
Several public health strategic interventions are required for effective prevention and control of avian influenza (AI) and it is necessary to create a communication plan to keep families adequately informed on how to avoid or reduce exposure. This investigation determined the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to AI among an adult population in Italy.
From December 2005 to February 2006 a random sample of 1020 adults received a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of transmission and prevention about AI, attitudes towards AI, behaviors regarding use of preventive measures and food-handling practices, and sources of information about AI.
A response rate of 67% was achieved. Those in higher socioeconomic classes were more likely to identify the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI. Those older, who knew the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI, and who still need information, were more likely to know that washing hands soap before and after touching raw poultry meat and using gloves is recommended to avoid spreading of AI through food. The risk of being infected was significantly higher in those from lower socioeconomic classes, if they did not know the definition of AI, if they knew that AI could be transmitted by eating and touching raw eggs and poultry foods, and if they did not need information. Compliance with the hygienic practices during handling of raw poultry meat was more likely in those who perceived to be at higher risk, who knew the hygienic practices, who knew the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI, and who received information from health professionals and scientific journals.
Respondents demonstrate no detailed understanding of AI, a greater perceived risk, and a lower compliance with precautions behaviors and health educational strategies are strongly needed.
为有效预防和控制禽流感（AI），需要采取多项公共卫生战略干预措施，有必要制定一项沟通计划，让家庭充分了解如何避免或减少接触。本调查确定了意大利成年人群体中与禽流感相关的知识、态度和行为。
2005年12月至2006年2月，对1020名成年人进行随机抽样，发放一份问卷，内容涉及社会人口学特征、禽流感传播和预防知识、对禽流感的态度、预防措施使用和食品处理行为，以及禽流感信息来源。
应答率为67%。社会经济阶层较高的人更有可能识别禽流感的传播方式和动物载体。年龄较大、知道禽流感传播方式和动物载体且仍需要信息的人，更有可能知道建议在接触生禽肉前后用肥皂洗手并使用手套，以避免禽流感通过食物传播。社会经济阶层较低的人，如果不知道禽流感的定义，如果知道禽流感可通过食用和触摸生鸡蛋及禽肉食品传播，且不需要信息，那么他们被感染的风险显著更高。在处理生禽肉时，那些认为风险较高、知道卫生习惯、知道禽流感传播方式和动物载体且从卫生专业人员和科学期刊获取信息的人，更有可能遵守卫生习惯。
受访者对禽流感没有详细的了解，感知到的风险更大，强烈需要采取更低的预防行为和健康教育策略。
