Knowledge and practice of poultry handling and living environments of rural residents in China.

In China, most human cases of avian influenza affected rural residents and were reported to involve contact or intake of sick poultry, suggesting risks relevant to being a rural resident increase the possibility of exposure to the fatal virus. In this study, we investigated the living environments in rural areas and rural residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding poultry handling and avian influenza in Shandong Province, Anhui Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. We thus hope to provide evidence on the risk of exposure to sick poultry and on the effects of health education for rural residents.