Mainali Samir, Lamichhane Ram Sharan, Clark Kim, Beatty Shelley, Fatouros Maria, Neville Peter, Oosthuizen Jacques
School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Town of Bassendean, Perth, WA 6054, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Mar 2;14(3):246. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14030246.
(1) Background: Vector-borne diseases are a significant public health problem in Western Australia. Mosquitoes are responsible for the transmission of a number of pathogens and may pose a serious nuisance problem. Prevention efforts in the State are multi-faceted and include physical, chemical, and cultural control methods for restricting mosquito breeding. This is less complex where breeding areas are located within public open spaces. In Australia's developed urban areas, breeding sites are, however, frequently located within private residential landholdings, where the scope of public health officials to act is constrained by law and practicality. Consequently, mosquito prevention in these locations is predominantly the responsibility of the residents. This research addressed a gap, both in understanding the degree to which "backyard" mosquito breeding has the potential to contribute to local mosquito problems, and in assessing what residents "think and do" about mosquito control within their home environment. (2) Methods: The study was conducted in the Town of Bassendean, a metropolitan Local Government Area of Perth, Western Australia, in close proximity to two natural, productive mosquito breeding sites, namely Ashfield Flats and Bindaring Park. A total of 150 householders were randomly surveyed during the summer of 2015-2016, to gauge residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) Survey) in regards to mosquitoes, their breeding and ecology, and avoidance or minimization strategies. The survey comprised nine questions covering residents' knowledge (3 questions), attitudes (3 questions), and practices (3 questions), as well as additional questions regarding the basic demographics of the resident. Larvae were collected from backyard containers and reared to adults for species identification. A series of Encephalitis Vector Surveillance carbon dioxide (EVS CO₂) traps were also deployed, to assess adult mosquito density and species composition. (3) Results: (Skuse), a known container-inhabiting species, accounted for just over 50% of all mosquitoes identified. Most residents were aware of mosquito-borne disease and its risk in their local area. While the majority (79%) of the sample correctly identified Ross River virus as the most common infection in WA, a significant gap in the general knowledge of residents in regards to mosquito biology and breeding habits, was noted. Furthermore, only 50% of residents reported using personal protective measures to reduce mosquito bites and only one in six residents undertook physical or chemical mosquito control around their home. Additionally, 60% of respondents believed that mosquito control was "a job for the council and the state government", rather than for individual householders. (4) Conclusions: A significant gap in the knowledge of residents in the study area existed in regards to the general knowledge of mosquitoes and their breeding habits; types of treatments that could be employed within the home; and the residents' responsibility for the management of mosquito breeding on their private property. A public education campaign has been deployed to educate the residents.
(1)背景:媒介传播疾病是西澳大利亚州一个重大的公共卫生问题。蚊子传播多种病原体,还可能带来严重的滋扰问题。该州的预防措施是多方面的,包括物理、化学和文化控制方法,以限制蚊子繁殖。若繁殖区域位于公共开放空间,情况相对简单。然而,在澳大利亚的发达城市地区,繁殖地点常常位于私人住宅用地内,公共卫生官员的行动范围受到法律和实际情况的限制。因此,这些地方的蚊子预防主要是居民的责任。本研究填补了两方面的空白,一是了解“后院”蚊子繁殖对当地蚊子问题的潜在影响程度,二是评估居民在家庭环境中对蚊子控制的“想法和做法”。
(2)方法:该研究在西澳大利亚州珀斯市的一个大都市地方政府区域巴森迪恩镇进行,此地靠近两个天然的、蚊子繁殖活跃的地点,即阿什菲尔德平地和宾达林公园。在2015 - 2016年夏季,共随机调查了150户居民,以评估居民在蚊子、其繁殖和生态以及避免或减少蚊子影响策略方面的知识、态度和做法(KAP调查)。调查包括九个问题,涵盖居民的知识(3个问题)、态度(3个问题)和做法(3个问题),以及关于居民基本人口统计学的其他问题。从后院容器中收集幼虫并饲养至成虫以进行物种鉴定。还部署了一系列脑炎媒介监测二氧化碳(EVS CO₂)诱捕器,以评估成年蚊子的密度和物种组成。
(3)结果:斯库斯蚊(Skuse),一种已知栖息于容器的物种,占所有鉴定出的蚊子的50%多一点。大多数居民知晓蚊子传播的疾病及其在当地的风险。虽然样本中的大多数(79%)正确将罗斯河病毒识别为西澳大利亚州最常见的感染,但居民在蚊子生物学和繁殖习性的常识方面存在显著差距。此外,只有50%的居民报告使用个人防护措施来减少蚊虫叮咬,且只有六分之一的居民在其房屋周围采取物理或化学方法控制蚊子。此外,60%的受访者认为蚊子控制是“市政当局和州政府的工作”,而非单个住户的责任。
(4)结论:研究区域居民在蚊子及其繁殖习性的常识、家庭可采用的处理方法类型以及居民对其私人财产上蚊子繁殖管理的责任方面存在显著差距。已开展一场公共教育活动来教育居民。