Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 1;17(17):6362. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176362.
Perceived severity and susceptibility refers to one's belief of the seriousness and the risk of contracting a specific disease. It is an essential study in public health as it assists in the understanding of the motivating factors towards disease prevention. This qualitative study aimed to explore perceived severity and susceptibility towards leptospirosis infection among respondents in two states of Malaysia.
Focus group discussions using the phenomenology approach was conducted involving 72 respondents in Selangor and Kelantan. Data were examined using content analysis.
Respondents perceived leptospirosis infection as severe due to its poor disease prognosis and complications. However, some rated it less severe when compared with other chronic diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Their perceptions were influenced by their knowledge about the disease, media portrayal and frequency of health campaigns by the government. All respondents believed they were not susceptible to the disease.
The low perceived susceptibility of leptospirosis infection is a matter of concern as it may contribute to respondents' lack of motivation towards preventing the disease. The study findings may provide the basis for health promotional activities designed to heighten public perceived threat towards leptospirosis infection and thereby improving preventive health behaviors for avoiding leptospirosis.
感知严重程度和易感性是指一个人对特定疾病的严重程度和感染风险的信念。它是公共卫生研究的重要内容，因为它有助于理解疾病预防的动机因素。本定性研究旨在探讨马来西亚两个州的受访者对钩端螺旋体病感染的感知严重程度和易感性。
采用现象学方法进行焦点小组讨论，涉及雪兰莪州和吉兰丹州的 72 名受访者。使用内容分析法对数据进行分析。
受访者认为钩端螺旋体病感染严重，因为其预后不良且可能引发并发症。然而，与癌症和艾滋病等其他慢性病相比，一些受访者认为其严重程度较低。他们的认知受到他们对疾病的了解、媒体描述和政府开展卫生宣传活动的频率的影响。所有受访者均认为自己不易感染该疾病。
对钩端螺旋体病感染的低感知易感性令人担忧，因为这可能导致受访者缺乏预防该疾病的动机。研究结果可为旨在提高公众对钩端螺旋体病感染的感知威胁，并改善预防钩端螺旋体病的预防性健康行为的健康促进活动提供依据。
