Program in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology (PEEC); University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, University of Illinois Extension, Simpson, IL, USA.
J Agromedicine. 2023 Oct;28(4):756-768. doi: 10.1080/1059924X.2023.2199003. Epub 2023 Apr 5.
Tickborne diseases (TBDs) in Illinois have increased in recent years. A growing body of literature indicates that the risk of exposure to ticks and tickborne diseases is higher among outdoor workers, including farmers. However, information is lacking on awareness of ticks and tickborne diseases among this demographic. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and awareness among Illinois farmers regarding ticks and tickborne diseases.
A Knowledge, Attitudes & Prevention practices (KAP) survey was developed and administered to capture information regarding farmers' knowledge and attitudes about ticks and TBDs. Tick drags were conducted on a subset of properties as an incentive to complete the survey and to compare farmers' knowledge or expectations of ticks on their land with ticks collected.
Fifty farmers participated in the survey, and 17 allowed tick drags. Only 60% of respondents had at least moderate knowledge about ticks gained through family and friends (56%), medical and healthcare personnel (48%), and the internet (44%). Responses varied by the type of commodity produced by the farmer. Fifty percent of participants reported knowledge about the blacklegged tick, 34% for the American dog tick, and 42% for the lone star tick; this knowledge also varied by farm type. Most farmers (54%) agreed that preventative behaviors could protect against tickborne diseases. Self-reported knowledge was significantly and directly associated with knowledge scores ( < .001).
Knowledge of ticks and TBDs was lower among crop farmers than beef or mixed commodity farmers, but farmers generally have moderate knowledge of tick species in Illinois. Many participants expressed low concern over contracting a TBD, but many were also dissatisfied with the level of tick prevention measures that they follow. These results can be utilized to fill in knowledge gaps and develop informational materials to help farmers protect themselves against ticks and TBDs.
近年来，伊利诺伊州的蜱传疾病（TBD）有所增加。越来越多的文献表明，户外工作者（包括农民）接触蜱虫和蜱传疾病的风险更高。然而，关于这一人群对蜱虫和蜱传疾病的认识，信息却很缺乏。本研究旨在确定伊利诺伊州农民对蜱虫和蜱传疾病的了解程度和意识。
设计了一项知识、态度和预防措施（KAP）调查，以获取有关农民对蜱虫和 TBD 的知识和态度的信息。对一部分农场进行了蜱虫拖拽，以此作为激励措施，以完成调查，并比较农民对其土地上蜱虫的知识或预期与实际收集到的蜱虫。
50 名农民参与了调查，其中 17 名允许进行蜱虫拖拽。只有 60%的受访者对蜱虫有一定程度的了解，这些知识是通过家庭和朋友（56%）、医疗和保健人员（48%）和互联网（44%）获得的。受访者的回答因所从事的农业类型而异。50%的参与者报告说了解黑腿蜱，34%的参与者了解美洲犬蜱，42%的参与者了解孤星蜱；这种知识也因农场类型而异。大多数农民（54%）认为预防行为可以预防蜱传疾病。自我报告的知识与知识得分显著且直接相关（<0.001）。
与肉牛或混合商品农民相比，作物农民对蜱虫和 TBD 的了解程度较低，但农民对伊利诺伊州的蜱虫种类普遍有中等程度的了解。许多参与者表示对感染 TBD 的担忧程度较低，但许多人也对他们所采取的蜱虫预防措施的水平感到不满。这些结果可用于填补知识空白，并开发信息材料，以帮助农民保护自己免受蜱虫和 TBD 的侵害。
