Princess Srisavangavadhana College of Medicine, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand.
Program in Veterinary Technology, Faculty of Technology, Udon Thani Rajabhat University, Udon Thani, Thailand.
PLoS One. 2024 Jul 15;19(7):e0307240. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307240. eCollection 2024.
Taeniasis and cysticercosis are parasitic infections caused by Taenia spp., mainly transmitted through the consumption of undercooked pork. Prevention requires increasing knowledge and awareness, improving meat inspection and hygiene, and promoting safe food handling and sanitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practice (KP) of residents in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, regarding taeniasis and cysticercosis.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, and its 11 subdistrict municipalities. Study participants were selected using a stratified random sampling design. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.70) was used to collect socio-demographic information and assess knowledge and practices related to taeniasis and cysticercosis. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used for the analysis.
Of the 360 survey respondents, 65.0% (n = 234) were women, 82.2% (n = 296) were aged under 60 years, 99.2% (n = 357) identified as Buddhist, 87.5% (n = 315) had less than a bachelor's degree education level, 54.2% (n = 195) had monthly family income ≥10,000 Thai baht, 10.6% (n = 38) were unemployed, and 26.1% (n = 93) lived in a town municipality. The survey revealed that 98.3% (n = 354) of participants were categorized as having less accurate knowledge and 83.6% (n = 301) were classified as more frequently engaging in correct prevention practices. Our study revealed that pig farmers (1.7%) occasionally permitted the pigs to forage freely. The results of multiple linear regression analysis revealed that knowledge scores were positively associated with household income ≥10,000 Thai baht (βadj = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65 to 2.36). Practice scores were negatively associated with age over 60 years (βadj = -1.77, 95% CI -3.14 to -0.40) and living in a subdistrict municipality (βadj = -2.58, 95% CI -3.77 to -1.39). There was no association between KP regarding taeniasis and cysticercosis in the population of Pak Chong.
Overall, participants' knowledge was lacking. Public education interventions are recommended to improve knowledge among residents with low socioeconomic status. These findings can inform the development of targeted interventions and educational programs in Pak Chong District, especially among elderly people in subdistrict municipalities, to improve practices for the prevention and control of these parasitic infections.
带绦虫病和囊尾蚴病是由带绦虫引起的寄生虫感染，主要通过食用未煮熟的猪肉传播。预防需要提高知识和意识，加强肉品检验和卫生，促进安全的食品处理和卫生。本研究旨在评估泰国那空叻差是玛府 Pak Chong 区居民对带绦虫病和囊尾蚴病的知识和实践（KP）。
在泰国那空叻差是玛府 Pak Chong 区及其 11 个分区进行了一项横断面研究。采用分层随机抽样设计选择研究参与者。使用经过验证的问卷（Cronbach's alpha = 0.70）收集社会人口统计学信息，并评估与带绦虫病和囊尾蚴病相关的知识和实践。采用描述性统计和多元线性回归进行分析。
在 360 名调查参与者中，65.0%（n=234）为女性，82.2%（n=296）年龄在 60 岁以下，99.2%（n=357）为佛教徒，87.5%（n=315）具有学士学位以下教育水平，54.2%（n=195）家庭月收入≥10,000 泰铢，10.6%（n=38）失业，26.1%（n=93）居住在城镇。调查显示，98.3%（n=354）的参与者知识水平较低，83.6%（n=301）的参与者更频繁地采取正确的预防措施。我们的研究表明，养猪户（1.7%）偶尔允许猪自由觅食。多元线性回归分析结果显示，知识得分与家庭收入≥10,000 泰铢呈正相关（βadj=1.50，95%置信区间 [CI] 0.65 至 2.36）。实践得分与 60 岁以上年龄呈负相关（βadj=-1.77，95%置信区间 [CI]-3.14 至-0.40）和居住在分区市（βadj=-2.58，95%置信区间 [CI]-3.77 至-1.39）。Pak Chong 区居民的带绦虫病和囊尾蚴病知识与实践之间没有关联。
总体而言，参与者的知识水平较低。建议开展公众教育干预措施，提高社会经济地位较低的居民的知识水平。这些发现可以为 Pak Chong 区制定有针对性的干预措施和教育计划提供信息，特别是针对分区市的老年人，以改善这些寄生虫感染的预防和控制措施。
