Health literacy, attitudes and preventive practices concerning mosquitoes and mosquito-borne infections - A questionnaire survey in a German community.

INTRODUCTION

Climate variability and non-environmental factors such as travel and migration pose an increasing risk of vector-borne infectious diseases to extratropical regions. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported autochthonous transmissions of dengue or West Nile virus in Italy, France, Spain, and Germany. Raising awareness and implementing protective measures against mosquitoes will therefore become increasingly relevant in Germany in the future.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observational cross-sectional study was performed between April 1 and July 31, 2024, deploying a paper-based anonymous questionnaire distributed to residents of Regensburg. The questionnaire included 19 questions covering demographic data, travel experience, knowledge about mosquitoes and protective measures, and attitudes and practices towards mosquito protection. Data were analyzed descriptively, and an ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Most respondents showed basic knowledge about mosquito species, while awareness of breeding sites and vector-borne diseases was lower. Climate change was regarded as a relevant health concern by 89 % of participants; however, only 33.3 % perceived a current risk of mosquito-borne infections in Germany. More than half of the participants stated already protecting themselves from mosquitoes, and one third indicated they actively removed breeding sites from their surroundings. Pre-travel health advice, including mosquito-related information, had a positive impact on knowledge, attitudes and preventive practices.

CONCLUSION

Awareness of the health risks associated with vectors, as well as specific knowledge about breeding sites, species, and mosquito-borne diseases, varied among participants. Our findings underline the educational potential in this area: specific aspects of vector-borne infections should be targeted to strengthen population health literacy in the future, for example, through focused information campaigns.