dos Santos C C, Anvar A, Keystone J S, Kain K C
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ont.
CMAJ. 1999 Jan 26;160(2):195-200.
Imported malaria is an increasing problem, particularly among new immigrant populations. The objective of this study was to determine the malaria prevention measures used by Canadians originating from a malaria-endemic area when returning to visit their country of origin.
A 35-item English-language questionnaire was administered by interview to travellers at a departure lounge at Pearson International Airport, Toronto, between January and June 1995. Information was collected on subject characteristics, travel itinerary, perceptions about malaria, and pretravel health advice and malaria chemoprophylaxis and barriers to their use.
A total of 324 travellers departing on flights to India were approached, of whom 307 (95%) agreed to participate in the study. Participants were Canadian residents of south Asian origin with a mean duration of residence in Canada of 12.8 years. Most of the respondents were returning to visit relatives for a mean visit duration of 6.8 weeks. Although 69% of the respondents thought malaria was a moderate to severe illness and 54% had sought advice before travelling, only 31% intended to use any chemoprophylaxis, and less than 10% were using measures to prevent mosquito bites. Only 7% had been prescribed a recommended drug regimen. Family practitioners were the primary source of information for travellers and were more likely to prescribe an inappropriate chemoprophylactic regimen than were travel clinics or public health centres (76% v. 36%) (p = 0.003). Respondents who had lived in Canada longest and those with a family history of malaria were more likely to use chemoprophylaxis (p < 0.01).
Few travellers were using appropriate chemoprophylaxis and mosquito prevention measures. Misconceptions about malaria risk and appropriate prevention measures were the main barriers identified.
输入性疟疾问题日益严重，在新移民群体中尤为突出。本研究的目的是确定来自疟疾流行地区的加拿大人回国探亲时所采取的疟疾预防措施。
1995年1月至6月期间，在多伦多皮尔逊国际机场的出发大厅，通过访谈向旅行者发放了一份35项的英文问卷。收集了有关受试者特征、旅行行程、对疟疾的认知、旅行前的健康建议以及疟疾化学预防措施及其使用障碍等信息。
共接触了324名乘坐飞往印度航班的旅行者，其中307人（95%）同意参与研究。参与者为南亚裔加拿大居民，平均在加拿大居住12.8年。大多数受访者回国探亲，平均探亲时长为6.8周。尽管69%的受访者认为疟疾是一种中度至重度疾病，54%的人在旅行前寻求过建议，但只有31%的人打算使用任何化学预防措施，不到10%的人采取了防蚊措施。只有7%的人被开具了推荐的药物治疗方案。家庭医生是旅行者的主要信息来源，与旅行诊所或公共卫生中心相比，他们更有可能开具不适当的化学预防方案（76%对36%）（p = 0.003）。在加拿大居住时间最长的受访者以及有疟疾家族史的受访者更有可能使用化学预防措施（p < 0.01）。
很少有旅行者使用适当的化学预防措施和防蚊措施。对疟疾风险和适当预防措施的误解是主要障碍。
