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An Analysis of Leptospirosis Control in a Flood-Affected Region of Kerala and the Role of Accredited Social Health Activists – A Questionnaire Study

Part of: Floods collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2021

M.K. Sreelakshmi ,
Suneesh Kuruvilla ,
Ramanarayanan Subramaniam ,
Pooja Latti  and
Ramanarayanan Venkitachalam
M.K. Sreelakshmi
Affiliation:
Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Kothamangalam, Kerala, India
Suneesh Kuruvilla
Affiliation:
Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Kothamangalam, Kerala, India
Ramanarayanan Subramaniam*
Affiliation:
Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Kothamangalam, Kerala, India
Pooja Latti
Affiliation:
Annoor Dental College and Hospital, Muvattupuzha, Kerala, India
Ramanarayanan Venkitachalam
Affiliation:
Amrita School of Dentistry, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Kochi, Kerala, India
*
Corresponding author: Ramanarayanan Subramaniam, Email subbds@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Background:

Chengannur, a town in the south Indian state of Kerala, was 1 of the worst affected towns during the floods of 2018. Post-flood, Kerala state was under the threat of many infectious diseases including leptospirosis, but did not report any leptospirosis infections.

Objectives:

This study was conducted with the following objectives: (1) Assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding the prevention of leptospirosis among the flood affected population and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) of Chengannur; and (2) Analyze the factors responsible for and contributing to leptospirosis control in the area post flood.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional questionnaire based observational study was conducted among 2 groups: the flood affected population, and ASHA. The questionnaire was divided into 3 parts. Part A contained the socio-demographic information. Part B contained questions on assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the prevention, and control of leptospirosis. Part C was only for the ASHA involved.

Results:

The final sample size was 331 (244 from the general population and 87 ASHAs). With respect to knowledge, attitude, and practice, the responses were dichotomized into correct and wrong responses. The mean knowledge score was 9.01 ± 1.08 (maximum score of 10), mean attitude score was of 3.61 ± 0.55 (maximum score of 4) and the mean practice score was 4.12 ± 1.05 (maximum score of 5).

Conclusion:

Knowledge and attitude scores did not significantly differ between the general population and ASHA, but the practice score showed a higher score among the ASHA, all of which could have probably contributed to the prevention of a leptospirosis outbreak in the region.

Keywords

leptospirosiszoonotic diseasesfloodASHA
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , June 2022 , pp. 1123 - 1127
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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