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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Factors associated with preventive behaviors regarding Lyme disease in Canada and Switzerland: a comparative study

Authors: Cécile Aenishaenslin, Pascal Michel, André Ravel, Lise Gern, François Milord, Jean-Philippe Waaub, Denise Bélanger

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Lyme disease (LD) is a vector-borne disease that is endemic in many temperate countries, including Switzerland, and is currently emerging in Canada. This study compares the importance of knowledge, exposure and risk perception for the adoption of individual preventive measures, within and between two different populations, one that has been living in a LD endemic region for several decades, the Neuchâtel canton in Switzerland, and another where the disease is currently emerging, the Montérégie region in the province of Québec, Canada.

Methods

A web-based survey was carried out in both study regions (814 respondents) in 2012. Comparative analysis of the levels of adoption of individual preventive measures was performed and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to test and compare how knowledge, exposure and risk perception were associated with the adoption of selected measures in both regions and globally.

Results

In Montérégie, the proportion of reported adoption of five of the most commonly recommended preventive measures varied from 6% for ‘applying acaricides on one’s property’ to 49% for ‘wearing protective clothing’, and in Neuchâtel, proportions ranged from 6% (acaricides) to 77% for ‘checking for ticks (tick check)’. Differences were found within gender, age groups and exposure status in both regions. The perceived efficacy of a given measure was the strongest factor associated with the adoption of three specific preventive behaviors for both regions: tick check, protective clothing and tick repellent. Risk perception and a high level of knowledge about LD were also significantly associated with some of these specific behaviors, but varied by region.

Conclusions

These results strongly suggest that social and contextual factors such as the epidemiological status of a region are important considerations to take into account when designing effective prevention campaigns for Lyme disease. It furthermore underlines the importance for public health authorities to better understand and monitor these factors in targeted populations in order to be able to implement preventive programs that are well adapted to a population and the epidemiological contexts therein.
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Metadata
Title
Factors associated with preventive behaviors regarding Lyme disease in Canada and Switzerland: a comparative study
Authors
Cécile Aenishaenslin
Pascal Michel
André Ravel
Lise Gern
François Milord
Jean-Philippe Waaub
Denise Bélanger
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1539-2

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