Knowledge and Prevention Behavior on Scrub Typhus Among Akha People, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand: A Pilot Study
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Abstract
Introduction: Scrub typhus is a significant life-threatening infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. The Akha people in Chiang Rai, Thailand, who are living in an endemic area, are particularly at risk due to limited access to healthcare, language barriers, lower educational levels, and uncertain legal status. The study aimed to assess the knowledge of scrub typhus and prevention behavior among Akha people in Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.
Methods: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted between August and September 2022 among Akha individuals aged 40 and above residing in Mae Fah Luang District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Data were gathered using a three-part questionnaire: part I, general information; part II, knowledge about scrub typhus disease; and part III, scrub typhus prevention practices. The questionnaire achieved content validity scores over 0.6, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of validity test at 0.75. Descriptive statistics were used to present the findings.
Results: A total of 80 participants working in agriculture (100.0%) had a gross family income of £5,000 baht per month, more than half could not speak Thai (72.5%), almost all of them could not read Thai (96.3%) and writing Thai (95.0%). All of them did not know about scrub typhus disease (100.0%), reported that they never got sick with scrub typhus (100.0%), and had never received information about scrub typhus disease (98.8%). The scrub typhus knowledge was low (96.3%), while scrub typhus prevention practices were good (42.5%) to a very good level (33.8%).
Conclusion: Akha people living in the pandemic area have a low knowledge level of scrub typhus, and their prevention practices levels are relatively good to very good. Public health interventions to improve Akha people’s knowledge and preventive practices on scrub typhus disease should be implemented.
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