Session:

Epidemiology & Public Health

Abstract No.:

53.060

Title:

Knowledge, attitude and practice on cholera and cholera vaccine among low socio-economic group of people in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh

Author(s):

T. Wahed¹, M. J. Uddin², I. A. Khan¹, S. S. T. Kaukab¹, N. C. Saha¹, F. Qadri¹; ¹International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Centre for vaccine sciences, Dhaka/BD, ²International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Centre for equity and health systems, Dhaka/BD

Abstract:

Background: The healthcare system of cholera-prone poor country like Bangladesh faces enormous burden due to financial thrashing of cholera victims each year. Community-based research and campaigns are necessary to understand community perceptions and practices regarding cholera and cholera vaccine in order to improve the situation. The present study assesses knowledge, attitude and practice on cholera and cholera vaccine among urban population of low socio-economic groups in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an area of high cholera incidence in 15 randomly selected clusters in Dhaka city. Data was collected between December 2010 and February 2011. We employed both household survey and in-depth interviews to collect data.
Results: Only 23% respondents could recognize cholera as watery diarrhea and 16% ever heard about cholera vaccine. Limited sessions of community health education in most study area were contributed to this poor knowledge. Over all, 54% percent of the respondents had poor knowledge about cholera-related issues like definition, causes, prevention and management while 97% had positive attitude towards prevention of cholera and cholera vaccine. One third of the respondents did not have good practice for prevention of cholera. Lack of adequate supply of water and gas to boil water, unconsciousness, high density of population and living places surrounded by drainage water were identified as reasons for not having good practice.This study shows significant association between respondents’ knowledge and sex, education, occupation, monthly household expenditure, attitude and practice (p<0.05). In the adjusted model, female were 74% less likely to have poor knowledge than male (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.74; 95% CI: 0.62-0.87). Compared to respondent’s high monthly household expenditure (>128US$), the significant odds (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.09-1.58) was found with the respondents who had monthly lowest household expenditure (<=93US$) that they were more likely to have poor knowledge.
Conclusion: This study recommended to strengthen health education activities to improve knowledge of low socio-economic group of people on cholera and cholera vaccine and emphasized the importance of mass cholera vaccination to prevent and control cholera.