Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Leptospirosis among Lakeshore Communities of Calamba and Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Joseph Arbiol, Pedcris M. Orencio, November Romena, Hisako Nomura, Yoshifumi Takahashi and Mitsuyasu Yabe
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Joseph Arbiol: Laboratory of Environmental Economics, Graduate School of Bio-resources and Bio-environmental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
Pedcris M. Orencio: Batangas City Program Coordinator, United States Agency for International Development, Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity Project, Makati City 1227, Philippines
November Romena: National Fisheries Research & Development Institute, Quezon City, Manila 1103, Philippines
Hisako Nomura: Attached Promotive Center for International Education and Research of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
Yoshifumi Takahashi: Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
Mitsuyasu Yabe: Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan

Agriculture, 2016, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a serious and potentially fatal zoonotic disease, but often neglected owing to lack of awareness. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning leptospirosis among agricultural ( n = 152) and non-agricultural ( n = 115) workers in the lakeshore communities of Calamba and Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. The findings showed no significant differences for the knowledge and attitude scores between agricultural and non-agricultural workers. However, agricultural workers had significantly lower prevention practice scores than non-agricultural workers. The ordinary least squares regression model identified gender, use of broadcast media as a source of health information, and knowledge and attitudes about leptospirosis as significant predictors of prevention practices common to both workers. Higher educational attainment was significantly associated with prevention practices among agricultural workers, while higher age and income level were significantly associated with prevention practices among non-agricultural workers. Public health interventions to improve leptospirosis knowledge and prevention practices should include health education and promotion programs, along with the strengthening of occupational health and safety programs in the agricultural sector.

Keywords: leptospirosis; KAP; zoonotic disease; occupational health and safety; agriculture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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