Background

Dengue is linked with climate change in tropical and sub-tropical countries including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) and Thailand. Knowledge about these issues and preventive measures can affect the incidence and outbreak risk of dengue. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among urban and rural communities and government officials about climate change and dengue in Laos and Thailand.

Methods

A cross-sectional KAP survey about climate change and dengue were conducted in 360 households in Laos (180 urban and 180 rural), 359 households in Thailand (179 urban and 180 rural), and 20 government officials (10 in each country) using structured questionnaires. Data analysis was undertaken using descriptive methods, principal component analysis, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test (as appropriate), and logistic regression.

Results

Significant differences among the selected communities in both countries were found in terms of household participant's age, level of education, socioeconomic status, attitude level of climate change and KAP level of dengue (P < 0.05; 95% CI). Overall, participants’ KAP about climate change and dengue were low except the attitude level for dengue in both countries. The level of awareness among government officials regarding the climatic relationship with dengue was also low.

In Lao households, participants’ knowledge about climate change and dengue was significantly associated with the level of education and socioeconomic status (SES) (P < 0.01). Their attitudes towards climate change and dengue were associated with educational level and internet use (P < 0.05). Householders' climate change related practices were associated with SES (P < 0.01) and dengue related practices were associated with educational level, SES, previous dengue experience and internet use (P < 0.01).

In Thailand, participants’ knowledge about climate change was associated with the level of education and SES (P < 0.01). Their attitudes towards climate change were associated with residence status (urban/rural) and internet use (P < 0.05); climate change related practices were associated with educational level and SES (P < 0.05). Dengue related knowledge of participants was associated with SES and previous dengue experience (P < 0.05); participants’ dengue related attitudes and practices were associated with educational level (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The findings call for urgently needed integrated awareness programs to increase KAP levels regarding climate change adaptation, mitigation and dengue prevention to improve the health and welfare of people in these two countries, and similar dengue-endemic countries.

中文翻译：

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老挝人民民主共和国和泰国关于气候变化和登革热的知识，态度和做法

背景

登革热与热带和亚热带国家（包括老挝人民民主共和国（老挝）和泰国）的气候变化有关。有关这些问题和预防措施的知识可能会影响登革热的发病率和爆发风险。因此，本研究旨在确定城市和农村社区以及政府官员中关于老挝和泰国的气候变化和登革热的知识，态度和做法（KAP）。

方法

关于气候变化和登革热的KAP横断面调查采用结构化方法，在老挝的360户家庭（180个城市和180个农村），泰国359户（179个城市和180个农村）以及20位政府官员（每个国家10个）问卷。数据分析使用描述性方法，主成分分析，卡方检验或Fisher精确检验（视情况而定）和逻辑回归进行。

结果

在家庭参与者的年龄，受教育程度，社会经济地位，气候变化的态度水平和登革热的KAP水平方面，两国选定的社区之间存在显着差异（P <0.05； 95％CI）。总体而言，除了两国对登革热的态度水平外，参与者对气候变化和登革热的KAP均较低。政府官员对与登革热的气候关系的认识水平也很低。

在老挝家庭，参与者对气候变化和登革热的了解与教育程度和社会经济地位（SES）显着相关（P <0.01）。他们对气候变化和登革热的态度与教育水平和互联网使用相关（P <0.05）。居民与气候变化相关的实践与社会经济状况相关（P <0.01），与登革热相关的实践与教育水平，社会经济环境，以前的登革热经验和互联网使用相关（P <0.01）。

在泰国，参与者对气候变化的了解与教育水平和社会经济地位相关（P <0.01）。他们对气候变化的态度与居住状况（城市/农村）和互联网使用相关（P <0.05）；与气候变化有关的实践与教育程度和社会经济地位相关（P <0.05）。参与者与登革热相关的知识与SES和先前的登革热经历相关（P <0.05）；参与者与登革热相关的态度和做法与教育程度相关（P <0.01）。

结论

研究结果呼吁迫切需要综合意识计划，以提高有关气候变化适应，缓解和登革热预防的KAP水平，以改善这两个国家和类似登革热流行国家人民的健康和福利。