Knowledge and practices about the prevention and the control of the influenza A H1N1 in the community of Floridablanca, Santander

María Paula Sarmiento, Oliverio Suárez, Jesús Antonio Sanabria, Cristhian Eduardo Pérez, Laura del Pilar Cadena, María Eugenia Niño, .

Keywords: Influenza A virus, H1N1 subtype, disease outbreaks, prevention and mitigation, health knowledge, attitudes, practice, residence characteristics.

Abstract

Introduction. The influenza A H1N1 generated a pandemic during 2009; governments around the world developed mitigation and control strategies to contain its spread. In Santander prevention plans in a local community were put into practice.
Objectives. The knowledge and practices of the population were assessed with respect to the prevention and control of pandemic influenza A H1N1.
Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study of a random sample of processed survey designed by one of the investigators, was conducted by personnel experienced with the survey method. Analysis was by univariate, bivariate and logistic regression methods.
Results. The sample obtained was of 340 inhabitants. Nearly the entire population (97.4%) were aware of the pandemic. Hand washing and use of surgical masks were the best known preventative actions. An association was seen between gender and level of knowledge, and between knowledge of preventative action and the media exposure. The educational level was related to symptom control measures. Age was related with the duration of hand washing and the use of quarantine.
Conclusions. The community appeared to have acceptable levels of knowledge and practices for the prevention of influenza A H1N1. Continued mitigation plans at government level were recommended to prevent the spread of influenza.

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  • María Paula Sarmiento Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
  • Oliverio Suárez Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
  • Jesús Antonio Sanabria Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
  • Cristhian Eduardo Pérez Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
  • Laura del Pilar Cadena Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia
  • María Eugenia Niño Programa de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, Bucaramanga, Colombia

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How to Cite
1.
Sarmiento MP, Suárez O, Sanabria JA, Pérez CE, Cadena L del P, Niño ME. Knowledge and practices about the prevention and the control of the influenza A H1N1 in the community of Floridablanca, Santander. biomedica [Internet]. 2011 Apr. 16 [cited 2024 May 19];31(1):91-9. Available from: https://revistabiomedica.org/index.php/biomedica/article/view/339

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