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Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community MedicineNOW IN
Article

A Cross-sectional Survey on the Knowledge and Attitudes towards Zika Virus and its Prevention among Residents of Selangor, Malaysia

Mohammad Arief1, Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali2, Fahad Saleem3, Muhammad Umair Khan4, Akram Ahmad1, Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathulha5, Shazia Qasim Jamshed6★★ Corresponding author

  1. 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur-56000, Malaysia.
  2. 2Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Scienc-es, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
  3. 3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
  4. 4Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
  5. 5Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Gondar-College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Gondar, Ethiopia.
  6. 6Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

CORRESPONDENCE

Shazia Qasim Jamshed

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kulliyyah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

shazia_12@yahoo.com

Received: 21-12-2016; Revised: 10-01-2016; Accepted: 19-03-2017.

Volume 3, Issue 2 · pp. 81–89 · PUBLISHED · DOI: 10.5530/jppcm.2017.2.20

View on JPPCM original site ↗

ABSTRACT

Objective:The objectives of this study were to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes towards ZIKV and its prevention among residents of Selangor, Malaysia. Methods:A pre-tested, self administered, cross-sectional survey involving 400 participants was conducted from January to February 2016 in Selangor, a most populated state of Malaysia. Participants were selected using a purposive sampling approach. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were applied to analyze the data.Results: Of 400 surveys included in the final analysis, 286 (71.5%) respondents showed good knowledge towards ZIKV. The mean knowledge score of the participants was 10.94 ± 3.89. A total of 298 (74.5%) respondents showed a positive attitude towards ZIKV and its prevention. The mean attitude score of the participants was 7.10 ± 2.80 (based on 10 questions). One-third of participants (n=132, 33%) did not consider the need of any protective measure if the male partner is suspected of having ZIKV. A large proportion of respondents (n=190, 47.5%) did not consider Malaysia at risk of ZIKV. Participants’ main source of information about ZIKV was the internet. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlighted important gaps in the knowledge and attitudes of Selangor residents towards ZIKV and its prevention. There is a need for developing customized interventions to bridge these gaps as it is critical to prevent the spread of ZIKV in Malaysia.

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    Arief, M., Hassali, M. A. A., Saleem, F., Khan, M. U., Ahmad, A., Bhagavathulha, A. S., & Jamshed, S. Q. (). A Cross-sectional Survey on the Knowledge and Attitudes towards Zika Virus and its Prevention among Residents of Selangor, Malaysia. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine, 3(2), 81–89. https://doi.org/10.5530/jppcm.2017.2.20