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Thesis
Travel-Associated Diseases: Trends, Knowledge's, Attitudes and Practices
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
May 2010
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3588
Abstract
Background: Travelers are at risk of acquiring disease while abroad. Travel-associated diseases can cause a range of illnesses and if left untreated, become fatal. Although preventable, the public health burden of these diseases remains significant. Very little is known about how travelers perceive risk associated with travel. Objective: Assess various aspects of travel health by administering a knowledge attitudes and practice survey and conducting a case-series analysis of five travel-associated diseases in Philadelphia residents from 2004-2009. Methods: The survey was administered to individuals waiting to board an international flight at the Philadelphia International Airport in March. The travel-associated diseases analyzed in the case-series analysis were defined as persons diagnosed with malaria, dengue, amebiasis, giardia, or hepatitis A that reported a history of travel during their investigation. Results: Approximately 201/246 (82%) persons completed the survey. Only 20% of the individuals reported obtaining pre-travel health advice. Approximately 21% could correctly identify all of the potentially harmful foods. Case-series analysis data showed from 2004-2009, 85/85 (100%) malaria, 10/10 (100%) dengue, 21/92 (23%) hepatitis A, 172/548 (31%) giardia, and 19/65 (29%) amebiasis cases were attributed to travel in Philadelphia. Among hepatitis A cases 100% did not receive vaccine and 58% of malaria cases did not take prophylaxis. Conclusion: Despite travel health recommendations, travelers are not utilizing preventative measures available to them including pre-travel health advice, vaccination, and prophylaxis. Respondent's knowledge of potential risk associated with travel appears low. To address gaps in knowledge educational efforts need to address all travelers about potential risks associated with travel.
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Details
- Title
- Travel-Associated Diseases
- Creators
- Neika Vendetti - DU
- Contributors
- Seth Welles (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Public Health (2002-2015); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 3588; 991014632240304721