Community Awareness about Diphtheria Prevention and Control in Hodeidah, Yemen 2018
Abdulla Salem Bin Ghouth *
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Mukalla, Yemen.
Mohammed Amood AL–Kamarany
Faculty of Clinical Pharmacy and Center of Tropical Medicine, Hodeidah University, Yemen.
Khalid Suhail
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Elham El-Absy
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Tarek Abdulkarim
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Munear Majam
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Yousra Khabaz
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Wafa Faqeeh
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Wardah Al-Mahwety
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Walled Abu Talib
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Asma Al-Dhahwi
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Mohammad Hijam
Department of Community Medicine, Hadramout University College of Medicine (HUCOM), Center of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases (CTMID), AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Marwan Al-Ahdal
Department of Pediatric, Authority of AL-Thawara Public Hospital, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Hashem Muamer
Epidemiological Surveillance Administration, Office of Public Health and Population, Hodeidah, Yemen.
Sameer Bokhamy
Epidemiological Surveillance Administration, Office of Public Health and Population, Hodeidah, Yemen.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Unfortunately; diphtheria occurres in Yemen as a fatal epidemic since the end of 2017. Al-Hodeida governorate (at Western Yemen) is represented as the second governorate in Yemen for the burden of diphtheria epidemic. Different NGOs and ministry of health conducted control measures to combat the epidemic including health education but the awareness of the local inhabitants was not assessed before.
Aim: To assess the community awareness towards diphtheria prevention and control.
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Place and Duration of the Study: Three districts in Hodeidah governorate in Yemen (Al-Hali, Al-Hawak and Biat Al-Faqih districts). The study is conducted during January 2018.
Methodology: A sample size of 336 adults over 18 years of age living in the targeted districts were recruited in the study. The data was collected through patient's home visits.
Results: The mean awareness score of diphtheria is 2.8, this is a poor indicator, because it is less than the expected mean score of 3.5. The mean awareness score in males is 10.9, while in females is 10.3, but the difference is not significant. Only 41% of persons interviewed are aware about the disease (35.3% in Al-Hawak and 31.9% in Al-Hali districts), better awareness were observed in Biat Al-Faqih district (70.7%). Knowledge about the availability of vaccine against diphtheria is of the highest proportion (47.6%) while poorest knowledge is regarding the transmission of the disease (37.5%).
Conclusion: The local community is not aware about diphtheria as a fatal disease.
Keywords: Diphtheria, awareness, Yemen.