Protective practices against tick bites in Denmark, Norway and Sweden: a questionnaire-based study.
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Denmark
/ epidemiology
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Insect Repellents
/ administration & dosage
Male
Middle Aged
Norway
/ epidemiology
Protective Clothing
/ statistics & numerical data
Self-Examination
/ statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Sweden
/ epidemiology
Tick Bites
/ prevention & control
Tick-Borne Diseases
/ epidemiology
Young Adult
Europe
Nordic countries
Protective behaviour
Scandinavia
Tick
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
22 Oct 2019
22 Oct 2019
Historique:
received:
15
01
2019
accepted:
11
09
2019
entrez:
24
10
2019
pubmed:
24
10
2019
medline:
11
1
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Tick-borne infections are of emerging and increasing concern in the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Only few studies have investigated protective practices against tick bites in the general population. The aim of this multi-country study was to assess the use of protective practices and the perception of the efficacy of them. We surveyed the extent of using protective practices against tick bites, using the same questionnaire in three local languages. In addition, we surveyed perceptions of how good a protection the different practices provide. Altogether 783 individuals from Denmark, 789 from Norway and 1096 from Sweden participated in the study by completing an extensive online questionnaire in October 2016. Altogether 1011 respondents (37.9%) reported using at least three different protective practices either often or always when in areas where there are ticks, while 522 (19.6%) reported using none. Female gender was among the factors identified as positively associated with using several of the specific practices often or always when in areas where there are ticks. The gender-difference in extent of using protective practices against tick bites was particularly pronounced in Sweden. Based on a multivariable logistic regression model, being female, being from Sweden, and having experienced one or more tick bites were positively associated with using at least three different protective practices against tick bites either often or always when in areas where there are ticks (odds ratios 1.90, 1.87 and 1.88, respectively). The results of our study, especially the observed differences by country and by gender, can be useful in targeting future information to the public. In particular, our results suggest that men across all ages should be considered a specific target group for this information.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Tick-borne infections are of emerging and increasing concern in the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Only few studies have investigated protective practices against tick bites in the general population. The aim of this multi-country study was to assess the use of protective practices and the perception of the efficacy of them.
METHODS
METHODS
We surveyed the extent of using protective practices against tick bites, using the same questionnaire in three local languages. In addition, we surveyed perceptions of how good a protection the different practices provide. Altogether 783 individuals from Denmark, 789 from Norway and 1096 from Sweden participated in the study by completing an extensive online questionnaire in October 2016.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Altogether 1011 respondents (37.9%) reported using at least three different protective practices either often or always when in areas where there are ticks, while 522 (19.6%) reported using none. Female gender was among the factors identified as positively associated with using several of the specific practices often or always when in areas where there are ticks. The gender-difference in extent of using protective practices against tick bites was particularly pronounced in Sweden. Based on a multivariable logistic regression model, being female, being from Sweden, and having experienced one or more tick bites were positively associated with using at least three different protective practices against tick bites either often or always when in areas where there are ticks (odds ratios 1.90, 1.87 and 1.88, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study, especially the observed differences by country and by gender, can be useful in targeting future information to the public. In particular, our results suggest that men across all ages should be considered a specific target group for this information.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31640665
doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7613-4
pii: 10.1186/s12889-019-7613-4
pmc: PMC6805683
doi:
Substances chimiques
Insect Repellents
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1344Subventions
Organisme : Interreg V Program
ID : 20200422
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