Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding echinococcosis in Xizang Autonomous Region, China

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused echinococcus parasitizes, poseing a significant economic burden on both humans and animals. There are limited studies on echinococcosis in China, especially Xizang Autonomous Region, although the area is endemic area for echinococcosis. The study aimed to provide information for strategic prevention against this disease. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among the residents in Xizang Autonomous Region, China to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and practices on endemicity of echinococcosis. A face-to-face survey was conducted to collect the data using a well-designed questionnaire. The contents included basic personal information, knowledge, attitudes and practices about echinococcosis, personal hygiene and behavior habits, dog feeding and whether they had received the information on echinococcosis, and so on. We surveyed 840 persons in practice. All data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7.2. RESULTS: Of the total particpants, 86.8% had a primary education level or below (including primary and illiterate), and even 45.0% were illiterate. Farmers and herdsmen represent the main occupations in this study. People who know all the echinococcosis-related knowledge in the questionnaire only accounted for 8.7% of the participants. However, none of the participants was aware of routes of echinococcosis infection in human or dogs. The data showed participants with higher educational background had the high awareness rate of echinococcosis-related knowledge or attitudes (chi-square for trend, χ(2) = 21.23, p<0.05 & χ(2) = 48.43, p<0.05). In addition, The percentage of the participant with awareness of echinococcosis-related practices was associated with their age and principle occupation (χ(2) = 52.72, p<0.05 & χ(2) = 20.63, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Xizang Autonomous Region is an epidemic area of Echinococcosis. The prevalence of the disease has been largely due to the lack of knowledge, awareness, and poor hygiene practice in local residences. Therefore, effective disease prevention education and awareness campaigns in community will be significantly helpful in prevention and control of echinococcosis.