Community’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practice toward Leptospirosis and its Prevention and Control: A Systematic Review

Mohd Rohaizat Hassan; Nor Rumaizah Mohd Nordin; Firdaus Hayati; Nazarudin Safian; Hani Kartini Agustar; Siti Khairani Bejo; Rahmat Dapari; Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim; Zahir Izuan Azhar; Mohammad Saffree Jeffree

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2023.10887

Authors

Mohd Rohaizat Hassan Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Borneo Medical Health and Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4658-6532
Nor Rumaizah Mohd Nordin Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5758-9248
Firdaus Hayati Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Nazarudin Safian Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hani Kartini Agustar Department of Earth Sciences and Environmental, Faculty of Science and Technology, UKM, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Siti Khairani Bejo Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
Rahmat Dapari Department of Community Health, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3915-0340
Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9090-2563
Zahir Izuan Azhar Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sungai Buloh Campus, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7505-0438
Mohammad Saffree Jeffree Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0373-4451

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2023.10887

Keywords:

Attitude, Leptospirosis, Knowledge, Practice, Prevention

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have been conducted on the level of knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices (KAP) towards leptospirosis, descriptively, analytically pertaining to its relationship and also associated factors such as sociodemographic and economic factors. Over the years, different community settings and sampling frames were applied.

AIM: The goal of this review is to identify available literature evidence on the community's knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours about leptospirosis, taking into account variations and similarities in techniques, tools, and data analysis.

METHODS: A literature search was undertaken using the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Ovid. Open access articles produced between 2011 and 2021 were analysed, with an emphasis on community's KAP.

RESULTS: Eight articles met the inclusion benchmarks. The relationship between knowledge, attitude and preventive practices is not congruent. However, most studies showed that good knowledge is attributed to good attitude, but attitude does not necessarily contribute to good practice. Socio-demographic factors such as educational level, ethnicity, age, income and geographical location (distance to the river) have an influence on knowledge, attitude and practice.

CONCLUSION: More KAP studies with standardised methodology and questionnaires regarding leptospirosis are required in order to formulate effective, sustainable and replicable health program interventions to prevent the community from leptospirosis infection and fatality. In the future, more qualitative studies should be done to further investigate and combine with quantitative studies to form prediction modelling.

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