Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome among temporary residents in mountains

Abstract

Background: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is a group of acute infectious diseases caused by Hantaviruses. In Kosovo the natural foci of the disease are some of the mountains. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of the temporary residents who own small houses in the mountains and are exposed to contact with rodents, the route of transmission, and the assessment of attitudes and practices.

Methods: The quantitative method with a cross-sectional model was used for the study. 204 participants from the municipalities of Deçan, Istog, and Junik who have small houses in the mountains were interviewed face to face with a standardized questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistics with 95% significance and a p-value of 0.05 were used to explain the responses of the participants.

Results: 192 respondents have heard about hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and 164 have knowledge that the disease is very serious, but only 49 consider it very serious in the place where they live. The most known symptoms are fever and flu-like symptoms (40.0%). The main known route of transmission of the disease is contact with rodents (49 %), and the rodent control is the main preventive measure (43.6%). 115 have learned about the disease from relatives and friends, and 54.9 % have had contact with the rodents during the previous season.

Conclusion: This study highlights the lack of knowledge and attitudes of residents, which consequently has an impact on the lack of practices related to the prevention of the disease.