Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan
Introduction: This study aimed to assess student awareness of the pandemic pdmH1N1, including the students' attitudes and perceptions about treatment, severity of disease and preventive measures. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of Dow University of H...
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2011-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1247 |
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| author | Zubair Ali Khowaja Muhammad Idrees Soomro Abdul Khaliq Pirzada Muhammed Ahmed Yoosuf Vinod Kumar |
| author_facet | Zubair Ali Khowaja Muhammad Idrees Soomro Abdul Khaliq Pirzada Muhammed Ahmed Yoosuf Vinod Kumar |
| author_sort | Zubair Ali Khowaja |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Introduction: This study aimed to assess student awareness of the pandemic pdmH1N1, including the students' attitudes and perceptions about treatment, severity of disease and preventive measures.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and results were analyzed using SPSS version 16.
Results: A total of 396 medical students participated in this study with a mean age of 21 (± 1.4). About 365 (92.2%) were unaware of pdmH1N1. It was identified as a viral disease by 339 (85.6%) students, and 282 (71.2%) students correctly identified it as a disease affecting humans and pigs. The most common source of knowledge was television by 259 (65.4%) respondents. Most common symptoms identified were fever by 287 (72.5%), sore throat by 169 (42.7%) and cough by 127 (32.1%). Regarding vaccine, 290 (73.2%) respondents replied that it is not available and 204 (51.5%) said there is no treatment available for pdmH1N1. In severity scale 162 (40.9%) students rated it as fatal disease. According to 205 (51.8%) respondents, avoiding close contact with sick people is an effective preventive measure followed by washing hands with soap 150 (37.1%).
Conclusion: The awareness regarding pdmH1N1 was not adequate among students regarding disease transmission, preventive measures, vaccinations, and available treatment. As the pdmH1N1 has become a worldwide public health problem and Pakistan is at risk of outbreak, increased awareness would be a solution to avoid its spread and complications.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-17728d89ca9a4eb9baf1c975347f63c8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1972-2680 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2011-03-01 |
| publisher | The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
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| series | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| spelling | doaj-art-17728d89ca9a4eb9baf1c975347f63c82025-08-20T02:27:23ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802011-03-0150310.3855/jidc.1247Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, PakistanZubair Ali Khowaja0Muhammad Idrees Soomro1Abdul Khaliq Pirzada2Muhammed Ahmed Yoosuf3Vinod Kumar4Dow University Of Health Science Karachi PakistanDow University Of Health Science Karachi PakistanDow University Of Health Science Karachi PakistanDow University Of Health Science Karachi PakistanDow University Of Health Science Karachi Pakistan Introduction: This study aimed to assess student awareness of the pandemic pdmH1N1, including the students' attitudes and perceptions about treatment, severity of disease and preventive measures. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students of Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and results were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: A total of 396 medical students participated in this study with a mean age of 21 (± 1.4). About 365 (92.2%) were unaware of pdmH1N1. It was identified as a viral disease by 339 (85.6%) students, and 282 (71.2%) students correctly identified it as a disease affecting humans and pigs. The most common source of knowledge was television by 259 (65.4%) respondents. Most common symptoms identified were fever by 287 (72.5%), sore throat by 169 (42.7%) and cough by 127 (32.1%). Regarding vaccine, 290 (73.2%) respondents replied that it is not available and 204 (51.5%) said there is no treatment available for pdmH1N1. In severity scale 162 (40.9%) students rated it as fatal disease. According to 205 (51.8%) respondents, avoiding close contact with sick people is an effective preventive measure followed by washing hands with soap 150 (37.1%). Conclusion: The awareness regarding pdmH1N1 was not adequate among students regarding disease transmission, preventive measures, vaccinations, and available treatment. As the pdmH1N1 has become a worldwide public health problem and Pakistan is at risk of outbreak, increased awareness would be a solution to avoid its spread and complications. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1247pdmH1N1Swine fluflu awarenessinfluenza pandemicstudent awareness |
| spellingShingle | Zubair Ali Khowaja Muhammad Idrees Soomro Abdul Khaliq Pirzada Muhammed Ahmed Yoosuf Vinod Kumar Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan Journal of Infection in Developing Countries pdmH1N1 Swine flu flu awareness influenza pandemic student awareness |
| title | Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_full | Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_short | Awareness of the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in Karachi, Pakistan |
| title_sort | awareness of the pandemic h1n1 influenza global outbreak 2009 among medical students in karachi pakistan |
| topic | pdmH1N1 Swine flu flu awareness influenza pandemic student awareness |
| url | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1247 |
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