Knowledge and awareness towards Swine Flu pandemic among a sample of paramedicals serving in primary health care centers in Baghdad

Abstract

Swine Flu is a respiratory illness of pigs caused by type A H1N1 influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs, while Swine Flu viruses normally do not infect human, the disease that has spread lastly to human, is a version of this virus, it was first identified in Mexico at April 2009,people have full resistance against it, so a cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 randomly selected paramedicals serving in ten different PHCCs in Baghdad, to find out their knowledge and awareness towards Swine Flu. Data was collected by using previously structured questionnaires including 23 statements concerning the knowledge of disease, data was statistically analyzed by using simple binomial tests. The results show that the majority of correct premedical’s responses regarding disease definition(98.4%),spread of viruses between people through coughing or sneezing(97.6%),disease symptomatology similar to seasonal influenza (91.2%), immune suppressed people are more vulnerable to death(91.2%), different economic hazards(95.2%),prevention of disease through covering mouth and nose during coughing or sneezing(97.6%), only some disappointing responses regarding previous disease pandemics(35.%), circulation of the virus in humans, pigs and birds(42. 8%),no airborne infection between infected pigs (20.6%) and there are multiple vaccines given to pigs and not to human(19%).
Conclusion: An overall acceptable level of paramedicas knowledge and awareness regarding Swine Flu. Recommendation was suggested for additional training and educational programmes as intensive courses for short periods with all available methods.