Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding influenza prevention in California-Baja California border populations

Thousands of people cross the United States-Mexico border daily. Significant communicable disease issues occurring on one side of the border will impact the other side, particularly diseases that spread readily from person-to-person, such as influenza. To improve prevention and educational efforts, a knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors survey relating to influenza among adults presenting at community clinics along the California/Baja California border was conducted.

Between November 2007 and June 2008, questionnaires will be administered to a convenience sample of 200 adults recruited from two California border clinics.

Of 96 subjects interviewed to date, all were Hispanic/Latino, with median age of 46 years; 77% were female. Among 91 subjects aware of the influenza vaccine, 85% believed the vaccine was somewhat or very effective, 95% thought it was somewhat or very important to get vaccinated, and 51% reported ever getting vaccinated. Among the 49% of respondents at risk for influenza complications, only 50% reported vaccination for the 2006-2007 influenza season. Most respondents believed influenza could easily spread from person to person (88%), but only 34% thought influenza could make them severely ill. Most respondents believed they could protect themselves from influenza by getting influenza vaccine (92%), washing hands frequently (76%), and taking antibiotics (65%). Respondents reported that if they got influenza they should wash hands frequently (86%), and take antibiotics (80%).

Awareness of the influenza vaccine was high in this population, however vaccination among persons at risk for complications from influenza was suboptimal, and misconceptions about prevention and treatment of influenza were common.