Table 2.
Knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza and sources of health information—Soweto (n = 973) and Klerksdorp (n = 1442), South Africa, 2012
| Survey question | Soweto n (%) | Klerksdorp n (%) | P‐value |
|---|---|---|---|
| What symptoms are associated with influenza? a | |||
| Cough | 590 (61) | 970 (67) | 0·0008 |
| Runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing | 513 (53) | 801 (56) | 0·2 |
| Fever, chills, sweats | 387 (40) | 647 (45) | 0·01 |
| Headache | 142 (15) | 151 (10) | 0·002 |
| Sore throat | 95 (10) | 92 (6) | 0·002 |
| Fatigue | 64 (7) | 37 (3) | <0·0001 |
| Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain | 61 (6) | 41 (3) | <0·0001 |
| Other symptoms | 130 (13) | 106 (7) | <0·0001 |
| Don't know | 41 (4) | 20 (1) | <0·001 |
| What causes influenza? b | |||
| Weather or cold | 692 (71) | 1247 (87) | <0·0001 |
| Virus, bacteria, or germs | 204 (21) | 76 (5) | <0·0001 |
| Dirty environment | 107 (11) | 76 (5) | <0·0001 |
| Other | 72 (7) | 16 (1) | <0·0001 |
| Don't know | 123 (13) | 118 (8) | 0·0003 |
| Can people die from influenza? c | |||
| Yes | 642 (66) | 855 (59) | <0·0001 |
| No | 204 (21) | 437 (30) | |
| Don't know | 125 (13) | 147 (10) | |
| Where do you get most of your information on health‐related matters? d | |||
| Clinics or hospitals | 497 (51) | 909 (63) | <0·0001 |
| Television | 187 (19) | 168 (12) | |
| Radio | 124 (13) | 291 (20) | |
| Newspapers | 61 (6) | 24 (2) | |
| Internet | 19 (2) | 7 (<1) | |
| Friends or relatives | 15 (2) | 21 (1) | |
| Church or religious organization | 7 (1) | 4 (<1) | |
| Traditional healers | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 53 (5) | 10 (1) | |
| Don't know | 9 (1) | 8 (1) | |
a
Percents reported out of 1441 in Klerksdorp and 973 in Soweto. More than one response could be selected.
b
Percents reported out of 1440 in Klerksdorp and 972 in Soweto. More than one response could be selected.
c
Percents reported out of 1439 in Klerksdorp and 971 in Soweto.
d
Percents reported out of 1442 in Klerksdorp and 972 in Soweto.