Table 2.
Attitudes, practices, and knowledge status on West Nile Virus (WNV) and West Nile Fever (WNF) in 243 residents from the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia participating in the survey and having any self-reported knowledge of the WNV.
| Attitudes and Practices | No./243, % |
|---|---|
| Previous diagnosis of WNV? | 7, 2.9% |
| Previous diagnosis of WNV in relatives? | 5, 2.1% |
| Previous diagnosis of WNV in friends? | 11, 4.5% |
| Any previous interaction with WNV | 13, 5.3% |
| Do you believe WNV may cause a serious disease? | |
| Somewhat agree | 186, 76.5% |
| Somewhat disagree | 57, 23.5% |
| How worried are you that you will get sick with WNV? | |
| Somewhat worried | 76, 31.3% |
| Somewhat not worried | 167, 68.7% |
| How likely is it that you will be able to protect yourself from WNV? | |
| Somewhat likely | 32, 13.2% |
| Somewhat unlikely | 211, 86.8% |
| Risk Perception Score (average ± S.D.) | 26.7% ± 20.3 |
| Willing to accept a WNV vaccine (if available)? | |
| Yes | 142, 58.4% |
| No | 101, 41.6% |
| Amount willing to pay for WNV vaccine (if available) | |
| Not interested/Against vaccination | 4, 1.6% |
| WNV vaccine should be available free of charge | 159, 65.4% |
| <10€/shot | 18, 7.4% |
| 10–49€/shot | 35, 14.4% |
| 50–99€/shot | 20, 8.2% |
| 100–149€/shot | 4, 1.6% |
| 150–199€/shot | 3, 1.2% |
| 200€/shot or more | 0, - |
| Knowledge test | |
| 1. Cases of WNV have occurred in the Emilia Romagna Region in the last 5 years? | |
| True (CORRECT) | 149, 61.3% |
| False/Don’t know | 94, 35.2% |
| 2. How do you think most people get WNV? | |
| Eating or drinking contaminated food or water | 0, - |
| Mosquito bites (CORRECT) | 204, 84.0% |
| Tick bites | 2, 0.8% |
| Contact with Birds | 0, - |
| Contact with cattle | 2, 0.8% |
| Contact with sick people | 0, - |
| Don’t know | 35, 14.4% |
| 3. What age group is most likely to get seriously ill with WNV? | |
| Young children (<11 years) | 5, 2.1% |
| Adolescents (11–18 years) | 0, - |
| Young adults (19–25 years) | 0, - |
| Adults (26–50 years) | 6, 2.5% |
| Adults and Elderly (>50 years) (CORRECT) | 79, 32.5% |
| All of the above | 49, 20.2% |
| Don’t know | 104, 42.8% |
| 4. People sick with WNF may spread viral infection? | |
| True | 29, 11.9% |
| False (CORRECT) | 108, 44.4% |
| Don’t know | 106, 43.6% |
| 5. Most of the affected people are substantially asymptomatic | |
| True (TRUE) | 59, 24.3% |
| False | 71, 29.2% |
| Don’t know | 113, 46.5% |
| 6. A vaccine against WNV is to date commercially available? | |
| True | 6, 2.5% |
| False (FALSE) | 131, 53.9% |
| Don’t know | 106, 43.6% |
| 7. Which behaviors are recommended to avoid getting WNV? | |
| Drain standing water from items and the environment around the home (CORRECT) | 200, 87.3% |
| Treat standing water from items and the environment around the home (CORRECT) | 150, 61.7% |
| Preventive vaccination | 22, 9.1% |
| Wearing long-sleeved shirts (even in summer season) (CORRECT) | 99, 40.7% |
| Wearing long pants (even in summer season) (CORRECT) | 86, 35.4% |
| Use of skin repellent (CORRECT) | 134, 55.1% |
| Disinfection against mosquitos (CORRECT) | 91, 37.4% |
| Avoid going in mosquito-infested areas at dawn and dusk (CORRECT) | 129, 53.1% |
| Use of mosquito repellents (such as lemongrass candles, etc.) (CORRECT) | 39, 16.0% |
| Put the end of your pants inside of your shoes | 20, 8.2% |
| Use of large hats | 7, 2.9% |
| Knowledge Score (average ± S.D.) | 47.7% ± 26.3 |
| Knowledge Score > median (46.2%) | 119, 49.0% |
Note. WNV = West Nile Virus; WNF = West Nile Fever.