| Summary, etc. |
This study aims to: (1) asses respondents? information environment on leptospirosis; (2) assess the knowledge, risk perceptions and preventive practices of respondents regarding leptospirosis; (3) ascertain the relationship between information environment and respondents? knowledge, perception of risk and prevention of leptospirosis; and (4) ascertain the relationship between respondents? socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, risk perception and prevention of leptospirosis. The study followed the one-shot survey design with the use of an interview schedule. Respondents were drawn through stratified random sampling procedure. In the survey, 150 randomly selected respondents were interviewed. In general, the information environment regarding leptospirosis at New Matina Gravahan, Davao City is poor and demonstrated influence on the level of knowledge, perception of risk and prevention of leptospirosis of the residents. Health Information source is significantly correlated with knowledge, perceived severity of the disease, perceived barriers of following the preventive measures, perceived self-efficacy to follow the preventive measures, and prevention behavior. Information exposure has high significant to significant association with knowledge, perceived self-efficacy for prevention and leptospirosis prevention. In addition, the results show knowledge to have high significant relationships with perceived severity of leptospirosis, perceived benefits of leptospirosis prevention, perceived barriers to prevention, perceived self-efficacy for prevention, likelihood of prevention and prevention. Furthermore, Spearman?s rank correlation coefficient revealed significant associations with the perceived severity of leptospirosis is significantly associated with perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and prevention. This denotes that the Health Belief Model (HBM) is effective in predicting preventive behaviors. Moreover, chi-square test revealed that is significantly related to knowledge, perceived severity of the disease, perceived barriers to prevention, perceived self-efficacy for prevention and prevention behavior. In addition, education demonstrated significant relationship with knowledge, perceived severity, and perceived barriers to prevention, perceived self-efficacy for prevention, likelihood of prevention and prevention behavior. The results identify important factors that should be considered in the design of effective communication intervention for leptospirosis. |
