An Analysis of the Preventive Behavior and Attitudes of International Travelers from South East Asia; the Kuala Lumpur Airport Survey
<strong><span>Introduction:</span></strong><span> There has been significant growth in international tourism from South-East Asia. Travel medicine services are still quite limited in this region. Few data exists on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of travelers fro...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Travel Medicine Center of Iran
2015-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijtmgh.com/article_33159_aaa5cf6adc0e90349775643d3dc34522.pdf |
| Summary: | <strong><span>Introduction:</span></strong><span> There has been significant growth in international tourism from South-East Asia. Travel medicine services are still quite limited in this region. Few data exists on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of travelers from South-East Asia regarding the prevention of travel-related health risks. The present study aimed to characterize the travel trends and risk reduction strategies of international travelers departing from a major Malaysian airport.</span>
<strong><span>Methods:</span></strong><span> We conducted a cross-sectional survey among international travelers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. A questionnaire recorded data on the demographic profile, travel patterns, travel health protective measures, sources of pre-travel health advice, personal perception of travel-related risk, and barriers to seeking health advice, travel vaccinations and malaria chemoprophylaxis.</span>
<strong><span>Results:</span></strong><span> 36.8% of respondents had sought pre-travel health advice, mostly (64.7%) from their doctor. 23.6% of the travelers had received travel vaccinations. 40% of travelers were uninsured and over 50% did not know how to access medical care overseas. The survey revealed deficiencies in the risk perception of travelers regarding endemic infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, and rabies. A minority of the travelers reported an intention to avoid unsafe food and water, inform themselves of local disease outbreaks, pack a first-aid kit, and protect themselves from animal and mosquito bites. </span>
<strong><span>Conclusions:</span></strong><span> This study highlights areas of concern in relation to the knowledge and behavior of the travelers surveyed and points to the need for raising public awareness in South-East Asia of the risks associated with international travel and the most efficient means of mitigating those risks. </span> |
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| ISSN: | 2322-1100 2476-5759 |