Tick-borne encephalitis virus vaccination among tourists in a high-prevalence area (Italy, 2023): A cross-sectional study

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) represents a potential health threat for tourists in high-risk areas, including the Dolomite Mountains in northeastern Italy. The present questionnaire-based survey was, therefore, designed in order to assess knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices (KAP) in a con...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical medicine and infectious disease 2023-11, Vol.8 (11), p.1-26
Main Authors: Riccò, Matteo, Corrado, Silvia, Marchesi, Federico, Bottazzoli, Marco
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arachnids
attitudes
Bites and stings
Complications
Electronic discussion groups
Encephalitis
Health aspects
health knowledge
Immunization
Infections
Internet service providers
Medical research
Medicine, Experimental
Patients
Perceptions
Population
practices
Prevention
Public health
Questionnaires
Tick-borne diseases
Tick-borne encephalitis
Tick-borne encephalitis viruses
Travel
Vaccination
Vaccines
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Summary:Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) represents a potential health threat for tourists in high-risk areas, including the Dolomite Mountains in northeastern Italy. The present questionnaire-based survey was, therefore, designed in order to assess knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices (KAP) in a convenience sample of Italian tourists visiting the Dolomite Mountains, who were recruited through online discussion groups. A total of 942 participants (39.2% males, with 60.2% aged under 50) filled in the anonymous survey from 28 March 2023 to 20 June 2023. Overall, 24.1% of participants were vaccinated against TBE; 13.8% claimed to have previously had tick bites, but no cases of TBE were reported. The general understanding of TBE was relatively low; while 79.9% of participants acknowledged TBE as a potentially severe disease, its occurrence was acknowledged as high/rather high or very high in the Dolomites area by only 51.6% of respondents. Factors associated with the TBE vaccine were assessed by the calculation of adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals through a logistic regression analysis model. Living in areas considered at high risk for TBE (aOR 3.010, 95%CI 2.062-4.394), better knowledge on tick-borne disorders (aOR 1.515, 95%CI 1.071-2.142), high risk perception regarding tick-borne infections (aOR 2.566, 95%CI 1.806-3.646), a favorable attitude toward vaccinations (aOR 3.824, 95%CI 1.774-8.224), and a tick bite(s) in a previous season (aOR 5.479, 95%CI 3.582-8.382) were characterized as being positively associated with TBE vaccination uptake. Conversely, being
ISSN:2414-6366
2414-6366
DOI:10.3390/tropicalmed8110491