Universitas Indonesia Conferences, The 4th International Conference for Global Health (ICGH)

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Pre-travelling health seeking behaviour and predictors of knowledge about vaccines and attitude towards travel health among Malaysian travellers: An online survey
Zulkhairul Naim Bin Sidek Ahmad

Last modified: 2019-09-11

Abstract


INTRODUCTION: Travellers are at higher risk of acquiring medical and health related problems especially travel-associated diseases and this remain significant public health burden.  As a numbers of Malaysians engaging in international travel increases, so the risk of acquiring travel associated diseases also increase. This study aimed to assess the pre-travelling health seeking behaviour and to   determine factors that can predict knowledge about vaccines and attitude towards travel health among Malaysian travellers.

METHODS: the online survey was conducted from December 2017 till March 2018 among 226 Malaysian travellers. They were asked about their demographic data, pre-travelling health behaviours and knowledge about vaccine preventable diseases and travel health.

RESULTS: 51.3% and 63.7% of these travellers did pursue health related information about the destination before departure and acquired information about potential travel hazards in the destination, respectively. Participant’s age, monthly income, seeking information on health before departure, acquire information about potential hazard, and seek travel health advice from medical professionals were found to be significant predictor of knowledge about vaccine preventable disease. The results of this study indicated that travellers’ gender, household income and seek travel health advice from health professional were significantly associated with attitude about travel health.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggesting that socio-demographic and pre-traveller health seeking behaviour influence the knowledge about travel health.  Hence, there is a public health need for health outreach programs targeting this group.