Emily K K Fong1, Lisa G Pell2, Ahmed Faress3, Jenny Hoang Nguyen4, Xiao Wei Ma2, Ray E Lam5, Debra Louch5, Michelle E Science6, Shaun K Morris7. 1. Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 2. Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. 3. Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada. 4. Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 5. Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. 6. Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. 7. Centre for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: shaun.morris@sickkids.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Infectious and non-infectious risks associated with international travel can be reduced with adherence to pre-travel advice from practitioners trained in travel medicine. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care children's hospital to assess adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis, safe water and food consumption, mosquito bite protection, motor vehicle safety and travel vaccines using structured questionnaires. High risk groups assessed included child travelers and those visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). RESULTS: In total, 290 participants (133 children and 157 adults) were enrolled and completed at least one study questionnaire. In general, with the exception of vaccines, adherence to recommendations was sub-optimal. Among children and adults, adherence to malaria prophylaxis recommendations was lower in VFRs than in non-VFRs. The proportion of children VFRs (cVFRs) and adult VFRs (aVFRs) who adhered to the following recommendations were malaria chemoprophylaxis (47%, 33%), safe water (71%, 74%) and food recommendations (18%, 6%), insect bite avoidance (21%, 12%), and motor vehicle safety (13%, 11%) respectively. Adherence to recommended vaccines uptake was greater than 90% in all groups. CONCLUSION: With the exception of vaccine uptake, sub-optimal adherence levels to travel recommendations was identified in all groups, and in particular VFRs, highlighting the need for proactive discussions around barriers to adherence.
BACKGROUND: Infectious and non-infectious risks associated with international travel can be reduced with adherence to pre-travel advice from practitioners trained in travel medicine. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care children's hospital to assess adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis, safe water and food consumption, mosquito bite protection, motor vehicle safety and travel vaccines using structured questionnaires. High risk groups assessed included child travelers and those visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). RESULTS: In total, 290 participants (133 children and 157 adults) were enrolled and completed at least one study questionnaire. In general, with the exception of vaccines, adherence to recommendations was sub-optimal. Among children and adults, adherence to malaria prophylaxis recommendations was lower in VFRs than in non-VFRs. The proportion of children VFRs (cVFRs) and adult VFRs (aVFRs) who adhered to the following recommendations were malaria chemoprophylaxis (47%, 33%), safe water (71%, 74%) and food recommendations (18%, 6%), insect bite avoidance (21%, 12%), and motor vehicle safety (13%, 11%) respectively. Adherence to recommended vaccines uptake was greater than 90% in all groups. CONCLUSION: With the exception of vaccine uptake, sub-optimal adherence levels to travel recommendations was identified in all groups, and in particular VFRs, highlighting the need for proactive discussions around barriers to adherence.
Authors: Jacqueline K Wong; Nancy Nashid; Lisa G Pell; Ray E Lam; Debra M Louch; Michelle E Science; Shaun K Morris Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 3.240