Affiliations 

  • 1 University of Malakand, Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • 2 Swat Medical College, Medical College, Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital, Medical Unit A, Saidu Sharif Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
  • 3 University of Peshawar, Department of Zoology, Peshawar, Pakistan
  • 4 University of Malaya, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur, Department of Zoology, Miris, Sindh, Pakistan
  • 6 Hazara University, Department of Zoology, Mansehra, Pakistan
  • 7 Sindh University Jamshoro, Department of Zoology, Hyderabad, Pakistan
  • 8 University of Swabi, Department of Zoology, Swabi, KP, Pakistan
  • 9 University of Swat, Centre for Animal Sciences & Fisheries, Swat, Pakistan
  • 10 University of Haripur Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, Haripur, Pakistan
  • 11 University of Haripur, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Haripur, Pakistan
Braz J Biol, 2021;82:e238665.
PMID: 33787717 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.238665

Abstract

Malakand region is an endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). However, there are limited number of studies of this disease in Pakistan. Therefore, a study was conducted to understand the level of awareness attitude and practice among the residents of Makaland towards CL and the disease vectors. This study adopted a cross-sectional approach with a total of 400 respondents (n=93 rural and n= 307 urban). Overall, the population in Malakand region (61.2%) were well-informed in the role of sand fly in transmitting diseases, but most lack knowledge on the vector's behavior and almost a quarter (24.5%) were unable to provide knowledge on proper control measures. Alarmingly, the practice and attitudes of the general population was not satisfactory as close to half (49.8%) of the population did adopt any control method. This study calls for increase in awareness through health education campaign to reduce the risk of cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks in the future.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.