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Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices About Zika Virus Infection Among Women of Reproductive Age in Central Brooklyn, New York City, USA

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A Correction to this article was published on 29 August 2023

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Abstract

Zika virus (ZIKV) is spread by mosquitos, sexual intercourse and vertically during pregnancy. The 2015–2016 ZIKV epidemic infected millions in the Americas and resulted in thousands of infants born with malformations. Though the clusters of severe birth defects have subsided since 2017, ZIKV transmission remains a concern throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Travel-associated and sexually-transmitted Zika, therefore, remain potential routes of transmission for women of reproductive age and their partners. This is particularly true for communities with high immigrant and foreign-born populations in Central Brooklyn, New York. Limited information has been collected on the perception by this population of ZIKV and how high-risk women engage in preventive practices. Using a survey adapted from the WHO, we assessed engagement in mosquito-related preventive practices while traveling. Data from 483 respondents on knowledge and perceived ZIKV concern, along with demographics as correlates of engagement in preventive practices were collected using a convenience sample between September 2020 and January 2021. Data were collected via a multipronged approach using social media in REDCap. Our findings show that being white/not Hispanic, pregnant, knowledgeable and concerned about ZIKV, and having enough information about ZIKV were all significantly associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in preventive practices while traveling. Multivariable logistic modeling revealed that knowledge was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of engaging in preventive practices while traveling (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.28–2.83]). These findings underscore the importance of directing tailored health education efforts to vulnerable populations.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partly supported by the Lenard and Christine Szarek Fellowship conferred on R.A.D. Tracey Wilson, PhD is thanked for her guidance during earlier stages of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Russell Dowling & Azure B. Thompson

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis

  3. Institute for Genomics in Health, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis

  4. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis

  5. Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis

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  1. Russell Dowling
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Correspondence to Russell Dowling.

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The original online version of this article was revised: The wrong supplementary file has been removed and error in the abstract section has been corrected

Preprint DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2883001/v1

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Dowling, R., Thompson, A.B. & Kolokotronis, SO. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices About Zika Virus Infection Among Women of Reproductive Age in Central Brooklyn, New York City, USA. J Community Health 49, 78–85 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-023-01258-w

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