PATTERN AND DETERMINANTS OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF THE POPULATION TOWARDS HERPES ZOSTER AND ITS VACCINATION AMONG THE POPULATION IN JEDDAH, KSA
Abstract
Background: Herbs Zoster occurs due to the reactivation of the latent virus (VZV). It has been approved that vaccination against herbs zoster of those aged 50 years and older, to prevent post herpetic neuralgia. Objectives: The aim is to study pattern and determinants of knowledge, attitude and practice of the population towards Herpes Zoster disorder, and its vaccination among the population in Jeddah, KSA. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 240participants who were selected by non-probability, convenience. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Result: The overall score of the knowledge of the public towards herbs zoster disease and its vaccine was far substandard (8.3%), While their overall score of the attitude towards the herbs zoster and its vaccine was little bet better (35%). Majority of the participants (85%) did not know the risk of having herpes zoster during lifetime. A great proportion (72%) of the respondents did not realize the link between chicken pox and herpes zoster. Only 26.3% of the participant had heard about the Herbs zoster vaccine.. There was significant positive correlation between the overall scores on knowledge and attitude towards the herbes zoster and its vaccine (r=.352,<0.05). A minority (3.8%) of the participants got the herbs zoster vaccine. Those who did not get the vaccine, was because, they were neutral towards its importance, or they did not realize that it was existing (36.7%). Majority of the participants would get shingles vaccine if their doctors recommended it. Conclusion: The participants had extremely limited understanding of HZ and its vaccine. Their attitudes toward the HZ vaccine were substandard; however, poor practices among them were observed. We recommend that health education programs should be conducted by the health care personnel, for the public, particularly about the health adverse effects of shingles, its risk factors and availability of vaccines for its prevention. Primary health care physicians should be motivated to emphasize on the importance of herbs zoster vaccination to the public.
