Assessment of knowledge and attitudes of the adult population of the Republic of Bashkortostan to the prevention of influenza and acute respiratory viral infection

Abstract

According to WHO, seasonal influenza epidemics occur annually in the world, during which from 3 to 5 million cases of influenza are detected. In the Republic of Bashkortostan for the period 2015–2019, the increase in the incidence of influenza amounted to 330%. Despite the fact that one of the most effective ways to prevent influenza, prevent the development of severe complications and deaths is vaccination, there are cases of refusal of the population from preventive vaccinations against influenza.

Purpose of the study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of the adult population of the Republic of Bashkortostan to specific and non-specific prevention of influenza.

Material and methods. A sociological survey of 1600 respondents living in different cities and districts of the Republic of Bashkortostan was conducted. The frequency of use of 43 commercial over-the-counter medicines containing 11 international nonproprietary names or combinations of active substances from six pharmacotherapeutic groups of antiviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of influenza has been determined. The results of the study were processed using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 version 12.0.

Results. Women (65%) and people aged 31–50 (50.6%) predominated among the respondents. Income per 1 family member is less than 20 000 rubles (57.4%). 44.7% of respondents noted the need for flu vaccination, and August – September was considered the optimal period for vaccination (68.5%). The main reason for the refusal of vaccination was the increase in the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections during the vaccination campaign. For the treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infections, respondents indicated the use of: arbidol, ingavirinaa, remantadine and kagocel (from 38.3 to 49.4%).

Conclusion. It was revealed that consumers are experiencing a lack of information regarding vaccination against influenza. The results of the study suggest that it is necessary to revise the timing of the start of the vaccination campaign against influenza in the Republic of Belarus at an earlier date (August–September). It is advisable to develop information support for vaccination against influenza, based on evidence-based facts of the benefits of vaccination, and its dissemination among the population with the involvement of medical and pharmaceutical workers as part of the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords:sociological survey; influenza; vaccination; specific and non-specific prevention; antiviral drugs

Funding. The study had no sponsor support.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Contribution. The concept and design of the study – Ivakina S.N., Gabdulkhakova L.M.; collection and processing of the material – Ivakina S.N., Gabdulkhakova L.M.; statistical processing – Ivakina S.N., Gabdulkhakova L.M.; writing of the text – Ivakina S.N., Gabdulkhakova L.M.; editorial – Hasanova G.M., Valishin D.A., Abrarova Z.F.

For citation: Ivakina S.N., Gabdulkhakova L.M., Khasanova G.M., Valishin D.A., Abrarova Z.F., Kitapova R.R., Dubrovin V.N. Assessment of knowledge and attitudes of the adult population of the Republic of Bashkortostan to the prevention of influenza and acute respiratory viral infection. Infektsionnye bolezni: novosti, mneniya, obuchenie [Infectious Diseases: News, Opinions, Training]. 2022; 11 (4): 64–71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33029/2305-3496-2022-11-4-64-71

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CHIEF EDITOR
Aleksandr V. Gorelov
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MD, Head of Infection Diseases and Epidemiology Department of the Scientific and Educational Institute of Clinical Medicine named after N.A. Semashko ofRussian University of Medicine, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Childhood Diseases, Clinical Institute of Children's Health named after N.F. Filatov, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Deputy Director for Research, Central Research Institute of Epidemiology, Rospotrebnadzor (Moscow, Russian Federation)

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