Survey of the awareness of Keshan disease and its influencing factors on the residents in a Keshan disease area, Fuyu County of Heilongjiang Province / 中国地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the inhabitants' knowledge about Keshan disease(KD) in endemic area in Heilongjiang Province and analyze its influencing factors. Methods Yongjin Village, a national KD monitoring site in Fanrong Township of Fuyu County in Heilongjiang Province,was selected as an investigating spot. Specially designed questionnaire was applied in the investigation, which included three aspects, demographical information (gender, age, educational level, etc.), KD-related knowledge survey (KD prevention measures including a healthy diet supplementing selenium, preventing microbial infection, inducers such as climate change, fatigue, cold, mental shock, overeating) and KD controlling measures (take prescribed medicine, dietetic regulation and regular exercise, etc.) Results Seventy-senven point six percent(272/352) knew the disease by the name in the endemic area, while only 29.7% (81/272)and 30.8% (84/272)were aware the preventive measures and inducers , respectively. The awareness rates of KD preventive measures and inducers among the KD patients were 6/17 and 9/17 respectively. The influencing factors of the awareness rate of KD name were gender, vocation and the state of education (χ2 value were 9.838,9.878,12.462, all P < 0.05). However, factors influencing the awareness rates of preventive measures were gender and the state of education(χ2 value were 7.400,20.251, both P < 0.05). Conclusions The awareness rates of KD preventive measures and inducers axe low in the endemic area. The major factors influencing the awareness rate of KD are gender and the educational degree.