Paradoxical risk perception and behaviours related to Avian Flu outbreak and education campaign, Laos

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR, Laos) is a landlocked, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, predominantly rural country (73% agricultural) [1]. Like Cambodia, small backyard poultry systems predominate (90%) with a mean of 10-20 birds/household [1, 2]. Livestock contributes to 9% of the GDP in Laos [3]. Loss of poultry has a strong microeconomic impact where daily income is 2 USD/day. During the 2004 outbreak, an estimated 69-108 USD/household was lost [3]. The first highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) poultry outbreak in Laos occurred in 2004; the first two human cases (both lethal) in February 2007 [4, 5].

In March 2006, in a national survey, we showed a high awareness level of the disease (98%) [6]. Behaviour changed mostly in urban areas and negatively affected consumption, raising, and trade of poultry.

After an HPAI poultry outbreak in July 2006, intensive training was performed throughout the country by WHO, FAO, CARE and UNICEF focusing on four high priority preventive behaviours: a) hand washing, b) cooking, c) reporting, and d) separating poultry species [7].

Few studies have addressed the impact of outbreaks and educational campaigns on a smallholder producer system. Some surveys appear controversial because of excessively high rates of hand-washing and documented reports of dead poultry [8]. We compared public awareness and adoption of preventive behaviours related to the educational campaign and the ongoing outbreak to the 2006 survey.

In February 2007, we conducted a 2-stage household based survey in five provinces representative of the Southern to Northern strata of Laos: Attapeu, Savannakhet Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, and Luang Namtha (Figure 1). Urban areas were restricted to 15% of the sample to reflect the rural distribution of the population (Census 2005).

From a list of villages per district, 84 villages accessible by road or motorbike were randomly selected. From a list of households in each village an average of 14 households were selected. One adult > 18 years was randomly chosen from each household. The number of participants was similar in each of the provinces.

Participants were interviewed in Lao language using a standardized questionnaire [6]. We recorded socio-economic characteristics, awareness and knowledge of HPAI, poultry handling, keeping practices, preventive behaviours, and mortality figures [6]. Questions were added regarding the number of poultry currently owned, if training on AI was received, and recollection of key HPAI messages.

Verbal consent was obtained from all participants. The survey was performed with the permission of Lao national, regional and village authorities and in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinski http://​www.​cirp.​org/​library/​ethics/​helsinki/​. Ethical approval of from the National Ethical Review Board of Laos is not required for surveys that do not implicate participants. Investigators were doctors from the Institut Francophone de Medecine Tropicale (IFMT) attending a Masters Course with special lectures on Epidemiology, Field Research and Public Health. Pre-tests were performed before conducting the survey.

We enrolled 1098 participants (sex ratio F/M: 1.2; mean age: 42.0 years (95% confidence interval: 41-43); illiteracy rate: 7.2% versus 10.0% in urban and rural areas, respectively, p < 0.001). Their socio-characteristics, poultry keeping habits, and HPAI knowledge are shown in Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3, respectively. Less than a third (27.6%, n = 303) had received training on HPAI. Nearly 60% kept poultry at home. Level of immunisation of poultry was low (5.9%) without differences within the zones (Table 2).

In 2006, 89%-93% of survey participants had heard of avian influenza. In 2007, the level of awareness was similar; 91%-95% (Table 3). The urban population had a decreased risk perception. In rural areas television and radio were the primary communication means. Other communication means such as medical staff, leaflets or posters were rarely reported.

417 (37.9%) believed the risk of HPAI in Laos was higher than in 2006. This was related to the presence of an HPAI outbreak (37.6%), and rarely to the risk of death (< 5%).

Compared to 2006, participants experienced less poultry deaths in the previous 2 months (Table 2). Reported behaviour changes included higher rates of cessation of poultry consumption and dead poultry burial when compared to 2006 (Table 4 and 2). No participants reported poultry deaths to the authorities.

Overall 70% could recall an educational message but the content and accuracy differed widely depending on training exposure (Table 5). Trained persons were able to recall only one message while untrained participants recalled a broader range of messages.

Poultry raising habits did not vary. Poultry immunisation was low (< 6%) in contrast to 2006 (34.2%).

After multivariate analysis, factors associated with an awareness of a threat of AI in Laos and factors affecting behaviour changes are shown in table 6. The presence of HPAI outbreaks did not affect behaviour change. Factors associated with cessation of poultry consumption were: access to TV, having received HPAI training, living in rural areas and age < 45 years.

Our results confirm the trend of awareness and preventive behaviour practice during a time of sporadic human avian influenza infection and after a one year intensive campaign in a small backyard poultry system between 2006-2007. HPAI awareness remained above 90% during this time. In urban areas, risk perception decreased and unsafe behaviours persisted or increased. This contrasted with increased risk perception and decreased unsafe behaviour practice in rural areas, the main target of the national HPAI educational campaign [8].

Preceding our study, poultry outbreaks and human cases (all lethal) initially occurring in urban areas began to occur in semi-urban areas. The presence of outbreaks did not influence the adoption of preventive (safe) behaviours, but did influence risk perception. The unfamiliarity with HPAI in rural areas may also have played a role towards increased risk perception. In contrast, urban areas have become familiar with HPAI and culling controlled previous poultry outbreaks. In rural Thai villages, risk perception was related to familiarity, control of outbreaks, catastrophic potential, and level of knowledge [9]. Telephone surveys performed in Hong Kong showed lower risk perceptions for HPAI in Asia compared to Europe [10]. This was thought to be due to the proximity of the SARS outbreak and/or that the first case of H5N1 did not result in a larger human outbreak [11].

Television nationwide, and radio in rural areas, are a major source of information for HPAI in Laos and Cambodia [2]. High exposure to Thai TV limits the effectiveness of local media messages [8].

Leaflets and posters spread throughout the country and health staff were rarely recognized as a source of information. Posters in Laos often become wallpaper in rural areas thus, their effectiveness in illiterate populations should be evaluated.

Misinterpretation is possible during information campaigns [12, 13]. Here, trained people stopped eating poultry more frequently than untrained people. Washing hands and hygiene advices, messages given during the campaign, were not recalled contrasting with another survey among small poultry holders [8].

The estimated losses of poultry in the previous 2 months (Table 2) were lower than estimated losses reported during the 2004 outbreak (69-108 USD) [3]. The economic fragility of the small holder system challenges the feasibility of recommended preventive practices for small backyard farms (estimated cost 75 -100 US$ per household) affecting their survival [12].

Persistence of non reporting is another serious concern [2, 6] which was subsequently addressed with systematic compensation during the 2008 outbreaks.

Limitations of this study include recall bias, variability between interviewers, and the possibility that participants did not answer truthfully to sensitive questions.. This study did not address the population living in rural areas not accessible by roads, therefore, rural persons may not be fully represented. Untrained persons were likely to have been exposed to some form of HPAI education or information leading to a contamination effect, which may affect comparisons with trained persons. To decrease variability between interviewers, investigators received specific training prior to survey administration. The questionnaire was pre-tested several times. To decrease recall bias, the period of recalling was restricted to a short duration of time and identified with local feasts and holidays. To decrease the level of false or incomplete responses investigators were not accompanied by Lao authorities allowing confidence between investigators and interviewees to be established. Prior to informed consent, interviewees were free to choose whether or not to participate. After informed consent was obtained, they were made aware that their responses would be confidential.

Risk perception and adoption of preventive behaviours are motivated by different factors. Controlling outbreaks, addressing misconceptions, providing education and media campaigns all play a role in the psychology of HPAI. As the prevalence of avian influenza outbreaks increase, familiarity increases and the ability to control outbreaks improves. Future educational campaigns need to be tailored to specific target populations and farming styles such as small holder farms versus commercial farms. Special attention must be given to varying risk perceptions, misinterpretation of key messages, economic hardship, and real life consequences of reporting.