Knowledge and practices about hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in a cluster of Japanese communities in Argentina.

OBJECTIVES To provide information on hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) knowledge and practices among a cluster of the rural Japanese communities near La Plata in central Argentina, an area with confirmed HPS cases. Particular emphasis was placed on testing the hypothesis that there would be differences between household use of HPS prevention measures based on the head-of-household's knowledge of HPS. METHODS A questionnaire was designed in three sections: (1) household demographic characteristics, (2) HPS knowledge, and (3) HPS preventive measures. Questionnaires were given to the household head or other adult representing the household at an HPS prevention seminar sponsored by the Japanese Association of La Plata in February 2007. Total HPS knowledge scores were dichotomized into high (equal to or more than the median knowledge score) and low (less than the median). Differences between the two household groups were categorized, according to the degree of HPS knowledge, and analyzed. RESULTS The 86 households that responded accounted for about 72% of the total study households in the area. The median knowledge score of 5 (range: 0-9, of 10) divided the study households into two groups: high knowledge score group (n = 40) and low knowledge score group (n = 46). The findings suggest an association between a household's accurate HPS knowledge and its respective use of HPS preventive measures. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the study have important implications for taking further steps toward improved HPS management and prevention strategies.