KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS AMONG MALAYSIAN POPULATION: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical regions. Knowledge, awareness, and preventive practices (KAP) towards leptospirosis play a crucial role in safeguarding human health and mitigating the spread of the disease. To gain insights into the knowledge gaps and behavioural patterns towards leptospirosis among the Malaysian population, an online survey was conducted and randomly distributed through social media platforms. A total of 200 respondents participated in this study, where the majority belonged to young Malay adults (58.5%), and most resided in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Kelantan. Data from the survey found that 59% of the total respondents had limited specific knowledge and awareness of leptospirosis, while 44% demonstrated poor practices in preventing the transmission of leptospirosis. While this input generally reflects the knowledge and awareness of a certain age group of the respondents, there is a need to enhance their knowledge and awareness through effective strategies that will lead to a better understanding and practices towards the management and control of leptospirosis.