Role of WeChat publicity in control of imported malaria from abroad in timber industry

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of WeChat publicity in imported malaria control in timber industry in Zhangjiagang City, so as to provide new ideas for the control of malaria imported from abroad. The data of malaria epidemic in Zhangjiagang City was collected, and the contact way of the overseas personnel in timber industry in Zhangjiagang City were obtained. The knowledge of the prevention and control of malaria was propagandized by WeChat among these personnel, and the awareness situation of malaria control knowledge of this population was investigated by questionnaires before and after the WeChat publicity. In addition, the number of new malaria cases among returnees from abroad in timber industry before and after WeChat publicity was calculated. All the links in timber industry in Zhangjiagang City adopted WeChat as the contact way. Before and after the WeChat publicity, 128 and 150 questionnaires were collected, respectively, the awareness rates of malaria control knowledge of the investigated objects were in the range of 7.81%-62.50% and 33.33%-90.00%, respectively, and the differences between the awareness rates on all the questions before and after the WeChat publicity were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Before the WeChat publicity, there were 6 new malaria cases in the population going aboard in timber industry, whereas no new cases were found after the publicity in this population. WeChat publicity plays a good role in the prevention and control of malaria imported from overseas in timber industry in Zhangjiagang City, and this publicity method can be promoted in other industries.