Awareness and Preventive Practices on Leptospirosis in Flood-Prone Communities of Marikina City, Philippines
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65166/x71zvx65Keywords:
awareness, preventive practice, Leptospirosis, attitudes, flood-prone communities, Marikina City, KAP model, public healthAbstract
Leptospirosis remains a neglected zoonotic disease in the Philippines, with recurrent outbreaks during flood seasons. Flood-prone communities, such as those in Marikina City, face persistent risks from contaminated waters and rodent infestation, making local awareness and preventive practices critical for disease control. This study assessed the level of awareness and preventive practices against leptospirosis among residents of three high-risk barangays in Marikina City—Tumana, Malanday, and Nangka—while examining demographic variations and the relationship between awareness, attitudes, and preventive behaviors. A descriptive–correlational design was employed with 150 purposively sampled residents. Data were collected through a validated questionnaire covering demographic profile, awareness (transmission, symptoms, prevention), attitudes, and reported preventive practices. Descriptive statistics summarized responses, ANOVA and t-tests compared differences across demographic variables, and Pearson’s correlation tested associations among awareness, attitude, and practice. Respondents demonstrated high awareness overall (74% in the 51–75% category), particularly regarding transmission and preventive measures, but with gaps in symptom recognition and secondary reservoirs. Attitudes were uniformly strong (overall mean = 4.49/5), emphasizing cleanliness, early consultation, and communal responsibility. Preventive practices were consistently high (overall mean = 4.43/5), especially in sanitation, food safety, and wound care, though avoidance of floodwater exposures remained less consistent. Awareness differed significantly by educational attainment (p = 0.002) and barangay (p = 0.025), while attitudes and practices showed no significant variation across demographics. Correlation analysis revealed that awareness had weak positive links with attitudes (r = 0.202) and practices (r = 0.269), whereas attitudes strongly predicted preventive practices (r = 0.759, p < 0.001). Residents of Marikina’s flood-prone barangays exhibit strong preventive orientations and practices, but knowledge gaps and structural barriers persist. Effective leptospirosis prevention requires a three-pronged strategy: (1) targeted campaigns to strengthen symptom recognition and secondary transmission awareness, (2) reinforcement of preventive attitudes through community engagement, and (3) provision of enabling supports such as protective gear, waste services, and accessible clinical care.
References
Andrade, C., Menon, V., Ameen, S., & Praharaj, S. K. (2020). Designing and conducting KAP surveys in psychiatry: Practical guidance. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5), 478–481.
Arbiol, J., Orencio, P. M., Romena, N., Nomura, H., Takahashi, Y., & Yabe, M. (2016). KAP towards leptospirosis among lakeshore communities of Calamba and Los Baños, Laguna. Agriculture, 6(2), 18.
Baharom, M., et al. (2023). Environmental and occupational factors associated with leptospirosis: A systematic review. Heliyon.
Bañ, M. A. P., et al. (2023). Clinical Practice Guidelines on Leptospirosis in Children 2019. PIDSP Journal.
Bharti, A. R., et al. (2003). Leptospirosis: A zoonotic disease of global importance. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 3(12), 757–771.
Biscornet, L., et al. (2020). An observational study of human leptospirosis in Seychelles. AJTMH, 103(3), 999–1008.
Bradley, E. A., & Lockaby, G. (2023). Leptospirosis and the environment: a review and future directions. Pathogens, 12(9), 1167.
Chung, T. S., Ismail, S. B., Draman, N., & Yudin, Z. M. (2024). Leptospirosis KAP of town service workers in Kuching, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences, 20(1).
Costa, F., et al. (2021). Household rat infestation: Predictive score for leptospirosis. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(3), e0009154.
de Claro, V., Lava, J. B., Bondoc, C., & Stan, L. (2024). Local health officers and UHC integration in the Philippines. BMJ Global Health, 9, e014118.
Dhanasinghe, C., & Gamage, D. (2023). KAP and health-seeking in leptospirosis among Sri Lankan farmers. Research Square.
Dhewantara, P. W., Riandi, M. U., & Wahono, T. (2022). Climate change and leptospirosis risk in western Java. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci., 1089(1), 012074.
DOH / Philippine News Agency (PNA) (2024, June 27). Leptospirosis cases rising.
Fatema, A., et al. (2023). KAP in leptospirosis-affected populations in South Andaman. Journal of Health Sciences.
Gouveia, E. L., et al. (2008). Severe pulmonary hemorrhagic syndrome, Salvador, Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 14(3), 505–508.
Haake, D. A., & Levett, P. N. (2015). Leptospirosis in humans. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, 387, 65–97.
Haydon, D. T., Cleaveland, S., Taylor, L. H., & Laurenson, M. K. (2002). Identifying reservoirs of infection. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 8(12), 1468–1473.
Hinjoy, S., et al. (2019). Environmental and behavioral risk factors for severe leptospirosis in Thailand. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 4(2), 79.
INQUIRER.net (2022, Sept 15). “Rat-to-cash” program vs leptospirosis in Marikina relaunched.
Kanamori, H., Weber, D., & Rutala, W. (2016). Healthcare Outbreaks Associated With a Water Reservoir and Infection Prevention Strategies..
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, 62 11, 1423-35 . https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw122.
Katz, A. R., et al. (2017). Leptospirosis in Hawaii, 1999–2008. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17(2), 221–226.
Khalil, H., et al. (2021). Poverty, sanitation, and transmission pathways in Brazilian slums. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 15(3), e0009256.
Klement-Frutos, E., et al. (2020). Age-specific epidemiology, New Caledonia, 2006–2016. PLOS ONE, 15(11), e0242886.
Lau, C. L., Smythe, L. D., Craig, S. B., & Weinstein, P. (2010a). Climate change, flooding, urbanization and leptospirosis. Transactions RSTMH, 104(10), 631–638.
Lau, C., Smythe, L., & Weinstein, P. (2010b). Leptospirosis: An emerging disease in travelers. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8(1), 33–39.
Nazir, N., et al. (2023). Community perceptions and misconceptions; call for comprehensive public health education
PAHO (2020). [Regional guidance highlighting sanitation/hygiene for prevention.]
Palma, F., et al. (2022). Knowledge influences attitudes and practices; shaped by socioeconomic and environmental factors.
Petakh, P., Rostoka, L., Isevych, V., & Kamyshnyi, A. (2023). Identifying risk factors and disease severity in leptospirosis: A meta-analysis of clinical predictors. Tropical Doctor, 53, 464 - 469. https://doi.org/10.1177/00494755231187673.
Prentice-Dunn, S., & Rogers, R. W. (1986). Protection motivation theory and preventive health: Beyond the health belief model. Health education research, 1(3), 153-161.
Toemjai, T., Thongkrajai, P., & Nithikathkul, C. (2022). Factors affecting preventive behavior against leptospirosis among the population at risk in Si Sa Ket, Thailand. One Health, 14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100399.
WHO (2021). Leptospirosis prevention initiatives and at-risk population guidance.
Xinhua News Agency (2024). Spike in cases after typhoon-related floods, Hong Kong.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Health & Business Analytics
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright of their articles but grant the International Journal of Health & Business Analytics (IJHBA Press) the right of first publication.
