A Cross Sectional Study to Assess Pretravel Health Preparation Among the International Travellers in States of Karnataka and Goa

Authors

  • Kashavva B Andanigoudar1 , Dattatraya D Bant2

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i12.13217

Keywords:

International travellers, pretravel health advise, chemoprophylaxis, vaccination, travel

Abstract

Background: International travel is undertaken by large, and increasing, numbers of people for professional,
social, recreational and humanitarian purposes. Travellers are an epidemiologically important population
because of their motility, their potential for exposure to diseases outside their home country. Pretravel health
preparation (vaccination and chemoprophylaxis) is effective to prevent health problems among travellers
and spread of endemic diseases across international borders.
Objective: to assess the pretravel health preparation among the international travellers in Karnataka and
Goa states of India.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 400 international travellers in tourist places of
Karnataka and Goa states of India after approval by authorities, for a duration of 12months from June 2018
to May 2019. International travellers at tourist destinations and transit sites were interviewed using selfadministered pretested semi-structured questionnaire about pretravel health preparation.
Results: 51.5% participants in the study were males and majority (74%) of the participants were travelling
for the purpose of pleasure and recreation. More than half of the participants were from European countries.
70.8% of the participants had received pretravel advise, 75.4% of the participants had received at least one
vaccine prior to the current trip, most common being Yellow fever and Tetanus. 24.5% were taking malaria
chemoprophylaxis.
Conclusion: Majority of the travellers in the current study had taken pre travel health advise and had received
vaccination against various diseases. Chemoprophylaxis for prevention of malaria among the participants
was not satisfactory.

Author Biography

  • Kashavva B Andanigoudar1 , Dattatraya D Bant2

    1
    Postgraduate, 2Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences
    (KIMS), Hubballi, Karnataka

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Published

2020-11-27

How to Cite

A Cross Sectional Study to Assess Pretravel Health Preparation Among the International Travellers in States of Karnataka and Goa. (2020). Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 11(12), 66-71. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i12.13217