Investigation of Tick Bites and Affecting Factors in Ezine District of Çanakkale

Abstract

Objective: According to the World Health Organization, approximately 17% of all infectious diseases are vector-borne diseases. Turkey has convenient climate and vegetation conditions for ticks, therefore Turkey is a risky country for diseases transmitted by ticks. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of tick bite and the factors affecting of tick bite in those living in Mahmudiye and Pınarbaşı villages in the rural area of Ezine district of Çanakkale. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 2018 in the villages of Mahmudiye and Pınarbaşı of the Ezine district of Çanakkale. Before the study, permissions were obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The sample size was calculated as 329 people, by the formula of sample size used to estimate the population rate. A total of 420 people were contacted, including 292 from Mahmudiye and 128 from Pinarbasi. The nonprobability sampling method was used to reach the number of samples determined in the villages. The data of the study was obtained by a questionnaire which was applied by face to face interview technique. The questionnaire consisted of 23 questions questioning the demographic characteristics of participants, their knowledge and attitude about tick bite and tick-borne diseases. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors associated with a tick bite. After the data collection phase of the research, education about prevention from tick bites was given to women and men in both villages to prevent tick bites. Results: The prevalence of tick bite was 20%. The risk of tick bite was 3.4 times higher for males than females; 3.0 times higher for the people whom level of education below high school than high school and above; 3.4 times higher for occupations of farming, animal husbandry, agricultural technician, butchery than the other occupations. Conclusion: There are protective measures to prevent tick bite and the basis of preventive health services is health education. It is thought that training to be made for raising awareness about tick bites for individuals who live in rural areas, especially those who are engaged in agriculture and animal hunsbandry will be beneficial. In addition, we recommend screening for health problems that may be caused by tick bite in this rural area where one of five people was bitten by a tick.