A Cross Sectional Survey of Community Awareness about Typhoid and its Major Vector Cockroach in Southern Punjab, Pakistan
Cockroaches live in close proximity to human beings. Due to filthy breeding sites i.e. sewer systems they carry up to 40 pathogenic bacteria. Typhoid is a notorious disease known to be transmitted by cockroaches worldwide. Human thought, perception and behavior vary according to the traditions, vicinity and knowledge. This study was carried out to understand the awareness of community about typhoid and its vector and the way they manage them. For this purpose a questionnaire was developed and data regarding typhoid and its vector were collected from 500 people belonging to 5 localities i.e. Multan, Shujabad, Muzaffargarh, KotAddu and Dera Ghazi Khan of southern Punjab. Results revealed that 44.6% of peoples were affected by typhoid at least once in their life. For season of prevalence, 57.0% of persons said that typhoid problem is more during summer season as compared to other seasons. In southern Punjab 92.2% interviewed persons said that cockroaches create more problem in houses and 84.2% of persons said that annoyance of cockroaches occur in night time but data regarding about insect vector or responsible insect of typhoid only 20.2% person have information that cockroaches spread the typhoid. Present survey in Southern Punjab showed that cockroaches create most problems in food commodities and person need to control it properly and very little person identify the insect vector of typhoid. This survey highlights the Southern Punjab people practices in control of cockroaches.