Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) relating to avian influenza in urban and rural areas of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studies have revealed that visiting poultry markets and direct contact with sick or dead poultry are significant risk factors for H5N1 infection, the practices of which could possibly be influenced by people's knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) associated with avian influenza (AI). To determine the KAPs associated with AI among the Chinese general population, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used standardized, structured questionnaires distributed in both an urban area (Shenzhen, Guangdong Province; n = 1,826) and a rural area (Xiuning, Anhui Province; n = 2,572) using the probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling technique.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Approximately three-quarters of participants in both groups requested more information about AI. The preferred source of information for both groups was television. Almost three-quarters of all participants were aware of AI as an infectious disease; the urban group was more aware that it could be transmitted through poultry, that it could be prevented, and was more familiar with the relationship between AI and human infection. The villagers in Xiuning were more concerned than Shenzhen residents about human AI viral infection. Regarding preventative measures, a higher percentage of the urban group used soap for hand washing whereas the rural group preferred water only. Almost half of the participants in both groups had continued to eat poultry after being informed about the disease.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study shows a high degree of awareness of human AI in both urban and rural populations, and could provide scientific support to assist the Chinese government in developing strategies and health-education campaigns to prevent AI infection among the general population.</p

Hermitian Veronesean caps

In [J. Schillewaert and H. Van Maldeghem, Quadric Veronesean caps, Discrete Mathematics], a characterization theorem for Veronesean varieties in PG (N, K), with K a skewfield, is proved. This result extends the theorem for the finite case proved in [J. A. Thas and H. Van Maldeghem, Quart. J. Math. 55 (2004), 99-113]. In this paper, we prove analogous results for Hermitian varieties, extending the results obtained in the finite case in [B. Cooperstein, J. A. Thas and H. Van Maldeghem, Forum Math. 16 (2004), 365-381] in a non-trivial way

Backyard poultry^* raising among 1,053 households in Xiuning County, China, 2007.

<p>*Including chicken, ducks, geese and other domestic birds.</p>†<p>Denominators smaller than the complete sample were indicated.</p

Frequency of live poultry market visits among 2,058 residents in Shenzhen, China, 2007.

<p>*Standardized number of visiting per unit time: 1 was attributed to reporting ≤1 live poultry market visit per year; 4 to reporting 3–5 times/year; 8 to reporting 6–11 times/year; 24 to reporting 1–3 times/month; 52 to reporting 1–2 times/week; 208 to reporting 3–5 times/week; and 365 to those reporting ≥1/day annually.</p>§<p>The average annual household visits was weighted by age and sex based on the National Census in 2000.</p