The relationship between Lyme disease risk perception and willingness to get vaccinated against Lyme disease: Evidence from a KAP survey in Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Furbush, Alexis

The relationship between Lyme disease risk perception and willingness to get vaccinated against Lyme disease: Evidence from a KAP survey in Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10456/57772

Author(s)

Furbush, Alexis

Date Issued

April 1, 2024

Abstract

Pennsylvania reports one of the highest incidences of Lyme disease in the United States. This project measured the relationship between risk perception and vaccine hesitancy of Lyme disease in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. I developed a knowledge, attitude, and perception (KAP) survey to capture community awareness and attitudes toward Lyme disease and the likelihood of receiving a vaccine in a trial by Pfizer and Valneva. The literature contextualizes Lyme disease etiology, highlighting the vector-borne nature and the increasing incidence due to climate change, increased human-tick interactions, and other environmental challenges. By addressing these dynamics, these data provide a deeper understanding of health decision-making processes within rural communities, allowing for a thorough understanding of the risks associated with Lyme disease transmission within the Crawford County community. In this rural region, there is decreased vaccine uptake in general, and attitudes towards a new vaccine are unknown. The survey was entirely anonymous and voluntary, participants were able to stop the survey at any time or skip questions. I designed the survey to capture the multiple factors influencing Lyme disease risk perception and vaccine hesitancy within a rural community context, with particular emphasis on the level of disease knowledge and reliance on information provided by healthcare systems. Obtaining 89 responses, the data indicated a disconnect between the perceived risk of Lyme disease and willingness to receive a vaccine; 44.9% of participants indicated the highest level of risk, and 33.7% indicated the highest likelihood of getting vaccinated. There was also a lack of awareness of the trial vaccine, 69.7% of participants had never heard of it, which further addresses the need for enhanced community education strategies. Public health is a growing field and the increased involvement in disease communications is highlighted throughout the literature, exploring challenges faced with mental health, politics, and healthcare relationships today. In this case, effective public health interventions must address the distribution and control of Lyme disease and navigate the complex nature of vaccine hesitancy and risk perception. A major risk of Lyme is going undiagnosed, where the disease can attack central systems in the body. Communicating risk and prevention is crucial to ensuring timely diagnosis and protecting the community from the long-term effects of Lyme disease. Practical strategies include unique communication programs addressing vaccine hesitancy and building trust in healthcare institutions. By fostering informed decision-making and encouraging community engagement, efforts can be made to mitigate the burden of Lyme disease in endemic regions like Crawford County. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the importance of social approaches in mitigating Lyme disease risk amidst evolving environmental and societal challenges.

Major

Global Health Studies

Honors

Global Health Studies, 2024

First Reader(s)

Finaret, Amelia B.