Author/Authors :
Kahraman, Mustafa Department of Physiology - School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey - Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University - School of Medicine, Çanakkale, Turkey , Yuksel, Irem School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Beyza Boz, Elif School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Ediz Ozbek, Hasan School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Mert, Elif School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Reyhanli, Aybike School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Sari, Aslihan School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Canturk, Enes Muhammed School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Can, Ebru School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Demirkol, Ataberk School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Sencer Toraman, Mustafa School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Yildirim, Nilufer School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Merve Oren, Meryem Department of Public Health - School of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Bozdogan Polat, Sila Hidayet Department of Physiology - School of Medicine - Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey , Kan, Osman General Directorate of Health for Border and Coastal Areas of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey , Ayazoglu, Cemal General Directorate of Health for Border and Coastal Areas of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey , Kahraman Aydogan, Fulya General Directorate of Health for Border and Coastal Areas of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey , Ozturk, Sukru Department of Internal Medicine - School of of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey , Akif Karan, Mehmet Department of Internal Medicine - School of of Medicine - Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract :
Introduction: Even though Istanbul is one of the centers of the world’s fastest-growing tourism and travel sector, there are limited statistics
on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of travelers from this region regarding travel-related infectious diseases. This study aimed
to determine the passengers’ KAP about contagious diseases and contribute to developing new solutions for the problems people face
while traveling abroad.
Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 182 Turkish travelers planning on traveling abroad and applied to the Istanbul Travel Health
Center and the Istanbul Airport Health Control Center between January and March 2019.
Results: The proportion of carrying a vaccination certificate was statistically higher in those who received healthcare services at
international terminals (P = 0.002), especially those who had yellow fever (P < 0.001) and meningococcal vaccine (P = 0.011). More than
half of the vaccinated passengers did not carry their vaccination certificates, while around half (53.8%) were traveling to Africa. When
compared to travelers flying to Europe, vaccination checks were 6.7 times (95% CI: 2.5-17.9) higher in passengers traveling to Africa, 6.1
times (95% CI: 1.5-24.3) higher in passengers traveling to Asia, and 14.8 times (95% CI: 1.3-164.3) higher in passengers traveling to South
America. In addition, the vaccination certificate carrying proportion was significantly higher in those with a travel duration of 15 days or
more (P = 0.028), those who received health services at international terminals (P = 0.002), and those vaccinated (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Improved knowledge of travel-related infectious diseases and increased adoption of pre-travel health advice and vaccines are
urgently needed among Turkish travelers.
