ii

APPROVAL SHEET

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in

Nursing, this thesis entitled KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICES
ON LEPTOSPIROSIS IN SELECTED BARANGAYS IN CATBALOGAN
CITY: AN ADVOCACY PROGRAM has been approved and submitted by
Charmaine Ricafort-Quia, who is hereby recommended for Oral Defense.

MRS. LYNN L. DE VEYRA, RN

Adviser
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Approved by the Committee on Oral Examination with a rating of Passed.

Mrs. Violeta B. Suyom, Ph.D.

Dean, Post Graduate Studies, RTR
Chairman

Dr. Blas
Member

Mrs. Irma M. Roasa,RN,MAN

Member

Dr. Vicente Ramo

Member

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree of Masters of Arts in Nursing
Mrs. Violeta B. Suyom, Ph.D.
Dean, Post Graduate Studies, RTR

iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Amid the difficulties, the researcher was able to pursue the research towards
its completion. However, this would not have been possible had it not been for
some people who were generous and kind enough to share their time and effort.
To Mrs. Violeta B. Suyom and Mrs. Lynn De Veyra, for their generosity,
unfailing assistance, and unending patience extended to the researcher in terms of
constantly reminding her to work on her thesis and in giving pieces of advice that
boosted her confidence in pursuing the completion of this research.
To Avecita B. Taa, for extending her assistance in computer works.
To the panelists for their wisdom and gentle words of advice.
To the researchers colleagues in the College of Nursing, for their
encouragement to the researcher that somehow inspired her to pursue the whole
research process.
To the respondents of the study, for their cooperation in providing the data
needed in this study.
To the researchers family, close relatives and friends for their love, trust,
understanding, and patience that inspired her towards the completion of the
research.
Most importantly, the researcher found peace and comfort in having the
Almighty Father beside her during the most tiring times of the research process.
She owed a lot to Him for His divine providence that gives her strength, courage
and wisdom to pursue this research.

iv

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this research paper to my:

Children:
Ched Byron R. Quia;
Chara Blair R. Quia; and
Chanel Blessie R. Quia;
To my parents and siblings, especially to my brother Chester Ricafort for his
unfailing financial assistance;
To our Almighty God, for His blessings, guidance, and protection.

The Researcher

ABSTRACT

TITLE:

KNOWLEDGE,
ATTITUDE,
AND
PRACTICES
LEPTOSPIROSIS
IN
SELECTED
BARANGAYS
CATBALOGAN CITY: AN ADVOCACY PROGRAM

RESEARCHER:

Charmaine Ricafort-Quia, RN

ADVISER:

Mrs. Lynn De Veyra, RN

ON
IN

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and
practices of health workers and barangay officials, and residents on leptospirosis
and to develop an advocacy program concerning the prevention and control of
leptospirosis in selected barangays in Catbalogan City. Specifically, it sought to
answer the following questions:
1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of:
1.1 age;
1.2 occupation;
1.3 total monthly family income; and
1.4 educational attainment?
2.

What is the prevailing level of knowledge on Leptospirosis among health

workers, barangay officials and barangay residents in the aspect of:

vi

2.1 etiology or causative organism;

2.2 disease transmission;
2.3 common signs and symptoms; and
2.4 prevention and control?
3. What is the prevailing attitude on Leptospirosis between health workers and
barangay officials and barangay residents?
4. What prevention and control strategies against Leptospirosis are being practiced
by health workers and barangay officials and barangay residents?
5. To what extent do the respondents practice prevention and control practices?
6. Is there a significant difference in the level of knowledge on Leptospirosis
between;
6.1 health workers and barangay officials
6.2 barangay residents?
7.

Is there a significant difference in attitude towards leptospirosis between

7.1 health workers and barangay officials
7.2 barangay residents?

8. Is there a significant difference in the extent of practice of prevention and

control practices against Leptospirosis between
8.1 health workers and barangay officials
8.2 barangay residents?

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9. What advocacy program may be developed based on the findings of the study?
The study utilized the analytical research design using comparative analysis.
It used questionnaire in collecting the pertinent data. Moreover it employed,
interview and actual observations to augment the data gathered through the use of
questionnaire. The statistical tools used included frequency tables and percentages,
cross tabulation (chi-square), weighted mean, and t-test for independent samples.

The following were the findings of the study:

1.

The mean age of the health worker-respondents was pegged at 44.93

years old with a standard deviation (SD) of 12.56 years while the mean age of the
barangay officials was pegged at 43.35 years old with a SD of 15.67 years and the
mean age of the barangay residents was calculated at 45.50 years old with a SD of
17.60 years.
2.

The health workers assumed the appointment as health workers while

majority of the barangay officials and barangay residents were employed in the
different gainful occupations, not listed in the survey questionnaire.
3.

The mean income of the health workers was Php18,929.07 with a SD

of 2,439.75 while the mean income of the barangay officials was calculated at
Php13,333.60 with a SD Php8,383.23, and the mean income earned by the
barangay residents was Php12,166.89 with the SD of 8,044.23.

viii

4.

The health workers were college graduates which presumably degrees

related to their occupation as well as most of the barangay officials and barangay
residents.
5.

Majority of the health workers, barangay officials and barangay

residents expressed opinion that leptospirosis is primarily caused by a bacteria.

6.

The two groups of respondents unanimously considered the high risk

of being inflected by the disease is during flooding season and leptospirosis

organism enters the body through the cuts and cracks of the skin of the feet and
hands.
7.

The two respondents unanimously knew that fever, body and muscle

pains and, yellowing of the skin and eyes are the common signs and symptoms of
leptospirosis inflecting an individual.
8.

The two groups of respondents considered the avoidance of wading in

dirty or muddy water, if not wear boots or protective footwear served as the
number one strategy in the prevention and control of leptospirosis disease to inflect
an individual.
9.

News from TV was the common source of information of the health

workers, barangay officials and barangay residents that let them gain rich
information regarding the leptospirosis.

ix

10.

The common reaction that the three groups of respondents do upon

learning through hearing or reading the danger of leptospirosis was to share the
information learned first to family members and then to friends.
11.

The health workers considered themselves as highly concerned

towards the issues on leptospirosis being manifested by the grand weighted mean
of 3.54 while barangay officials were highly concerned towards the issues on
leptospirosis which was supported by the grand weighted mean of 3.53, and the
barangay residents were moderately worried towards the issues on leptospirosis
being indicated by the grand weighted mean of 3.41.
12.

The health workers expressed that they frequently practiced the

identified prevention and control strategies which was manifested by the grand
mean of 3.33, while the barangay officials frequently practiced also, the
identified prevention and control strategies against leptospirosis being supported
by the grand weighted mean of 3.48, and the barangay residents expressed that
they always practiced the identified prevention and control strategies against
leptospirosis.
13.
significant.

The noted variations among the two groups of respondents were

Therefore, the corresponding null hypothesis to this effect was

rejected. This meant that the prevailing level of knowledge on leptospirosis among
the two groups of respondents was essentially different from each group.

14.

The noted variations among the two groups of respondents were not

significant.
The following were the conclusions as a result of the finding :
1.

The two groups of respondents were on their mid 40s and at age of

maturity. This suggested that they were eligible respondents of the study.
2.

The respondents had gainful occupations where they sourced their

income to defray the household expenses they incurred monthly. The data further
suggested that the respondents represented all sectors of the society.
3.

The respondents had regular income which they used to defray the

basic and other needs of the household.

4.

The respondents are functional literates who are able to read, receive

and process information and therefore, potent audiences in any information

dissemination program.
5.

The two groups of respondents were well knowledgeable that

leptospirosis is primarily caused by bacteria. They unanimously affirmed to the

statement.
6.

The two groups of respondents possessed higher level of knowledge

regarding the manner of transmission of leptospirosis and therefore this idea gave
them preventive warning.

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7.

The two groups of respondents know very well the signs and

symptoms of being inflicted with leptospirosis and therefore, they could

immediately refer the matter to medical authorities once they encountered
individuals with the signs and symptoms.
8.

The two groups of respondents bore in mind the number one

preventive and control strategy to avoid leptospirosis and this could be one of the
information that they could share to members of the family and friends.
9.

The primary medium that could be used for wide information

dissemination. This could be attributed to the fact that almost all households have
TV sets and most often than not tuned in regularly to TV programs.
10.

The two groups of respondents could be the best channel for

information dissemination since it had been mans nature to preserve human being
so that when danger comes, it immediately spread through the word of mouth.
11.

The respondents were affected with the issues on leptospirosis and

their major concerns were: Awareness of the disease and its severity at the
individual level and Ability to protect self and family members.

The health

workers and barangay officials were highly concerned on these but the barangay
residents were moderately concerned only.
12.

The common prevention and control strategies practiced by the two

groups of respondents were to maintain cleanliness on the surrounding and to keep

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good hygiene. The health workers and barangay officials frequently practiced
them while the barangay residents always practiced them.
13.

The significant variation in the prevailing knowledge of the

respondents on leptospirosis was traced between barangay officials and barangay

residents.

This meant that the prevailing knowledge on leptospirosis differed

significantly between these groups.

This suggested that in any information

dissemination activities, these two groups should be addressed in the sense that
their level of knowledge or information regarding the disease was still low and
needs enhancement.
14.

The extent to which the two groups of respondents practiced the

prevention and control against leptospirosis was essentially similar.

as of the study:
15.

The two groups of respondents were on their mid 40s and at age of

maturity. This suggested that they were eligible respondents of the study.
16.

The respondents had gainful occupations where they sourced their

income to defray the household expenses they incurred monthly. The data further
suggested that the respondents represented all sectors of the society.
17.

The respondents had regular income which they used to defray the

basic and other needs of the household.

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18.

The respondents are functional literates who are able to read, receive

and process information and therefore, potent audiences in any information

dissemination program.
19.

The two groups of respondents were well knowledgeable that

leptospirosis is primarily caused by bacteria. They unanimously affirmed to the

statement.
20.

The two groups of respondents possessed higher level of knowledge

regarding the manner of transmission of leptospirosis and therefore this idea gave
them preventive warning.
21.

The two groups of respondents know very well the signs and

symptoms of being inflicted with leptospirosis and therefore, they could

immediately refer the matter to medical authorities once they encountered
individuals with the signs and symptoms.
22.

The two groups of respondents bore in mind the number one

preventive and control strategy to avoid leptospirosis and this could be one of the
information that they could share to members of the family and friends.
23.

The primary medium that could be used for wide information

dissemination. This could be attributed to the fact that almost all households have
TV sets and most often than not tuned in regularly to TV programs.

xiv

24.

The two groups of respondents could be the best channel for

information dissemination since it had been mans nature to preserve human being
so that when danger comes, it immediately spread through the word of mouth.
25.

The respondents were affected with the issues on leptospirosis and

their major concerns were: Awareness of the disease and its severity at the
individual level and Ability to protect self and family members.

The health

workers and barangay officials were highly concerned on these but the barangay
residents were moderately concerned only.
26.

The common prevention and control strategies practiced by the two

groups of respondents were to maintain cleanliness on the surrounding and to keep

good hygiene. The health workers and barangay officials frequently practiced
them while the barangay residents always practiced them.
27.

The significant variation in the prevailing knowledge of the

respondents on leptospirosis was traced between barangay officials and barangay

residents.

This meant that the prevailing knowledge on leptospirosis differed

significantly between these groups.

This suggested that in any information

dissemination activities, these two groups should be addressed in the sense that
their level of knowledge or information regarding the disease was still low and
needs enhancement.

xv

28.

The extent to which the two groups of respondents practiced the

prevention and control against leptospirosis was essentially similar.

Based on the conclusions drawn from the findings of the study, the following
are the recommendations of the researcher:
1.

In as much as the knowledge on the leptospirosis disease was still low

among the community residents, massive information dissemination should be

conducted by the concern.
2.

As it appeared that TV was noted as the most common medium for

information dissemination, the same should be utilized to raise the level of

awareness of the community regarding the leptospirosis disease, its ill-effect,
prevention and control.
3.

The barangay officials should first be given concrete information

dissemination regarding this disease so that they, too, could be a help in the widedissemination for the constituents of the community.
4.

Information, education and communication materials may be prepared

to raise the level of awareness of the people and other concerned.

5.

Organizing advocates of the prevention and control of the disease may

be resorted. They, too, could help in the information campaign. This could be a

xvi

support to the DOH who enjoins involvement of the stakeholders for the effective
implementation of programs affecting health.
6.

Another study should be conducted in other city/municipality to

ascertain the level of awareness and knowledge of the community residents,

thereby validating the findings of this study.