Influencing factors on preventive health behaviors for Zika virus in pregnant women and their partners.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify Zika virus-related knowledge, attitudes to Zika virus, and health motivations of pregnant women, women preparing for pregnancy, and their partners, and to identify factors that influence preventive health behaviors for Zika virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of Zika virus infection is becoming a major worldwide public health effort. The high-risk group for Zika virus infection comprises women who are pregnant or preparing for pregnancy. Few studies have addressed preventive health behaviors for Zika virus infection by gender.

DESIGN: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey.

METHODS: Participants (112 males and 147 females) were selected by convenience sampling from three obstetric clinics located in South Korea. Women and their partners who visited obstetric clinics during pregnancy or preparing for pregnancy were included as subjects.

RESULTS: Factors associated with preventive health behaviors for Zika virus were checking infection status of Zika virus on destinations when planning a trip and attitudes to Zika virus in males and age, educational level, intention to travel to Zika virus endemic countries, attitudes to Zika virus, and health motivation in females.

CONCLUSIONS: Factors that influence preventive health behaviors for Zika virus were different by gender. However, attitudes to Zika virus were influential to both genders. Gender differences should be considered in development of health policies to improve preventive health behaviors for Zika virus. Younger and less educated women are to be targeted and health management programs should be developed to promote health motivation.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Pregnant women, women preparing for pregnancy, and their partners need education and public health promotion to improve self-management during travel to places where Zika virus is endemic. Health policies and health management programs considering age and educational background should be developed to promote health motivation in women of child-bearing age. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.