Leptospirosis Public Health Education Campaign for the Rural Fijian Medical District of Nausori

Abstract

This paper proposes the development of a community-based leptospirosis prevention project within the rural Fijian medical of Nausori as a way of combating the growing incidence of leptospirosis in rural areas, and in particular among agricultural workers. In so doing, the Social Ecological Model will be used as an explanatory model to explore the underlying reasons why those engaged in agricultural work in rural areas, particularly those who work with cattle, which are suspected as being a reservoir of leptospirosis throughout much of the South Pacific, fail to use preventative measures including the wearing of rubber irrigation boots. Following this, Social Cognitive Theory will then be used to explore how community-based educational campaigns can be used as a form of behavioral change to increase the use of rubber irrigation boots as a form of prevention.

Keywords: Leptospirosis, Fiji, Social Ecological Model, Social Cognitive Model