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Volume 20, Number 5—May 2014
Dispatch

Responses to Threat of Influenza A(H7N9) and Support for Live Poultry Markets, Hong Kong, 2013

Peng Wu, Vicky J. Fang, Qiuyan Liao, Diane M.W. Ng, Joseph T. Wu, Gabriel M. Leung, Richard Fielding, and Benjamin J. CowlingComments to Author 
Author affiliations: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Main Article

Table 2

Factors affecting behavioral response to influenza A(H7N9) and support for permanent closure of LPMs in Hong Kong, 2013*

Characteristic Odds ratio (95% CI)
Avoided visiting LPMs in previous 7 d because of influenza A(H7N9) Would support permanent closure of LPMs
Sex
M Reference Reference
F
 1.07 (0.75–1.53)
 1.22 (0.92–1.63)
Age, y
18–34 Reference Reference
35–54 0.89 (0.55–1.46) 2.28 (1.53–3.40)
≥55
 0.81 (0.48–1.36)
 2.87 (1.86–4.45)
Educational attainment
Primary or below Reference Reference
Secondary 1.63 (0.92–2.89) 1.76 (1.17–2.65)
University or above
 1.65 (0.88–3.09)
 2.99 (1.88–4.76)
Visited LPM >1 time in previous year
No Reference Reference
Yes
 1.15 (0.78–1.68)
 0.60 (0.44–0.83)
Median State Trait Anxiety score (5)
<1.7 Reference Reference
>1.7
 1.03 (0.72–1.46)
 0.95 (0.72–1.25)
Self-perceived risk for infection with influenza A(H7N9)†
Low 0.68 (0.42–1.11) 0.95 (0.64–1.42)
Evens Reference Reference
High
 0.95 (0.49–1.84)
 1.51 (0.87–2.63)
Self-perceived risk for infection with influenza A(H7N9) compared with other persons‡
Low 1.22 (0.74–1.99) 0.93 (0.62–1.38)
Evens Reference Reference
High
 1.97 (0.51–7.61)
 0.52 (0.13–1.98)
Symptom-induced worry§
Less 1.01 (0.62–1.64) 0.87 (0.61–1.24)
As usual Reference Reference
More
 2.00 (1.34–2.98)
 1.08 (0.78–1.48)
Perceived severity compared with seasonal influenza¶
Less 1.22 (0.53–2.79) 1.01 (0.59–1.73)
Same Reference Reference
More
 2.31 (1.33–3.99)
 1.28 (0.87–1.87)
Perceived severity compared with SARS¶
Less 0.84 (0.52–1.36) 0.89 (0.61–1.29)
Same Reference Reference
More
 0.91 (0.48–1.73)
 0.88 (0.52–1.48)
Perceived severity compared with influenza A(H5N1)¶
Less 1.29 (0.73–2.26) 0.76 (0.49–1.17)
Same Reference Reference
More 1.06 (0.70–1.60) 0.93 (0.66–1.31)

*Odds ratios adjusted for all variables shown. LPMs, live poultry markets; SARS, severe acute respiratory syndrome.
†Respondents were asked, “How likely do you think it is that you will contract H7N9 avian flu over the next 1 month?” Low indicates the answers Never/Very unlikely/Unlikely; evens, the answer Same (50% probability); and high, the answers Likely/Very likely/Certain.
‡Respondents were asked, “What do you think are your chances of getting H7N9 avian flu over the next 1 month compared to other people outside your family of a similar age?” Low indicates the answers Not at all/Much less/Less; evens, the answer Same (50% probability); and high, the answers Likely/Very likely/Certain or More/Much more/Certain.
§Respondents were asked, “If you were to develop flu-like symptoms tomorrow, would you be…” followed by several choices. Low indicates the answers Not worried at all/Much less worried than normal/Worried less than normal; as usual, the answer About same; and more, the answers Worried more than normal/Worried much more than normal/Extremely worried.
¶Respondents were asked, “How is the severity of infection with H7N9 avian influenza compared to seasonal influenza, SARS, or H5N1 avian influenza?” Lower indicates the answers A little lower/Much lower; same, the answer Same; and higher, the answers Much higher/A little higher.

Main Article

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Page updated: April 17, 2014
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