Asghar Keshavarz - MSc in Geriatric Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Health Promotion, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Mahin Nazari - Associate Professor of Health Education and Promotion, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Health Promotion, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Sanaz Dastmanesh - MSc in Geriatric Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Health Promotion, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Background & Aims: Influenza is one of the leading causes of death in the world, especially in the elderly. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and intention of rural elderly about influenza prevention behaviors. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study was performed on ۱۴۰ rural older people who were selected by multi-stage random sampling in Fasa, Iran. A questionnaire was developed to inform about individuals’ knowledge, attitude, and practice on influenza prevention measures. Data were analyzed using frequency descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test by SPSS-۲۱. Results: A total of ۶۱ men (mean age of ۶۹.۳۲ ± ۶.۸۱) and ۷۱ women (mean age of ۶۹.۰۴ ± ۷.۵۲) responded to the questionnaire. The mean score of knowledge in women (۶.۸ ± ۲.۱) was significantly higher than in men (۵.۸ ± ۲.۷). The mean score of knowledge in illiterate people (۶.۴۵ ± ۲.۴۳) compared to literate people (۶.۰۸ ± ۲.۵۸) showed no significant differences. In addition, the differences between the mean score of attitudes in both men (۵.۶۷ ± ۵.۶۷) and women (۶.۰۵ ± ۲۹.۵۹) were not significant. Likewise, there were no significant differences between the mean scores of attitudes in the literate (۲۸.۷۴ ± ۵.۷۴) and illiterate (۲۹.۸۷ ± ۵.۸۹) elderly. The mean scores of intention in men and women were ۶.۱۸ ± ۱.۷۶ and ۶.۱۳ ± ۱.۵۳, respectively, which was not significantly different. Finally, the mean scores of intention in literate (۵.۸۵ ± ۲.۱۴) and illiterate (۶.۲۵ ± ۱.۴۲) participants were not significantly different. Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude, and intention of rural elderly about influenza prevention behaviors are not satisfactory, and large-scale educational interventions are required in this regard, especially in rural areas.

Influenza, Human, Elderly, Knowledge, Attitude, Professional practice, Prevention and control