Table 3 Awareness and practice of travelers on pre-travel consultation, pre-travel vaccination among respondents, and preventive measures against diseases subject to IHR

Awareness about pre-travel consultation (n = 479)

No

168

35.7

Yes

311

64.3

Source of Information* (n = 311)

Friends/relatives

180

37.6

Social media/internet

155

32.4

Health professional/travel medicine specialist

102

21.3

Embassy

37

7.7

Travel agent/Others

27

5.6

Print media/Mass media

26

5.4

Employer

16

3.3

Pre-travel consultation/health advice taken (n = 311)

Not taken

40

8.4

Taken

271

56.6

Reason for taking pre-travel consultation (n = 271)

It is the right thing to do

198

41.3

For pre-travel vaccinations

40

8.4

My employer recommended it

18

3.8

Due to my known health condition

15

3.1

Type of clinic where pre-travel consultation was taken (n = 271)

Specialist Hospital (Non-travel medicine specialist)

168

35.1

General health clinics (General Practitioner)

40

8.4

Travel Clinic (Travel medicine specialist)

34

7.1

Others (e.g., Company clinic)

19

4

Port Health Service /Aviation Medical Clinic

10

2.1

Time to travel when pre-travel consultation was taken (n = 271)

Less than 1 week

227

47.4

1 to 2 weeks

31

6.5

2 to 4 weeks

2

0.4

4 to 8 weeks

4

0.8

More than 8 weeks

7

1.5

The reason why pre-travel consultation was not sought or taken (n = 40)

I did not find it important

35

7.3

There was no time to do so before my trip/busy

2

0.4

The difficulty of geographical access

1

0.2

I did not know about it

1

0.2

Others

1

0.2

Awareness about pre-travel vaccination (n = 479)

No

217

45.3

Yes

262

54.7

Previous travel-related vaccination (n = 262)

Not vaccinated

106

22.1

Vaccinated

156

32.6

Reason for taking pre-travel vaccination (n = 156)

To safeguard my health

109

22.8

It is the right thing to do

35

7.3

As part of the requirements for a visa

9

1.9

My employer recommended it

3

0.6

Reason for not taking pre-travel vaccination (n = 106)*

I did not find it important

78

16.3

I refused it

9

1.9

I am not aware of it

9

1.9

To avoid side effects of vaccination

5

1

There was no time to do so/busy

4

0.8

Financial reason/cost was high

1

0.2

Previous travel without being vaccinated (n = 479)

No

219

45.7

Yes

260

54.3

Previous travel without holding a vaccination card (n = 479)

No

359

74.9

Yes

120

25.1

Travel Vaccines taken*

YeF

141

29.4

Cholera

9

1.9

Ways by which travelers have prepared to protect themselves against insect bites during

stay at destination (n = 479)*

Use of insect repellants

222

46.3

Use of insecticide-treated nets

79

16.5

Use of air conditioner

51

10.6

Clothes that can cover arms and legs

27

5.6

Use of insecticide sprays

7

1.5

I will avoid staying out at night

1

0.2