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Acceptability of Household Practices to Prevent Boils in Rural Alaska

Abstract

Boils are a major health problem affecting rural Alaska Native communities. Boils result from transmission of Staphylococcus aureus from steam bath surfaces, infected skin, and household environments. To assess the acceptability of practices to prevent boils within one community, we surveyed 57 households before and after distribution of supplies and educational materials. Before distribution, 64% of households cleaned steam baths with bleach (23/36), 72% used steam bath seat barriers (41/57), 74% did not share scrubbers (42/57), 35% added recommended bleach to laundry (20/57), and 30% used hand sanitizer (17/57). After distribution, 75% households used new scrubbers (43/57), 88% used new seat barriers (50/57), and 25% used new antiseptic skin cleanser (14/57). Additionally, after the intervention, more households used seat barriers in steam baths (from 72% to 86%, p = .046) and hand sanitizer (from 30% to 60%, p < .001). This study supports development of a household-based intervention as a potential strategy to prevent boils in Alaska Native communities.

  • Acceptability of Household Practices to Prevent Boils Supplement 1 (PDF)
  • Acceptability of Household Practices to Prevent Boils Supplement 2 (PDF)

Authors

  • Ian D. Plumb, MBBS, MSc, Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Jennifer Dobson, MPH, REHS, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
  • Sara Seeman, MSPH, Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Michael G. Bruce, MPH, MD, Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Alisa Reasonover, Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Brian Lefferts, MPH, REHS, DAAS, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
  • Karen M. Rudolph, PhD, Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Joseph Klejka, MD, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation
  • Thomas W. Hennessy, MPH, MD, Arctic Investigations Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Volume#: 84.1
Page #: 26-34
Publication Month: July/August 2021

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