Abstract
Introduction: In 2015, a nationwide campaign to eradicate measles was launched by the health authorities
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to assess the UAE society’s knowledge
of measles and its control following this campaign. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among UAE residents above the age of 18 years
from March to May 2017. A self-administered anonymous questionnaire was distributed,
and a convenience sampling method was used. The data collected were entered and analyzed
using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 22 software. Results: A total of 391 questionnaires were completed from the overall 410 distributed. Most
of the population have heard of measles (94.6%). However, only 23.5% claimed they
have high knowledge of the disease. Information on measles was mainly acquired from
family and friends (50.3%). Individuals with higher educational status were more knowledgeable
about several aspects of the disease. Married individuals and those with children
were more likely to identify the symptoms and associated conditions of the disease
correctly. However, married participants had more misconception about the relationship
between autism and the measles vaccine. No significant differences were found between
the different age groups, genders, or nationalities. Conclusion: Despite the nationwide campaign to eradicate measles, based on the results of our
study, the majority of the UAE population did not have knowledge about the measles
disease and its preventive measures. It is important that public health authorities
and public health organizations seek to address these issues.
Keywords
Measles - public health - vaccine