Perceptions of Community Risk and Travel During Pregnancy in an Area of Zika Transmission

Introduction Between June 2016 and August 2016, the first cases of the Zika transmission were reported in Miami, FL, US. Since then, travel advisories have been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to avoid travel to Florida. Women that are of childbearing age or pregnant are the populations most vulnerable to Zika infection because birth defects can occur in infants born to infected mothers. Till date, there are no studies assessing the perception of the community risk of Zika in pregnant women residing in an affected region such as Miami. Methods A cross-sectional design was utilized for this study. The survey included questions assessing community risk and travel perceptions. Surveys were distributed in the antenatal clinics at the University of Miami Hospital and the Jackson Memorial Hospital. Results A total of 85 women were surveyed between January 27, 2016 and March 3, 2017. Of the surveyed women, 92.6 percent believed Zika is an important issue in their community, 85.9 percent reported a change in behavior because of Zika, 26.9 percent believed they can get Zika at their location, and 13.9 percent considered moving away from Florida because of Zika.  Conclusion Despite the majority of women believing Zika is an important issue in their community, only one-fourth believed they could get Zika in Miami. Efforts to educate pregnant women in affected areas about preventive measures against the Zika infection should be undertaken. Further studies comparing the perceptions of community risks and travel behaviors in other affected areas are warranted.