Locus of health control among foresters and hunters to occupational exposure to tick-borne diseases.

Introduction: Making the forester profession and practicing hunting associate with frequent staying in the environment of feeding ticks and exposure to biological agents. Lyme disease and encephalitis transmitted by ticks are the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne diseases in Poland. In order to avoid the infection it’s important to use before exposure prophylaxis and take appropriate actions after the bite of a tick.

Aim: To assess the degree of exposure to tick-borne diseases in the group of foresters and hunters against the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC).

Material and methods: The study group consisted of 121 persons: 66 foresters, 15 hunters and 40 respondents who are both forester and hunter. The study used diagnostic survey method using: the own questionnaire and MHLC Scale.

Results: Foresters and hunters are exposed to tick-borne diseases. As many as 55.86% respondents were stabbed by a tick from 1-10 times in the last year. Among 45.59% (n=51) of the foresters and hunters tick-borne diseases were detected: it was Lyme disease in 50 cases and tick-borne encephalitis in one. Most respondents knew personal protection methods in the prevention of infection and they applied to those methods. However, the number of stings by ticks wasn’t dependent on the actions and taken precautions.

Conclusions: The types of locus of health control hadn’t connection with the activities undertaken by the foresters and hunters after a tick. In the diagnosis of diseases transmitted by ticks essential role has post-exposure observation of the body.