Understanding and intervening children's tick risk perceptions and protective behaviors

Children 8 years of age and younger are at a high risk for contracting a tick-transmitted disease. This is partially due to the misconceptions spread about tick protective behavior and antibiotic treatment through miscommunication, misinformation, and old wives tales. Due to the fact that tick control is the individual’s responsibility, looking at the interaction between ticks and the individual is essential to understanding the individuals motivations to protect themself. To help alleviate the number of individuals contracting tick-transmitted diseases, misconceptions must be addressed, intervention programs implemented, and a behavioral change must occur. This study utilized a qualitative research design through interviews within a constructivist grounded theory. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to conduct interviews with children ranging from 8 to 10 years of age, who have had a tick interaction, live in a midwestern state, and who spend at least 6 hours outside on average. It was found that children held several misconceptions about ticks. The children were found to only view and/or use bug spray as a protective measure. The children received the majority of their information from their parents. Based on the findings, the research is meant to empower children to believe in their own self-efficacy to perform tick protective behaviors, such as tick checks, wearing repellent, wearing proper clothing, proper removal, and knowing when and who to ask for help.