Why Tick Prevention Varies: How Socio-Economic Factors Affect Lyme Risk
Tick prevention behaviors vary among different populations
Income and education influence the strategies people use
Consistent personal protection can help reduce tick-bite risk
Why do some people consistently prevent tick bites while others don’t? Tick prevention behaviors vary widely across socio-economic groups, affecting real-world risk for Lyme disease.
A study of nearly 2,000 individuals in endemic areas found that prevention strategies differed significantly based on income, education, and exposure risk.
For a broader overview of prevention strategies, see Lyme disease prevention: what works and what doesn’t.
As part of a TickNET collaboration, researchers examined knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to tick-borne disease prevention among people living in endemic areas of Connecticut and Maryland.[1]
Among nearly 2,000 individuals surveyed, the most common prevention behaviors included performing tick checks and applying tick control to pets.
Overall, participants reported using the following tick-bite prevention methods most of the time or always:
- Pet tick control (83%)
- Tick checks (58%)
- Showering or bathing (42%)
- Insect repellent (31%)
- Chemical pesticides (23%) or natural pesticides (15%) on property
These findings highlight a key issue: prevention is not just about knowledge—it also depends on habits, risk perception, resources, and daily behavior.
Socio-Economic Differences in Tick Prevention
The authors found that tick prevention behaviors differed across socio-economic levels.
“Those with a higher education level and incomes may choose more expensive options such as property measures, including lawn treatments and landscaping,” writes Niesobecki.
For example, incomes over $100,000 were significantly associated with applying chemical or natural pesticides to property. However, individuals with higher incomes were less likely to practice certain personal prevention behaviors.
Personal Tick Protection Behaviors
Individuals with lower educational levels were more likely to engage in personal protection behaviors, including checking for ticks, showering after outdoor exposure, using insect repellents, and applying pet tick control products.
These behaviors may help reduce tick exposure and support earlier recognition of an attached tick. Because prevention can fail, patients should also be familiar with possible Lyme disease symptoms.
Why Do Tick Prevention Behaviors Differ?
The authors speculated that occupational exposure may play a role. Individuals with lower education levels may be more likely to work outdoors in jobs such as landscaping or yard maintenance, potentially increasing their awareness and use of personal protection measures.
Differences may also reflect varying perceptions about the acceptability and safety of insect repellent use.
Understanding these patterns may help guide more targeted public health messaging. It may also help clinicians encourage consistent prevention among people whose occupational, recreational, or residential activities expose them to ticks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does income affect tick prevention behavior?
In this survey, higher income was associated with greater use of property-based measures, including chemical or natural pesticides. Higher-income participants were less likely to report using some personal protection behaviors consistently.
Which tick prevention behaviors were most common?
Pet tick control was the most frequently reported measure, followed by personal tick checks, showering or bathing after exposure, and using insect repellent.
Why might outdoor workers use more personal protection?
The researchers suggested that greater occupational exposure may increase awareness of tick encounters. However, this was a possible explanation rather than a proven cause of the differences observed.
Clinical Takeaway
Prevention strategies do not fail uniformly. Their use varies according to behavior, environment, resources, exposure, and perception of risk.
People who rely primarily on environmental control may underestimate the importance of personal protection. Others who perform tick checks inconsistently may miss an attached tick.
Because prevention measures may fail, understanding what to do after an exposure is also important. See what to do after a tick bite.
Clinicians should encourage a layered approach that combines environmental measures with consistent personal tick protection.
Related Articles
Tick bite prevention methods are failing our children
Permethrin-treated clothing causes “hot foot” effect in ticks
Are Lyme disease prevention methods really working?
References
- Niesobecki S, Hansen A, Rutz H, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding tick-borne disease prevention in endemic areas. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019;10(6):101264.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
