Effect of a Nutrition Education Intervention on Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Mothers of Children under 5 Years in the Peri-Urban Areas of Bobo-Dioulasso: Before and after Study

Background: This study assessed the effect of a nutrition education intervention. This intervention aimed to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers on food safety in the peri-urban areas of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso. Methods: A total of 243 mothers of children under 5 years in the peri-urban of Bobo-Dioulasso were administered the FAO questionnaire for food safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices assessment during two cross-sectional surveys, before and after the intervention, in January and October 2017. The intervention included two components consisting of a theoretical phase (counselling and discussion) and cooking demonstrations implemented for ten months. To account for the before-and-after design of the study, the McNemar’s test was used to assess the effect of the intervention on food safety KAP of mothers of children under 5 years. Results: The mean age of mothers was 29 ± 6.2 years and 50.6% of them were between 20 and 29 years old. One for knowledge (cooking thoroughly with, p-value = 0.0001) and another for attitudes (perceived benefits of reheating leftovers before eating them, p-value = 0.0001), significantly increased after the intervention. In terms of food safety practices, all the indicators (cleaning of dirty surfaces, plates and utensils and storage of perishable foods) significantly increased (all p = 0.0001 Conclusion: This study provided some evidence of an effective nutrition education intervention for improving maternal KAP on food safety for their child’s feeding.

Study of Factors Associated with Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Rabies in the Commune of Niakhéne in Senegal, in 2022

Introduction: Rabies is a serious disease, as it is always fatal, but it can be prevented by sero-vaccination. It is a neglected tropical disease endemic in Asia and Africa. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding rabies and to determine the factors associated with them among people aged 18 and over in the commune of Niakhène. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical survey of subjects aged 18 and over living in the commune of Niakhène. A sample of 300 individuals was drawn from a two-stage cluster survey stratified by age and sex. Bivariate analysis was performed using association tests. Results: The mean age of respondents was 35.3 ± 16.9 years. It was noted that 67% (201) of respondents had a good knowledge of rabies. The results showed that 7.3% (22) of respondents owned a dog. Of the 278 people who did not own a dog, 78.4% (218) said they would have vaccinated their dog if they had had one. It should be noted that 83.7% (251) of respondents said they would go to a health facility if an animal bit them. None of the dog owners had vaccinated their dogs against rabies. Of the 41 people exposed to rabies, 39% went to a health facility. The age and education of the respondents had statistically significant associations with knowledge of rabies. Respondents’ age and education were statistically significantly related to whether they had vaccinated a domestic dog. The age, education and economic well-being quintile of respondents’ households had statistically significant associations with the use of a health facility in the event of being bitten or scratched by an animal vector. The education of respondents who had been bitten by an animal vector was statistically significantly associated with the use of a health facility. Conclusion: It would be imperative for human and animal health authorities to collaborate in a “One Health” approach in order to increase knowledge and promote the adoption of good practices in rabies prevention.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Regarding Breast Cancer among Parakou University Female Students in 2021

Background: Breast cancer is a life-threatening pathology affecting women across the world. Evidence suggests deficiency of knowledge and numerous sociodemographic factors contribute to delayed medical attention seeking behavior whether initial symptoms of breast cancer go undetected. Objective: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding breast cancer among Parakou University female students in 2021. Method: This was a cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes, carried out on the campus of the University of Parakou, from June 14 to July 2, 2021. Data collection was performed through an individual online questionnaire, designed with KoBoCollect version 1.29.3. Data analysis was implemented with EPI INFO VERSION 7.1.3.3 software. Result: A total of 200 students meeting the inclusion criteria participated in this study. Among them, 20.5% had never heard about breast cancer. Non practice of breast cancer screening (breast self-examination) prevalence was 80%. Factors favoring non practice of breast cancer screening were: ethnicity, religion, not adhering to screening ideas, not committing to educating family and friends about screening. Factors promoting breast cancer screening practice were: having ever heard about breast cancer, being able to point to breast cancer symptoms, having adequate knowledge of breast cancer screening methods, having a good knowledge of the late-stage screening drawbacks. Conclusion: Some young women with high school level are still unaware of breast cancer and do not practice screening. Policymakers should consider more effective information outreach.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Locals towards Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros, Pallas, 1766) Conservation in Lake Bogoria Landscape, Kenya

Several interventions have been suggested for averting and reducing wildlife declines including;securing dispersal areas and migratory corridors, strengthening and investing in local communities and landowners to create and develop community and private wildlife conservancies, and diversification of rural livelihoods through benefits from ecosystem services. Greater Kudu endemic to the Lake Bogoria landscape in Kenya is categorized as vulnerable to extinction due to unsustainable exploitation and management of resources although the continued economic importance of the Greater Kudu in the Lake Bogoria landscape is its best defense. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to analyze the status of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of locals towards the conservation of the Greater Kudu in the landscape. The survey was conducted using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire administered to target populations (N = 137 households). Face-to-face interviews of key informants (KI) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were also carried out. It was found that 84% of KAP respondents agreed that the landscape is rich with biodiversity while 77% of them agreed that conservation of the ecosystem is important for rural livelihoods. Further, 73% of KAP respondents agreed that the extinction of Greater Kudu in the Lake Bogoria landscape may lead to poverty. It is recommended that all-inclusive adaptive management and conservation strategies should embrace continuous monitoring, and understanding dispersal of Greater Kudu to ensure its survival, in the landscape for improved livelihoods.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Health Care Staff about Glaucoma in Lomé

Introduction: Glaucoma is a major cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Early detection and awareness are essential to reduce the impact on eye health. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care staff about glaucoma in Lomé. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional and descriptive study including health care staff in Lomé, from October 1st to December 31st, 2020, for a period of 3 months. After their agreement, the officers responded to questions based on a survey sheet. Results: A total of 169 agents from 3 centers in Lomé, i.e. the Sylvanus Olympio University Teaching Hospital, the Campus University teaching Hospital and the Bè Hospital were involved. 50.9% of the agents were male versus 49.1% female, i.e. a ratio of 1.04. The average age was 33.66 ± 10.45 years. 46.10% were doctors versus 53.90% paramedics. 58.60% had at most 5 years of experience against 41.40% who had more than 5 years of experience. 53.80% defined glaucoma as ocular hypertension while 17.20% defined it as optic nerve disease. 46.20% did not know that there were many types of glaucomas compared to 53.20% who knew that there are many types of glaucomas. 92.30% knew that glaucoma can lead to cause visual loss. Regarding attitudes and practices about glaucoma, 91.70% declared that the follow-up should be done by the ophthalmologist, 81.10% thought that it would be necessary to be checked by the doctor only every 6 months. Finally, 65.08% declared that they had to use eye drops for life for the treatment. Conclusion: Steps should be taken to educate staff more about glaucoma attitudes and practices and also plan for action in the population.

Survey of Patient Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding ENT Pathologies in a Tertiary Health Care Facility in West Africa

The ENT pathologies are not well known to the populations of our developing countries. This lack of knowledge leads certain subjects to have attitudes and practices that favor their occurrence and/or their aggravation. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge and describe the attitudes and practices of patients facing ENT pathologies at the Conakry Hospital and University Center (CHU). This was a prospective, descriptive study lasting six months (June-November 2018). Among the 1410 patients who had consulted in the department during the study period, 1102 had participated in the survey, or 78.16% of cases. The mean age of the patients was 39.3 ± 17.3 years, predominantly female, for a sex ratio of 0.75. The majority of patients were of university education (41.02%) and civil servants (38.66%) represented the dominant socio-professional layer. Rhino-sinusitis (30.85%) and ear infections (20.14%) were the most common pathologies. Almost a third (32.85%) of respondents had no knowledge of behaviors harmful to ENT health. More than half (52.45%) of the patients did not know of any factors favoring the occurrence of ENT pathologies. The therapeutic orientation had been made towards modern medicine in 63.52% against 4.54% for traditional medicine. The choice of self-medication concerned 31.94% of patients. This survey showed that patients have limited knowledge of ENT pathologies as well as the attitudes and practices likely to favor their occurrence. However, a multicenter study involving a larger proportion of patients will confirm these data.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) about Refractive Error among Students Attending Faculty of Health Sciences at Lúrio University in Mozambique, 2020

Introduction: Refractive error is recognized as one of the most important causes of correctable visual impairment and affects people of all ages, socioeconomic levels, and ethnic groups. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 285 million people globally were visually impaired, with 39 million blinds. The aim of this study is to access the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of health sciences students about the refractive error in Nampula, Mozambique. Material and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study including health sciences students of Lúrio University in Nampula, applying a questionnaire to access their knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning the refractive error. The collected data were entered into SPSS version 22.0 for analysis. Frequency distribution and central tendency measures (mean, median) were used to summarize the descriptive part of the study. Results were described using tables and running text. Sample students were included after obtaining informed consent. Results: A total of 298 students participated in the study, 50.3% female, with average age of 24 ± 5.4 years. 69.8% had an eye exam and 54.7% believe they have good vision, 58.1% say that wearing glasses is the main method of correcting refractive errors. 92.3% refer to the Central Hospital as the best place to provide eye health services. The main reason for not purchasing the glasses was their cost (47.3%) and the alternative method for spectacle users was contact lenses (81.0%). The students’ attitudes were positive towards the use of glasses. Conclusion: Visual health education about the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding refractive errors among students must be intensified to ensure good dissemination of information in the surrounding communities enrolled in the health promotion program “One Student, One Family” implemented by Lúrio University in Nampula.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Caregivers of Children 0 - 23 Months in Eastern and Central Uganda

Introduction: Appropriate feeding and consequently good nutritional status of young children largely depends on their caregivers. Aim: The current study aimed at assessing maternal/caregivers’ current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and beliefs regarding different aspects of infant and young child feeding in Eastern and Central Uganda. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey design with mixed methods employing both qualitative and quantitative methods was used for data collection. Results: The study participants included 556 caregivers and 572 children. Results indicate that most caregivers (77%) were knowledgeable about key infant and young child feeding practices such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding and meal frequency. However, culture and economic hardships were a major barrier to the applicability of this knowledge. Nearly all (98%) children were ever breastfed with 41% having been initiated on breast milk in the first hour after birth and 68% of all the children below 6 months exclusively breastfed. Three percent of the children aged 6 - 23 months were classified as having either Moderate (2%) or Severe (1%) Acute malnutrition. The median birth weight was 3.2 Kgs with nine percent of the children classified as underweight at birth. The majority (78%) of the children consumed foods from at least four food groups however only 44% consumed heme-rich animal flesh food such as meat, poultry, organ meats and fish, 29% consumed milk and milk products while only 11% consumed eggs. The barriers to improved nutritional status and health-seeking behaviour in children from both regions were largely similar. Some of these included cultural practices which prohibit children from eating certain foods and lack of drugs in the health facilities. Lack of male involvement was a key barrier to health-seeking behaviour and the nutritional well-being of children. Males were, however, more knowledgeable about the key childcare practices that are critical to positive outcomes because they listen to radios, have access to social media and usually congregate at bars where this information is disseminated and exchanged. Conclusion: There should be continuous sensitization of mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding with special focus on early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding as well as child feeding practices during illness. To increase protein intake in children 6 - 23 months, interventions aimed at increasing consumption of these vital nutrients such as promotion of nutrition-sensitive agricultural enterprises like rearing of small livestock and chickens should be emphasized. Consumption of these foods is critical, especially during pregnancy and infancy. Finally, male involvement in maternal and child feeding should be encouraged.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice survey on Zika virus infection among pregnant women in Brunei Darussalam

To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices(KAP) on Zika virus infection among pregnant women in Brunei Darussalam by a cross-sectional survey. Methods: Between February and June 2017, we recruited 234 pregnant women from all government healthcare centres at Brunei-Muara district, using a modified systematic sampling approach. A pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire was used and data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The study participants were mainly Malay(87.2%) and their mean age was 28.0 years. The median knowledge score was 13, out of a possible score of 28. Most participants(92.7%) knew that Zika virus was transmitted by mosquito bites whereas some(34.6%) knew that sexual transmission was also possible. Media(radio, television or newspapers) was the preferred source of updated information on Zika virus, followed by healthcare workers(44.0%), government announcements(43.2%), and social media(38.0%). Pregnant women who were 25 years old or older [Adj. OR=3.62(95% CI: 1.57, 9.51)], not Malays [Adj. OR=3.32(95% CI: 1.35, 8.55)], and had an average monthly household income of more than BND $3 000 [Adj. OR=4.06(95% CI: 1.81, 19.44)] were more likely to score higher for knowledge on Zika virus. The median prevention practice score was 23, out of a possible score of 36. Most participants reported wearing covering clothes(98.3%) and kept their living surroundings clean(99.6%). Most participants(88.0%) agreed that Zika is an important issue in their community. Conclusion: We found a lack of knowledge on Zika virus infection among pregnant women attending government maternal and child healthcare centres in Brunei Darussalam, in particular that Zika virus can be sexually transmitted. Such information could be well disseminated at the healthcare centre level. Health literacy studies should be conducted to understand the facilitators and barriers of KAP on Zika virus infection among pregnant women.

Food Hygiene Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of the Food Handlers in the Military Hospitals

Improper practices and lack of knowledge by food handlers are contributing factors for the spread of foodborne outbreaks. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of food handlers in military hospitals in Jordan. A Self completed questionnaire was answered by 200 employees;150 military employees and 50 civilian employees in 7 Jordanian military hospitals selected randomly one from the capital Amman and two from the three provinces. The results showed that the means of the percentage scores for the knowledge, attitude, practice, were 84.82, 88.88, 89.43, respectively and the overall knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) mean percentage score was 87.88. A significant difference (P 0.05) in these values was observed between the military and civilian employee. The mean percentage scores for knowledge, attitude and practice were 88.5, 93.2, and 91.4, respectively for military employee compared to those for civilian employee of 73.7, 75.8, and 83.5, respectively. A significant difference for the overall (KAP) mean percentage score was also observed between gender, education and specific occupation of the food handler. Female KAP percentage mean score was 90.0 and that for males was 86.6;The college or university educations employee had a mean score of 91.6 while the elementary school education employee had a mean score of 79.7;The nutritionists and cooks had statistically similar means of 91.6 but these occupations significantly differ from the waiters 84.4 and cleaners 80.2.

Nurses’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice regarding Pressure Ulcers Prevention and Treatment

Pressure ulcers (PU) are one of the most common hospital-acquired problems that occur in patients with mobility limitations. Such wounds can produce pain and deterioration of the underlying condition. Sometimes, they can be life-threatening, and their treatment can impose a financial burden on both the patient’s family and society. Nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and practice are the most important weapons to fight this preventable burden of PU among patients with impaired mobility. The purpose of this study was to assess nurses’ knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding PU prevention and treatment at Clinique Prince Louis Rwagasore (CPLR) in Bujumbura, Burundi. A cross-sectional study design was used. Convenience sampling was used to invite all 28 qualified nurses and nurses’ aids who work in the services where critically ill patients are admitted to participate. A questionnaire was created, and underwent evaluation of face validity before using it to collect data which was analysed using SPSS 21.0. Results revealed that nurses’ knowledge and practice scores were low as participants scored less than 50% on the six knowledge items and the six practice items. However, the attitude scores were greater than 65% on the five items used to evaluate attitude. A strong negative correlation was found between nurses’ knowledge and their attitude scores (r = ?0.479, p = 0.015). Education level was negatively associated with nurses’ knowledge and practice scores of PU prevention and treatment. A high attitude score did not correlate with a higher practice score which might be explained by low knowledge scores (less than 50% on knowledge items). Continuous professional development (CPD) was recommended to improve nurses’ knowledge scores and implementation of PU preventive practices at CPLR.

Oral Health Knowledge and Practices among Diverse University Students with Access to Free Dental Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate oral health knowledge and practices among under-graduate university students from various disciplines with access to free dental care. Materials and Methods: A total of 709 questionnaires were filled out. Data collected included: demographic data, oral health knowledge, and self-reported oral health practices and dental service utilization. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were performed;significance level was set at P < 0.05. Mean age was 20.8 ± 1.5 years. Results: There were (90.1%) of students who considered the toothbrush an oral hygiene aid, (91.1%) thought fluoride was beneficial to teeth, and almost (80%) students believed smoking has harmful effects on oral health. Regarding oral health practices, nearly half of the samples reported twice daily tooth-brushing, one-third received regular dental check-ups, and half visited the dentist because of pain or bleeding gums;fear was the main reason for not visiting the dentist. Females primarily visited the dentist for esthetic reasons (70%) and males upon complaint (59.8%). Oral health knowledge and practices among university students were poor. Conclusion: Dental students showed higher knowledge and better practices among disciplines studied. It is also important that dental hygienists take an active role in educating students in the aspect of oral health.

Validating a tool to assess eye health knowledge, attitude and practice in Cambodia and Vietnam

AIM: To develop an eye health knowledge, attitude and practice(EH-KAP) field-based assessment tool for use in implementing effective eye health care services.METHODS: An instrument development and validation study. A Vietnam EH-KAP dataset were used to identify and eliminate redundant questions to develop a standardized tool. Face validity was assessed by the KAP survey team. Internal validity(congruency/criterion) was assessed by comparing descriptive analysis of two datasets(n=531;n=38) collected from the same sampling frame at different time points. Weighted scores were calculated for each construct. Kappa values for test-retest and inter-observer agreement were calculated to check the reliability of responses. The modified version was assessed by analysing the raw and ungrouped data. Responses were weighted and agreement was tested by comparing construct scores.RESULTS: Totally 38 respondents were included in this validation process(mean age 58.5 y). Mean scores for knowledge were 9.15(old questionnaire n=531) and 5.05(modified version). For attitude, the scores were 2.23 and 2.42, and for practice the scores were 3.33 and 2.21. Testretest agreement was between 62% to 93%(Kappa 0.24 to 0.86) for the ungrouped raw data, and 55% to 72%(Kappa 0.42 to 0.65) for KAP domain. Inter-observer Kappa value for ungrouped data was 0.37 and 0.45 for the weighted scores.CONCLUSION: This standardized tool applied at critical time points can assess trends in KAP within the same population and for comparison across groups. If used alongside a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness(RAAB), this tool provides a comprehensive perspective on eye-health of a population.

Cell Biology and Ethics: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Anatomists in India

Most scientific discoveries and advancements have occurred in the world in the last century. Both developed and developing countries are the beneficiaries of the new scientific knowledge and its application. Advanced knowledge and the ethical issues are inseparable from research, treatment, prophylaxis and prevention involving human diseases. It is necessary to make well informed decisions about acceptance of advancements that have taken place elsewhere and also prepare systems for our research and medical education. Bioethics therefore needs to be grounded in the local socio cultural context and health care systems. Students make first contact with human biological tissue in the Anatomy department. The seeds of ethical practices and professionalism are sown here. Therefore appropriate knowledge and attitudes of anatomists and cell biologists towards human tissue is important for regular practice of medicine. A questionnaire based study of knowledge and attitudes of 300 anatomy faculty related to use of human biological materials in research and education was conducted. The items included in the questionnaire were to judge the awareness about the same i.e., laboratory handling of human material and research related to corpses, organ & whole body donation along with their use in clinical learning and research in various medical specialties like, orthopedics, surgery, ENT, anesthesia etc. for clinicians, physicians and surgeons as well as undergraduate, post graduate and allied workforce teaching. The data collected from the respondents in the form of positive and negative responses was analyzed. The study identifies the knowledge gaps and the perceptions of faculty regarding the scope and utility of understanding the role of human biological tissues in curriculum and research and transmission of message to the next generation of learners.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to seeking medical eyecare services by adults with moderate-to-severe visual impairment in rural Yueqing, Wenzhou, China: a cross-sectional survey

AIM:To evaluate the knowledge,attitudes,and practices regarding eye-care seeking practices of visually impaired adults in a rural area Yueqing,and explore factors influencing their behavior.METHODS:A stratified sampling method was used to select 48 villages in Yueqing,from which 2400 people were selected to receive vision screenings conducted by oculists during a household visit.Those presenting visual acuity≥0.5 log MAR in either eye completed a self-designed questionnaire investigating their knowledge about medical eye-care seeking,attitudes about eye health and eye-careseeking behavior.RESULTS:Totally 165 people with moderate-to-severe visual impairment were identified(6.9%,165/2400),and 146 eligible participants were recruited(response rate:88.4%,mean age:68.6±15.0 y),among which 88(60.3%)were female.They had 82(56.2%)and 64(43.8%)monocular and binocular visual impairments respectively.A total of 67(45.9%)subjects demonstrated a high knowledge level about medical eye-care seeking and 88(60.3%)had self-rated poor vision,with 23(15%)receiving regular vision checks.The 105(71.9%)subjects had never been to hospital for an eye examination."No need"and"schedule conflicts"were the main reasons for not seeking eye care.Having extensive knowledge of medical eye-care seeking was positively associated with high education levels(OR=3.73,P=0.045)and negatively correlated with older age(OR=0.97,P=0.043).Both the self-perceived vision condition(OR=2.59,P=0.03)and regular vision check behavior(OR=6.50,P<0.01)were related with seeking eye care services.CONCLUSION:In rural Yueqing,intervention is required to increase public knowledge about seeking medical eye care among people with moderate-to-severe visual impairment,especially for the elderly and poorly education.Regular vision checks may be useful to promote their medical eye-care utilization.

Evaluation of Food Hygiene Knowledge Attitudes and Practices of Food Handlers in Food Businesses in Accra, Ghana

Food handlers have a prime role to play in food businesses, and that is to guarantee that meals served are hygienic for consumption. Conscious or inadvertent contamination of such food places consumers at risk of suffering from food- borne illnesses. For this reason the study was carried out to document the food hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices of some food handlers, in food businesses in Accra, Ghana and also to determine the microbiological load of the foods sold by the food businesses. The study targeted food handlers in the hotel industry. The study involved a field survey, followed by a laboratory assessment of microbiological status of food samples obtained from the sampled hotels. Cross tabulations and chi – squared tests (5% significance level) as well as frequency distributions were used to analyze the data obtained from the field survey. Data obtained from the laboratory assessment were also compared to standard values of microbiological counts. Majority of respondents were between the ages of 30 - 40 years (42.9%) with tertiary or post secondary education. Food hygiene knowledge and attitudes were satisfactory, however its practice was challenging. Gender, age and educational level of respondents did not influence their food hygiene practices. Microbial counts of all food samples was generally high ranging from 1.2 × 105 CFU/g to 1.1 × 108 CFU /g. The total coliform counts of foods ranged from 1.0 × 104 CFU/g to 5.0 × 106 CFU/g, and these were obtained from three out of the five hotel kitchens sampled. The study concluded that, the food hygiene knowledge and attitudes of the food handlers did not result in efficient food hygiene practices.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Mothers Regarding Breastfeeding in the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville (Republic of Congo)

Objective: To analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers about breastfeeding at the Brazzaville University Hospital Center. Population and Methods: Analytical KAP study, conducted from February 1 to May 31, 2019, including exclusively manner mothers who have started breastfeeding for at least 4 months and at most 24 months in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The study variables were related to socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and practices. Results: One hundred and forty mothers were questioned. They were of a median age of 30, multiparous (61.5%), in a couple (78.6%), with gainful activity (47.9%). They had enough knowledge (87.1%) but harmful in 26.5% of cases, adapted attitudes (95%) with answers of different certainties, and bad practices (60%). Knowledge did not influence attitudes (p > 0.2). Knowledge and attitudes influenced practices (p Conclusion: An educational strategy on mothers’ knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding would help improve their breastfeeding practices.

Assessing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Adolescents’ and Teachers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards Contraception

Introduction: Improving teenagers’ knowledge on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is important to prevent unintended pregnancies. We aimed to assess comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programs and knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents and teachers towards contraception. Methods: Based on the reasoned action theory and CSE guidelines, a qualitative study was conducted with seven teachers and 62 adolescents aged 15 - 19. The data were collected through six focus groups (FG) of adolescents and seven semi-structured interviews of teachers. The program of the family life education course (FLEC) was assessed. The Atlas Ti software helped to analyze the data, using a deductive approach. Results: The periodic abstinence, male condoms and pills were the most known contraceptive methods. Adolescents and teachers were reluctant to use artificial contraceptive methods, apart from the male condom which they used irregularly. Girls especially preferred natural contraceptive methods, fearing side effects, such as the risk of infertility. Almost all adolescents wanted to be informed on SRH and family planning in school. However, they estimated that the content of the FLEC was insufficient and criticized the teachers’ lack of openness. Their main sources of information were peers, siblings and the internet. Mothers were an important source of information for girls, unlike fathers considered to be indifferent or even frightening. Conclusion: Adolescents’ and teachers’ knowledge are weak;and their attitudes unfavorable towards contraception. Misconceptions about contraception lead to the use of ineffective practices to prevent unwanted pregnancies. To improve knowledge, a teacher training program should be developed and the content of the FLEC improved, formalized and regulated.

Unsatisfactory COVID-19-Related Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among Undergraduate University Students in Uganda: An Online Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: This study examined the COVID-19-related knowledge, attitude and practices among undergraduate students in Uganda. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted from 12th-19th June 2020 among undergraduate students using a standard questionnaire designed using Google Forms sent via WhatsApp Messenger. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used to test the differences and odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were used for quantifying the association between independent and dependent variables. p < 0.05 was considered significant. A cut-off score of ≥80% was used to denote sufficient knowledge, positive attitude, and good practices. Results: Of the 161 respondents, 102 (63.4%) were males with a mean age of 24.2 (5.0) years. The majority 121 (75.2%) were pursuing health-related programs and overall, 110 (68.3%) had sufficient knowledge while 76 (47.2%) had a positive attitude and good practice each. Knowledge and attitude were significantly associated with health-related programs (AOR 4.78, 95% CI 2.06 - 11.07;p < 0.001) and (AOR 3.18, 95% CI 1.33 - 7.62;p = 0.010) respectively. The practice was associated with the male gender (AOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.19 - 4.73;p = 0.014). The most commonly cited sources of COVID-19 information were news media 147 (91.3%), Ministry of Health 134 (83.2%), and social media 125 (77.6%). The ministry of health was considered the most trustworthy source 139 (86.3%) and social media the least 21 (13.0%). Conclusions: COVID-19-related knowledge, attitude and practices among undergraduates in Uganda were low overall. Therefore, concerted efforts to provide tailored health education and behaviour change communication are needed.

Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of the Hospital Staff in the Management of High Blood Pressure in Conakry

Introduction: High blood pressure is a real public health problem affecting more than one in three adults. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care personnel in the management of hypertension in Conakry. Methods: Descriptive transversal study of 6 months, from April 20, 2018 to September 20, 2018, which took place in the internal medicine departments of the two university hospital centers (CHU) of Conakry (Donka and Ignace Deen). The study population consisted of general practitioners and specialists, practicing in both departments for at least two years and who agreed to submit to our questionnaire. Results: At the end of the study, we included 140 doctors, 61% at Donka University Hospital and 39% at Ignace Deen University Hospital. The predominance was male with 113 men for 27 women with a sex ratio H/F = 4.18. General practitioners were the most represented with 95% against 5% specialists. Sixty-four percent of physicians gave an exact definition of hypertension, 56% of physicians confirmed the diagnosis of hypertension after 2 to 3 consultations. 19% offered monotherapy as first-line treatment, only 72% said that the duration of Antihypertensive treatment was for life. Conclusion: Theseresults demonstrate that it is essential to reflect on our daily practices for a good improvement in the quality of care for patients.