Investigation on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Oral Health among Medical College and University Undergraduate

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the status of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of oral health among medical undergraduate students, and provide reference for implementing oral health interventions. Methods: A total of 528 undergraduate students enrolled in Fuzhou Medical College from February 2023 to September 2023 were selected as the research subjects. Their oral health KAP were investigated, and the oral health behavior habits of different types of medical students were compared, and possible influencing factors were analyzed. Results: The total awareness rate of oral health knowledge among medical students is 77.0%, with an average score of 3.85 ± 1.16 points. The overall positive rate of oral health attitudes among medical students is 80.0%, with an average score of 3.19 ± 0.72 points. The total qualified rate of oral health behavior is 65.9%, with an average score of 4.61 ± 1.23 points. The scores of oral health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among medical students are related to gender, major, smoking status, and oral health status. The frequency of brushing teeth in the female group was higher than that in the male group, while the habit of brushing teeth before bedtime and the frequency of timely replacement of toothbrushes when deformed were lower, with statistical significance (p 0.05). The frequency of timely replacement of toothbrushes varies among medical students from different majors, and the difference is statistically significant (p 0.05). People who have a habit of eating hot and cold food have a higher frequency of brushing their teeth every day, and the difference is statistically significant (p 0.05). Non smokers have a better habit of brushing their teeth before bedtime and a higher frequency of timely replacement when their toothbrush deforms, with a statistically significant difference (p 0.05). The frequency of using fluoride toothpaste or medicated toothpaste, having a habit of unilateral chewing, and timely replacement of toothbrushes when deformed in patients with existing oral problems is higher than that of those without oral problems, and the difference is statistically significant (p 0.05). Conclusion: The knowledge, attitude, and behavior of oral health among medical students in this school are above average. Students with different genders, dietary and smoking habits, and oral health status have different oral health behavioral habits. It is recommended to include oral health education in mandatory courses for various medical majors.

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices among Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Care Hospital on Needle Stick Injury

Purpose: Needle-stick injury (NSI) is one of the most potential occupational hazards for healthcare workers because of the transmission of blood-borne pathogens. As per recent data, around 30 lakh healthcare workers sustain Needle stick injuries each year. This study was conducted to assess healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitude and practices regarding needle stick injury. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital over the period of 3 months. The study population consisted of Intern Doctors, Post Graduate resident Doctors, Staff Nurses, laboratory technicians of Government Medical College and New Civil Hospital, Surat (n = 300). The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire via the means of Google Forms. Questionnaire was made with prior review literature. The data obtained were entered and analysed in Microsoft Excel. Results: The prevalence of NSI in our study was 46%, with a higher prevalence among the PG residents (72%). Overall scores regarding knowledge and attitude were better in PG residents (knowledge score > 7 in 71% and Attitude Score > 7 in 68% of PG Residents). Even though the PG residents scored highest in the knowledge category, the majority of them suffered needle stick injuries as a result of poor practice scores. Among those who had NSI (n = 139/300), 70% of study participants had superficial injuries, only 9% reported the incident, 18% got medical attention within 2 hours of the incident, and 7% followed up to recheck their viral markers status. Most incidents of NSI were due to hypodermic needles while recapping needles. Conclusion: Exposure to needle stick injuries and their underreporting remains a common problem. It is imperative that healthcare workers receive regular training on the proper handling of sharp objects. We can also draw the conclusion that preventing NSIs requires putting knowledge into practice.

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.

Patients’Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Disposal Methods of Expired and Unused Medicines: Implication for Creation of Drug Take-Back Program

Background: Handling of medicines is a day-to-day activity by patients and many health care providers. However, multiple studies have brought to light inappropriate disposal methods for expired and unused medication (EUM). Improper disposal of expired and unused medicines is hazardous both to humans and the environment. Objective: This sought to measure patients’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on disposal methods of EUM. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 384 patients at three outpatient pharmacies at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTHs). The structured questionnaire was used to collect data and STAT version 15.1 was used to analyse the data. Results: 384 respondents participated in this study and, at some point, had EUM. In this study, 356 (92.7%) of the participants reported that they had never heard of a drug take-back system. Most of the participants 285 (74.2%) and 239 (62.2%) kept and donated their unused medicine, respectively. Additionally, 244 (63.5%), 212 (55.2%), and 176 (44.8%) of the participants disposed of expired medicines in the bin or garbage, flushed them in toilets or sinks, or burned them, respectively. Occupation was significantly associated with unsafe disposal of unused medicine [P-value = 0.019]. Conclusion and Relevance: Knowledge of safe disposal methods for EUM was good amongst most participants. However, used unsafe disposal methods. The majority of the participants exhibited positive attitude concerning safe disposal methods. This study highlights the need for drug-take-back program creation in Zambia.

Development of Knowledge,Attitude and Practice Questionnaire for age-related macular degeneration patients

AIM:To develop and validate a questionnaire to evaluate knowledge,attitude and practice of patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration(AMD)who have undergone intravitreal injection treatment.METHODS:This study was conducted among patients diagnosed with AMD in Kuala Lumpur.The generation of the instrument included four phases which included item and domains development,content,face validity and exploratory factor analysis.Content validity and modified Kappa was used for validation of knowledge domain.Exploratory factor analysis was used for validation of both attitude and practice domains.Face validity was conducted in 12 patients,content validity was ascertained in 120 patients and test-retest reliability was determined in 39 patients with AMD.RESULTS:Content validity index(CVI)and modified kappa showed excellent values for most items in the knowledge domain with CVI for item(I-CVI)values between 0.78-1.0 and Kappa values of>0.74.The Kaiser-MeyerOlkin(KMO)sampling adequacy showed acceptable scores of 0.70 and 0.75 for both attitude and practice domains respectively and Bartlett’s Test of sphericity were significant(χ^(2)=0.00,P<0.001).Factor analysis resulted in five factors with thirty items for attitude domain and four factors with twenty items for practice domain.The Cronbach’s alpha showed acceptable values for all items in knowledge,attitude and practice domain with values>0.70 and good test-retest reliability.The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 93 items from four sections consisting of demographic details,knowledge,attitude and practice.CONCLUSION:The findings of this validation and reliability study show that the developed questionnaire has a satisfactory psychometric property for measuring KAP of patients diagnosed with AMD undergoing intravitreal injection treatment.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Regarding Cervical Cancer and Screening among Saudi Women in Ar Rass, Qassim

INTRODUCTION: Internationally, cervical cancer has been regarded as the third most common form of cancer among women after breast and colorectal cancer. However, it is considered one of the most preventable cancers. Research evidence has suggested that infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) significantly increases the relative risk for developing cervical cancer. Papanicolaou cytological testing (Pap smear) permits cervical lesions to be detected before they become cancerous, effectively reducing the incidence of cervical cancer by 75% - 90%. The cervical cancer is the thirteenth most frequent cancer in Saudi women although the health facilities and vaccination are available and can be detected early. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cervical cancer screening among Saudi women in Qassim. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 85 Saudi Women attending 3 Primary Health Care centers which had been randomly selected by simple random sampling from a list of 4 health centers in Ar Rass city during October 2022. The respondents filled a structured questionnaire after giving informed consent. The data was entered in Excel and analyzed in EpiInfo7 statistical software. RESULTS: The prevalence of cervical cancer in the Qassim region was probably low as 91% of the participants did not have any relatives diagnosed with cervical cancer. About 24% of female participants had good knowledge about cervical cancer and knew the probability of detecting cervical cancer with the Pap smear test before symptoms appear. However, over 56% had never heard of cervical cancer and 48% had not heard about the Pap smear. Only 14% of respondents had a Pap smear test at least once and 82% claimed to have the test done if they were told that the procedure was painless and simple. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and practice regarding cervical screening was inadequate among Saudi women, particularly among women less than 30 years of age, recently married, and with low education level. However, women in Ar Rass have a positive attitude towards cervical screening services although they need to have reassurances that can reduce the barriers to having a test. There is a need to create awareness about cervical cancer screening programs and to educate Saudi women about the symptoms for early diagnosis and treatment.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Contraceptive Use among Women of Reproductive Age in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Low contraceptive use among all other factors have been implicated in rapid population growth seen in low and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs). This can be attributed to poor knowledge and attitude of the populace towards use of modern contraceptives. Aim: To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among pregnant women attending ANC at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria from July 1 to August 31, 2021. Methods: This quantitative study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study that recruited 529 women. They were administered with a semi-structured questionnaire which was used to collect their data and responses. The data was analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 25. Results: According to the findings, 57.3% and 47.1% of the women had poor knowledge and negative attitude towards contraception respectively. About a tenth of the women (9.8%) utilised contraceptives of which 44.2% and 42.3% used the natural method and male condoms respectively. The study also revealed the major reason behind the low use as desire for more children (36.3%). Conclusion: The study showed that the women had poor knowledge and negative attitude towards contraceptives and this translated to poor contraceptive use. Hence, awareness campaigns should be intensified by health workers towards enlightening the populace on the different types, uses and benefits of modern contraceptives.

Effects of Health Education with Problem-Based Learning Approaches on the Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Coping Skills of Women with High-Risk Pregnancies in Plateau Areas

Objective: Given the unique cultural background, way of life, and physical environment of the Tibetan Plateau, this study aims to investigate the effects of health education using problem-based learning (PBL) approaches on the knowledge, attitude, practice, and coping skills of women with high-risk pregnancies in this region. Methods: 76 high-risk pregnancy cases were enrolled at Tibet’s Linzhi People’s Hospital between September 2023 and April 2024. 30 patients admitted between September 2023 and December 2023 were selected as the control group and were performed with regular patient education. 46 patients admitted between January 2024 and April 2024 were selected as the observation group and were performed regular patient education with problem-based learning approaches. Two groups’ performance on their health knowledge, attitude, practice and coping skills before and after interventions were evaluated, and patient satisfaction were measured at the end of the study. Results: There was no statistical significance (P P P Conclusions: Health education with problem-based learning approaches is worth promoting as it can help high-risk pregnant women in plateau areas develop better health knowledge, attitude and practice and healthier coping skills. Also, it can improve patient sanctification.

Occupational exposures to blood and body fluids (BBF): Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice among health care workers in general hospitals in Lebanon

Healthcare workers (HCWs) who are employed in traditional health care workplaces face a serious danger that may threaten their life;it is their exposure to blood and body fluids (BBF). In Lebanon, the introduction of a hospital accreditation system has put a particular emphasis on staff safety, and on the evaluation of professional practice (EPP) programs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 277 HCWs working in 4 general hospitals in South Lebanon. Objective: 1) describe the prevalence and the risk factors for occupational exposure to BBF among HCWs;2) evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practices of HCW concerning blood-borne pathogens and adherence to universal safety precautions. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 32.14 years (SD = 10.33), 57.4% were females. 43.3% of HCWs expressed that they use gloves all the time for every activeity of care. 67.1% were aware that needles should not be recapped after use;registered nurses and nursing students were more aware than physicians and nursing assistants (nurse) in this subject. 30% of HCWs declared having had at least one occupational exposure to BBF;62.7% of all accidental exposure was reported to the department responsible for managing exposures. Percutaneous injuries were the most frequently reported. Vaccination coverage was 88.4% for hepatitis B, and 48.4% against influenza. The source patient was tested in 43.4% of reported BBF exposures. Accidental exposure to BBF was more frequent in older people (OR = 3.42;p = 0.03) and the more experienced. Subjects working in intensive care unit ward reported more exposure to BBF (OR = 3;p = 0.04). Participants incurring exposure to BBF resorted to different measures after the injury suggesting a lack of a uniform policy for post-exposure prophylaxis. Conclusion: Exposure to BBF represents an important and frequently preventable occupational hazard for HCWs in Lebanon that requires continuous EPP of HCWs, and a comprehensive approach for prevention and management.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Hepatitis B Infection and Vaccination among Public Health Students in Ghana

Background: Hepatitis-B (Hep-B) infection is a global public health problem of great concern which affects more than 5% of the local population in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed students’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards Hepatitis B infection and vaccination at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 262 Public Health students of the University of Health and Allied Science of the Volta region of Ghana, using a multi-stage sampling technique in selecting participants. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20.1. Results: Study respondents were mostly males, forming 69.8% as against 30.2% of their female counterparts. All (262) respondents had knowledge on Hep-B infection and the availability of a vaccine for preventing Hepatitis infection. However, despite their knowledge of existence, the majority (56.9%) of the respondents felt they did not need to be protected from Hep-B infection. Majority (58.8%) of the total respondents have been vaccinated against Hep-B infection. The study identified the cost of vaccines as a major setback to non-vaccination. However, out of the 41.2% respondents who were not vaccinated against Hep B infection, majority (50.9%) of them were not willing to be vaccinated even if it was offered to them at no cost. Conclusion: There was a significantly high level of knowledge on Hep-B infection and the availability of vaccine for Hep-B infection among students. However, the majority of the respondents felt they did not need to be protected from Hep-B infection. More education is needed on the importance of vaccination as an effective measure for controlling Hepatitis infection.

The Impact of Leptospirosis Health Education Module (LHEM) on Changes of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) among Army Personnel in Northeastern Malaysia

Community-based interventions in prevention and control of leptospirosis, have been uniformly unsuccessful. Individual counseling and health education play an important role in the prevention and control of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of intervention on the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) score on leptospirosis among the army personnel after receiving a health education given. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitude and practice at pre- and post-intervention. A total of 188 army personnel from the two camps involved in this study with 94 respondents in control and intervention groups respectively. Leptospirosis Health Education Module (LHEM) was given to the intervention group. There was significant improvement in knowledge score before and after intervention done (mean difference = 24.25, 95% CI: 21.93, 26.56;p &#8722;14.13, 95% CI: &#8722;15.82, &#8722;12.45;p &#8722;0.72, 1.55;p > 0.05). For the intervention effect, the subjects in intervention group had significantly higher mean attitude score as compared to the subjects in control group (mean difference = &#8722;2.12, 95% CI: &#8722;2.99, &#8722;1.24;p &#8722;0.47, 1.98;p > 0.05). For the intervention effect regardless of time, the subjects in intervention group had significantly higher mean practice score as compared to the subjects in control group (mean difference = 4.16, 95% CI: 2.80, 5.52;p < 0.001). The leptospirosis health education module was found to cause improvement in KAP score in the intervention group.

Relationship of Periodontal Status and Dental Caries Status with Oral Health Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior among Professional Students in India

Aim To find the relationship of periodontal status and dental caries status with oral health knowledge, attitude, behavior, among professional students in India. Methodology In a cross sectional study, a total of 825 students （males： 577, females： 248） fi＇om six professions were surveyed using a self administered structured questionnaire including 41 multiple choice questions and the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form （1997）. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 13.0 to perform the Student＇s t-test, ANOVA test, Scheffe＇s test and Chi-square test, linear regression analysis. Results The mean percentage scores of the students for knowledge were 53.25 ±15.05; for attitude 74.97±20.48; and for behavior 59.09 ±18.77. The percentage of students with calculus score was found to be significantly high （43.8%）. The percentage of professional students with DMFT〉4 was 14.1% and the percentage of students with decayed teeth was 46.2%. The regression analysis showed that the oral health behavior of the students was dependent on the attitude （P〈0.001）, but showed no significant linear relation with the knowledge. Also, that the mean DMFT score was dependent on the oral health behavior （P〈0.05）, but showed no significant relationship with the knowledge and attitude of the students. The periodontal status was independent on the knowledge, but showed a significant relationship with attitude and behavior of the students. Conclusion A positive attitude and adherence to good oral hygiene behaviors is associated with better oral health.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding oxygen therapy at emergency departments in Riyadh in 2017: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Administering oxygen therapy(OT) has an essential role in preventing/managing hypoxemia in both acute and chronic conditions. It should be adjusted to achieve the normal oxygen saturation of 94%–98% in most cases. This study aims to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice(KAP) of nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians(EMTs) and Emergency Medical Services(EMS) physicians working at emergency departments(ED) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a structured questionnaire was used to assess KAP related to OT of nurses, paramedics, EMTs and EMS physicians currently working at an ED of a tertiary care hospital. Knowledge and attitude were assessed using a Likert scale from 1–5, whereas practice was assessed as a yes/no categorical variable.RESULTS: A total of 444 emergency health-care workers(EHCWs) participated, of which 225(50.7%) were male, with the majority(77%) in the age group of 20–35 years. Over half of the sample were nurses(266; 59.9%). The mean score for knowledge about OT was 5.51±1.45, attitude was 26.31±3.17 and for practices 4.55±1.76. The main factors which were associated with poor KAP were workload and lack of local guidelines. The distribution of overall practice score was signifi cantly better among paramedics – nurses group and EMT – nurses group.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that there is a gap in EHCWs' KAP, particularly regarding when to provide OT to a patient. This gap can affect patients' safety. Extensive educational and training programs about OT are needed to raise awareness among health-care providers.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding nursing interruptions among Chinese nurses: A nationwide cross-sectional survey

Objectives:To explore the knowledge,attitude and practice of Chinese nurses regarding nursing interruptions and related factors.Methods:A total of 6,400 nurses from 31 hospitals in China were investigated by using the Knowledge,Attitude and Practice(KAP)Questionnaire of Nursing Interruptions.The questionnaire consists of three dimensions,knowledge,attitude and practice,containing 10,9 and 7 items,with full score of 50,45 and 28,respectively.Results:The mean overall KAP score regarding nursing interruptions of Chinese nurses was 74.05±16.65(range:26-123),with scores for the knowledge,attitude,and practice component being 21.74±9.80,34.83±6.98,and 17.49±4.97,respectively.Among the nurses,70.8%of them experienced an average level of KAP toward nursing interruptions while 15.5%were at a poor level.The knowledge,attitude,and practice of nursing interruptions were better in chief nurses,managers,nurses with a master degree or above,nurses ever received training,and nurses with a strong agreement to leadership compared to nurses in other groups(P<0.05).In addition,employment type,professional title,position,standardized training and leaders'attention were predictors of KAP in nurses.Conclusion:Chinese nurses have a moderate level of KAP regarding nursing interruptions.Leaders'attention,standardized training,position,professional title and employment type could predict nurses'KAP state of nursing interruptions.Thus,a targeted training program should be implemented for clinical nurses by nursing leaders,with a particular focus on feasibility and professionalism.

Knowledge, attitude and practice related to liver fluke infection in northeast Thailand

AIM: To investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) in prevention and control of liver fluke infection in northeast Thailand. METHODS: A descriptive KAP survey pertaining to liver fluke infection was carried out in June 2005 to October 2006 using structured questionnaires. Data were collected by questionnaires consisting of general parameters, knowledge, attitude, practice, and a history of participation in the prevention and control of liver fluke infection.RESULTS: A total of 1077 persons who were inter-viewed and completed the questionnaires were enrolled in the study. The majority were females (69.5%) and many of them were 15-20 years of age (37.26%). The questionnaires revealed that information resources on liver fluke infection included local public health volunteers (31.37%), public health officers (18.72%), televisions (14.38%), local heads of sub-districts (12.31%), doctors and nurses (9.18%), newspaper (5.72), internets (5.37%), and others (12.95%). Fifty-five point eleven percent of the population had a good level of liver fluke knowledge concerning the mode of disease transmission and 79.72% of the population had a good level of prevention and control knowledge with regards to defecation and consumption. The attitude and practice in liver fluke prevention and control were also at a good level with a positive awareness, participation, and satisfaction of 72.1% and 60.83% of the persons studied. However, good health behavior was found in 39.26% and 41.42% of the persons studied who had unhygienic defecation and ate raw cyprinoid's fish. The result also showed that 41.25% of the persons studied previously joined prevention and control campaigns. CONCLUSION: The persons studied have a high level of liver fluke knowledge and positive attitude. However, improvement is required regarding personal hygiene specifically with hygienic defecation and consumption of undercooked fish.

Assessment of Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Radiation Safety at Suez Canal University Hospital, Egypt

Doctors who request imaging must be well trained in deciding whether diagnostic imaging is indicated and have an accurate knowledge of the associated risks. Although radiological doses are low and the chance of late effect is minimal, it should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. This cannot be achieved without a proper knowledge and adherence to safe practices. This cross-sectional study investigates the level of physicians’ knowledge about radiation safety and their attitude towards radiation protection. A self-administered questionnaire, for radiation safety was sent to a purposive sample of 120 physicians at Suez Canal University Hospital. Eighty questionnaires were filled by participants (response rate;66.7%). The sample included 22 radiologists, 15 oncologists, 25 surgeons and 18 orthopedists. Most participants did not receive any radiation safety-related training (88.8%). Radiologists and oncologists were exposed to ionizing radiation more frequently;however, their knowledge was as low as that of other physicians. The overall knowledge score ranged from 40% - 60% (mean;56.5 ± 15.2), with a low score among surgeons and orthopedics. The most deficient knowledge was in the dose of background radiation and the radiation dose received by patients in each type of radiation procedure. Adherence to safe radiation practices was violated by most of participants, especially surgeons and orthopedics, but they attributed it to the poor applicability of the protective measures during performing the procedures. This study concluded that physicians at the Suez Canal University Hospital had deficient knowledge, unsafe practices and negative attitude towards radiation safety policies & precautions.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breast Self-Examination amongst Women in Two Communities of Cameroon

Breast cancer is a major health problem in the world. It is the most common cancer in women and is equally the leading cause of cancer death in women. Though in controversy Breast self-examination (BSE) remains a useful tool in early diagnosis of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of BSE amongst women in Yaoundé and Monatele. We carried out a cross sectional study in two communities of Cameron over a period of eight months, targeting females older than 15 years. After obtaining authorization, we randomly interviewed 402 consenting participants, using a pretested questionnaire. Data were entered using CS Pro 7.3 and analysed using SPSS 23. Of a total of 402 participants, 256 (63.7%) in Monatele and 146 (36.3%) in Yaoundé VI, the mean age was 26.55 ± 9.57 years. Exactly 50% (201) had earlier heard of BSE. Health personnel and media represented the main sources of information on BSE. Of the total, 46 (11.4%) knew BSE should be done monthly. Fifty-three percent had poor knowledge and 51.0% had a generally low attitude towards BSE. Out of 402 participants, 65.2% reported not practicing BSE. For those practicing, 71.6% had poor practices. The main reason for not practicing was lack of knowledge. Poor knowledge increased poor practice. In conclusion half of the women had heard about BSE even though the majority had a poor knowledge on BSE and very low overall attitude and practice. Health personnel and media played a key role in passing of information. Increasing the number of health campaigns, multiplying TV shows and health talks about breast self-examination will improve knowledge and hence attitude and practice.

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.

Knowledge Attitude and Practice of General Physicians for Early Detection of Diabetic Nephropathy in Cotonou

Introduction: General physicians can play an important role in the early detection of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Purpose: To assess the levels of general physicians’ knowledge, attitude and practice in terms of early detection of DN in Cotonou. Method: It was a cross-sectional, analytical and descriptive study which was conducted from 1st March 2015 to 30th September 2015. Every general physician working in a health structure in Cotonou who consented to participate in the study was included. We did not included medical specialists and general physicians working in nephrology department. Data were collected through a survey form designed with a score to assess the various items such as: knowledge, attitude and practice. The significance threshold is set to below 0.05. Results: In total, 202 general physicians were included. The average age was 30.9 ± 6.9 years ranging from 24 to 68 years. A male predominance was observed with 2.2 sex ratio. The majority of respondent medical physicians had poor knowledge in 76.2% cases, bad attitudes (61%) and bad practices (64.9%) in terms of early detection of diabetic nephropathy. There was positive impact of continuing medical training focused on diabetic nephropathy on attitudes (p = 0.016) and practices (p = 0.001) of these physicians. Conclusion: Diabetic nephropathy requires particular attention. General physicians’ continuous training is a principal solution.

Community knowledge,attitude and practice towards cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area Ochello,Gamo Gofa Zone,South Ethiopia

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of the community related to cutaneous leishmaniasis(CL) in an endemic area Ochello, Gamo Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia.Methods: We conducted community based cross-sectional survey among residents in Ochello from November to December 2014. The study area was purposely selected based on previous reports on endemicity of CL. Using simple random sampling technique, a total of 392 household participants were selected in the study area Ochello. Structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Regarding the responses given to knowledge, attitude and practice, a score of 1 was given for each right response and 0 for unsure responses. Data were double entered and analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20 statistical software.Descriptive statistics that include frequency and percentage were used to analyze the results.Results: In total, 392 individuals were participated in our study where 225(57.4%) of the participants were males and 167(42.6%) were females. Of all the total participants, 265(67.6%) had heard of the disease, and 127(32.4%) responded that they did not know CL.Based on the scoring results, 265(67.6%) participants were knowledgeable about CL. Out of 265 participants who heard about CL, most of them [215(54.8%)] had the attitude that CL was a problem in their area and had no positive attitude towards the treatment of CL.Approximately, 215(54.8%) replied that CL was preventable. Majority of the respondents did not sleep outdoors and did not practice sleeping near vegetation with or without bed net.Conclusions: The current finding indicated that the inhabitants of Ochello developed good awareness and encouraging attitude regarding CL. However, their prevention and control practice was very low. Hence, the result of this study calls for organized community awareness creation through various means.