Global systematic review and meta-analysis of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards dengue fever among the general population

Objective:To determine the global level of knowledge,attitudes,and practices towards dengue fever among the general population.Methods:To complete this systematic review and meta-analysis,a thorough search for pertinent English-language literature was undertaken during the study's extension until October 2023.The search used Google Scholar,Scopus,PubMed/MEDLINE,Science Direct,Web of Science,EMBASE,Springer,and ProQuest.A quality assessment checklist developed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included papers.Inverse variance and Cochran Q statistics were employed in the STATA software version 14 to assess study heterogeneity.When there was heterogeneity,the Dersimonian and Liard random-effects models were used.Results:59 Studies totaling 87353 participants were included in this meta-analysis.These investigations included 86278 participants in 55 studies on knowledge,20196 in 33 studies on attitudes,and 74881 in 29 studies on practices.The pooled estimates for sufficient knowledge,positive attitudes,and dengue fever preventive behaviors among the general population were determined as 40.1%(95%CI 33.8%-46.5%),46.8%(95%CI 35.8%-58.9%),and 38.3%(95%CI 28.4%-48.2%),respectively.Europe exhibits the highest knowledge level at 63.5%,and Africa shows the lowest at 20.3%.Positive attitudes are most prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean(54.1%)and Southeast Asia(53.6%),contrasting sharply with the Americas,where attitudes are notably lower at 9.05%.Regarding preventive behaviors,the Americas demonstrate a prevalence of 12.1%,Southeast Asia at 28.1%,Western Pacific at 49.6%,Eastern Mediterranean at 44.8%,and Africa at 47.4%.Conclusions:Regional disparities about the knowledge,attitude and preventive bahaviors are evident with Europe exhibiting the highest knowledge level while Africa has the lowest.These findings emphasize the importance of targeted public health interventions tailored to regional contexts,highlighting the need for region-specific strategies to enhance dengue-related knowledge and encourage positive attitudes and preventive behaviors.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Covid-19 and their relationship with Covid-19 booster vaccination status among women with infertility

Objective:To elucidate the relationship among knowledge,attitudes,and practices regarding Covid-19 and their relationship with booster vaccination status among women with infertility.Methods:This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was performed online and offline among women with infertility who visited an infertility clinic in Jakarta,Indonesia.We assessed the patient’s knowledge,attitudes,and practices regarding Covid-19 and their relationship with booster vaccination status and sociodemographic profile.Results:A total of 178 subjects participated in this study,and most participants(92.6%)had received booster Covid-19 vaccines.From the questionnaire,74.2%had good knowledge,and 99.4%had good attitudes regarding Covid-19;however,only 57.9%of patients had good practices.A weak positive correlation existed between knowledge and attitudes(r=0.11,P=0.13)and a moderate negative correlation between attitudes and practices(r=-0.44,P=0.56).Participants’knowledge about vaccines and infertility was correlated with booster vaccination status(P=0.04).Academic background(P=0.01)and attitudes(P=0.01)were also correlated with booster vaccination status.The significant determinants of hesitance of receiving Covid-19 booster vaccines were high school education or below(OR=0.08,95%CI 0.02-0.36)and poor practices(OR=0.21,95%CI 0.05-0.95).Conclusions:The majority of the participants had received the Covid-19 booster vaccine and had good knowledge and attitudes but poor practices regarding Covid-19.Most participants had poor knowledge about the relationship between infertility and the Covid-19 vaccine.The general population should be more informed and reminded about practices to prevent Covid-19 and the relationship between vaccination and fertility to increase the number of people who receive Covid-19 booster vaccines.

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.

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.

Women Breast Cancer: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Factors Associated with Early Screening in the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi in Benin in 2018

Background: Breast cancer is the dominant cancer in women in both developed and developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices and factors associated with early breast cancer screening among women in the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi in Benin. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study with prospective data collection from October 1 to 8, 2018, involving 1740 women in the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi, aged 18 years or older and selected by WHO four-stage random cluster sampling. Consenting women who were mentally competent, 18 years of age or older at the time of the survey, and residing continuously in the Municipality of Abomey-Calavi for the last six months prior to the survey were included. On the other hand, women who belonged to a breast cancer prevention service, women in whom secondary screening was noted, or non-consenting women were not included. The initial minimum size was estimated by the Schwartz formula with a cluster effect of k = 2. Information was collected by questionnaire survey, entered with Epidata 3.1. Fr and analyzed with R Studio 3.5.1. software. Results: The mean age of the women surveyed was 32.0 ± 11.5 years with a range of 18 and 71 years. Regarding knowledge, the clinical manifestation known by the majority of women was the presence of a nodule (68.50%). In the series, 1308 (75.17%) declared having heard about breast cancer once before, either on the radio, television or from friends and 726 (55.50%) had heard about breast cancer screening. Five hundred and twelve (70.52%) of the 726 who had heard of breast cancer said they knew that breast cancer could be screened earlier. Breast self-examination was the most cited screening method (67.58%). The disease is of natural origin according to 37.84% of them. Regarding attitudes and practices, the prevalence of early breast cancer screening was 12.93%, of which 11.67% declared that they had checked themselves to know whether they were carriers of the disease or not. The main means of the early screening used was breast self-examination (85.78%). Factors associated with early breast cancer screening found in multivariate analysis were age (≤50 years), education level (increasingly higher), marital status (married/coupled), place of residence (downtown), and socioeconomic level (average/high). Conclusion: The frequency of early breast cancer screening among women is still low in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, although they have a good knowledge of the disease. This raises the need to strengthen awareness of early breast cancer screening.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Diabetic Eye Disease among General Population in Medina City, Saudi Arabia

Background: Diabetic eye disease is known as a group of eye problems that diabetic patients may develop as a complication of diabetes and can lead to blindness. They may include Diabetic retinopathy (DR), Cataracts, and Glaucoma. Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) around diabetic eye disease in the general population including patients with DM and non-diabetic people in Medina City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 385 participants via a self-administered online Questionnaire started in January 2023 in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Results: In total, 339 participants with ages ranged from 18 to more than 60 years with a mean age of 26.8 ± 12.6 years old completed the questionnaire. The majority were females (74.6%), singles (67.8%), and had a university level of education (54.6%). Most of the study participants were found to have poor knowledge levels (67%) in comparison to 33% who had an overall good knowledge of diabetic eye diseases. Knowledge level was found to be higher among old-aged participants and those with a family history of DM (P = 0.001, P = 0.049) respectively. Regarding participants’ attitudes and practices, the study showed good attitudes toward eye care practice for diabetics with half of the participants (50%) reporting self-awareness as a reason that made them undergo the first eye screening. Conclusion: Participants in the present study have poor knowledge and awareness level of diabetic eye disease. Furthermore, positive attitudes and perceptions have been revealed by the participants toward the practice of providing eye care for diabetics. .

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Using Helmets in Children amongst Parents to Prevent Head Injuries: A Cross-Sectional Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: The primary objective was to characterize the range of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of Helmet use in children amongst parents to prevent head injuries and death. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, done by online survey using a snowball sampling technique, the number of included responses were 386 parents (Male and female) living in Riyadh Aged 21 - 60 years old or above. Results: The study showed that there is a difference in Parents’ belief in the importance of helmet use while riding a Bicycle vs Motorcycle/Quad bike and that was affected by parents’ education level, almost all the people who answered the survey (76.7%) agree that it is important for their children to wear a helmet when riding both a Bicycle and a Motorcycle or Quadbike with a cumulative percentage of (93.8%). And almost all agreed on multiple approaches to help increase helmet use be it by forcing rental shops to give out helmets, forcing sellers to recommend the use of helmets, increasing awareness campaigns, and imposing fines for not wearing helmets. Conclusions: This study is the first to explore Family helmet use while riding Bicycles and Motorcycles/Quad bikes. Although Parent’s belief in the importance of helmet use for their children was high, it is clear that the level of practice is low. With that the risk of head injuries might be high, our findings suggest that safety interventions for increasing pediatric helmet use are needed to increase helmet use and reduce the risk of head injury and hospitalization.

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.

Effects of Continuous Precision Nursing Model on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Behavior and Cardiac Function in Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Angiography and Stent Implantation

Objective:To explore the impact of a continuous precision nursing model on patients’Knowledge,Attitudes,and Practices(KAP)and cardiac function during the nursing process of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography and stent implantation.Methods:Ninety patients who underwent percutaneous coronary angiography and stent implantation in our hospital from April 2022 to April 2023 were selected and randomly divided into the control group(45 cases),in which routine nursing support was carried out during the treatment process,and the observation group(45 cases),in which continuous precision nursing model was carried out during the treatment process.Comparisons were made between the two groups of patients on their KAP,cardiac function,and quality of life during recovery.Results:There was no difference in the left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),cardiac output(CO),and cardiac index(CI)levels before intervention.After the intervention,the levels of cardiac function in the observation group were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no difference in the Exercise of Self-Care Agency(ESCA)self-care ability scale scores before the intervention.After the intervention,the observation group had higher ESCA scores than the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Implementation of a continuous precision nursing model in the care of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography and stent implantation improved the patient’s cardiac function,and KAP,and promoted recovery.

Knowledge,attitude,and practices toward osteoporosis among Jordanian nurses

Objective:To identify the level of knowledge,attitude,and practice(KAP)toward osteoporosis among Jordanian nurses.Methods:A cross-sectional design was adopted in this study.A convenience sample of 443 Jordanian nurses were recruited from the public and private healthcare settings in Jordan.The assessment tool used in the current study contained 35 items,measuring KAP among Jordanian nurses toward osteoporosis.The correlation Pearson test and regression test were used to analyze data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences,version 21.Results:The total KAP scores were 33.53,37.65,and 22.7,respectively.These results revealed that Jordanian nurses have a moderate level of KAP toward osteoporosis.Conclusions:Jordanian nurses showed a moderate KAP toward osteoporosis,which should be improved as an effective step to reducing the growing incidences of osteoporosis.The lack of KAP holds a serious and growing impact on the Jordanian health sector and patients’health in terms of cost,healthcare resources,and social life.Nurses can play a valuable role in educating patients on bone fracture causes,perceived percentage,risks,and prevention,as well as in helping them with nutrition and lifestyle recommendations.

Knowledge,attitude,and practice of monitoring early gastric cancer after endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND Early gastric cancer(EGC)is typically treated with endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD).However,recurrence may occur after ESD,requiring surveillance.AIM To examine the knowledge,attitude,and practice(KAP)of EGC survivors following ESD regarding gastric cancer recurrence.METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 1,2022 and October 1,2022 in Zhejiang,China.A total of 400 EGC survivors who underwent ESD at the Affiliated Jinhua Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine participated in this study.A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess KAP monitoring gastric cancer after ESD.RESULTS The average scores for KAP were 3.34,23.76,and 5.75 out of 5,30,and 11,respectively.Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive and significant correlations between knowledge and attitude,knowledge and practice,and attitude and practice(r=0.405,0.511,and 0.458,respectively;all P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge,attitude,13-24 mo since the last ESD(vs≤12 mo since the last ESD),and≥25 mo since the last ESD(vs≤12 mo since the last ESD)were independent predictors of proactive practice(odds ratio=1.916,1.253,3.296,and 5.768,respectively,all P<0.0001).CONCLUSION EGC survivors showed inadequate knowledge,positive attitude,and poor practices in monitoring recurrences after ESD.Adequate knowledge,positive attitude,and a longer time since the last ESD were associated with practice.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward disease prevention among a high-risk population for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A cross-sectional study

Objective This study aimed to describe the current situation of knowledge,attitude,and practice(KAP)of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)prevention among a high-risk population for COPD.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted.A total of 241 participants at risk of COPD were selected who visited the respiratory outpatient department of a Class A tertiary hospital in Chongqing,China from January to December 2021.A self-developed COPD prevention KAP assessment was used for evaluation which included knowledge(21 items),attitude(9 items),and practice(9 items)three dimension,39 items.Results The average overall KAP score was 68.29±12.91,with scores for the knowledge,attitude,and practice dimension was 68.75±18.07,71.13±15.09 and 65.00±20.93,respectively.Among the people at risk of COPD,76.8%experienced a moderate level of KAP toward COPD prevention,while 22.0%were at a poor level.Significant differences in the KAP scores were based on gender,educational level,occupation,type of medical insurance,smoking,and passive smoking status(P<0.05).The male COPD high-risk group has better KAP toward COPD prevention than the female group(P<0.05).The knowledge and attitude of COPD prevention present worse in people with a high risk of COPD aged 70 or above,primary school and below educational level,and farmers(P<0.05).Smoking and passive smoking groups have higher recognition of the knowledge but the lower practice of COPD prevention(P<0.05).Conclusion The participants with a high risk of COPD had a moderate level of KAP for COPD prevention,in which the understanding and action on vaccination and lung function test was weak,but an active attitude for health.It is necessary to implement tailored health education interventions to their characteristics to reduce the incidence and development of COPD.

Knowledge,attitude,and practice of patients living with inflammatory bowel disease:A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases(IBDs)generally have poor knowledge,attitude,and practice of their disease,while the data from China are lacking.AIM To address this knowledge disparity among Chinese patients with IBD.METHODS This web-based,cross-sectional study was conducted on a cohort of IBD patients who visited the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between December 2022 and February 2023.Their socio-demographic information and the knowledge,attitude,and practice scores were collected and estimated using a self-designed questionnaire.Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to determine the pairwise correlations among knowledge,attitude,and practice scores.A multivariate logistic regression analysis was further performed to determine the independent factors associated with their knowledge,attitude,and practice scores.RESULTS A total of 353 patients(224 males)with IBD completed the questionnaires.The mean knowledge,attitude,and practice scores were 10.05±3.46(possible range:0-14),41.58±5.23(possible range:0-56),44.20±7.39(possible range:0-56),respectively,indicating good knowledge,positive attitude,and proactive practice toward IBD.Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the knowledge score had significant positive correlations with the attitude score(r=0.371,P<0.001)and practice score(r=0.100,P<0.001).The attitude score had a significant positive correlation with the practice score(r=0.452,P<0.001).Moreover,multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aged 30-40 years[odds ratio(OR)=4.06,95%confidence interval(CI):1.04-15.82,P=0.043],middle school education(OR=3.98,95%CI:1.29-12.33,P=0.017),high school/technical secondary school education(OR=14.06,95%CI:3.92-50.38,P<0.001),and junior college/bachelor’s degree and above education(OR=15.20,95%CI:4.15-55.650,P<0.001)were independently associated with good knowledge.The higher knowledge score was independently associated with a positive attitude(OR=1.23,95%CI:1.11-1.36,P<0.001).The higher attitude score was independently associated with proactive practice(OR=1.20,95%CI:1.11-1.30,P<0.001).CONCLUSION Chinese patients with IBD might have good knowledge,a positive attitude,and proactive practice toward their disease.However,a small number of specific items require education.

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, Attitudes, and Practices Relating to Food and Nutrition among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at Menontin Hospital (Benin)

Introduction: Pregnancy is a critical period during which environmental factors such as nutrition can affect the optimal development of the fetus. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices in food and nutrition among pregnant women in antenatal consultation at Menontin Hospital in 2021. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study including 96 pregnant women at Menontin Hospital in Cotonou. Variables including socio-anthropological data, level of knowledge of nutritional requirements and their consequences on malnutrition, and description of physical activity practices were collected using a questionnaire and data on pregnant women’s dietary practices, macronutrient consumption, and fruit and vegetable consumption were documented using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The majority of pregnant women (88%) were unaware of their nutrient needs during pregnancy. Only 49.6% of them took at least three meals and two snacks a day, and 45% practiced less than 30 minutes of physical activity per day. The consumption of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids were respectively in the proportions of 36.5%, 50%, and 38.5%. It was also found that 48% of pregnant women did not consume fruits and vegetables daily. Conclusion: The pregnant women followed in the Mènontin area hospital had a low level of knowledge in terms of food and nutrition during pregnancy. Consequently, their attitudes and practices were unfavorable to good nutrition for both the mother and the child.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Poultry Farmers on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Kitwe, Zambia: Implications on Antimicrobial Stewardship

Introduction: The inappropriate antimicrobial usage (AMU) in chicken production has led to an increase in the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Zambia, there is little information documented regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practices of poultry farmers on AMU and AMR. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding AMU and AMR among poultry farmers in Kitwe, Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 106 poultry farmers from November to December 2021 using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. Results: Overall, of the 106 participants, 90.6% knew what antimicrobials were, but only 29.2% were aware of AMR. The study showed that 46.2% of the participants had low knowledge, 71.7% had negative attitudes, and 61.3% had poor practices regarding AMR. The prevalence of antibiotic use in poultry production was 83%. The most used antimicrobials were tetracycline (84%) and gentamicin (35.2%). The commonly reported reason for the use of antimicrobials was for the treatment (93.2%) and prevention (89.8%) of diseases. Further, 76.9% of the administered antimicrobials were usually done without veterinarian consultation or prescription. Conclusion: The study shows that there was high AMU in poultry farms in Kitwe. However, there was low knowledge, negative attitude, and poor practices towards AMU and AMR. Therefore, there is a need for educational and sensitisation programmes regarding AMU and AMR among poultry farmers in Kitwe, Zambia. Alongside this, antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance systems should be strengthened in the livestock production sector. This will ensure food safety and public health.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Antimicrobial Use and Resistance among Village Animal Health Workers and Veterinary Drug Retailers in Cambodia

Misuse, overuse, and missed prescription of antimicrobials are the driving factors to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) leading to a globally increasing public health concern. This study was conducted to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of village animal health workers (VAHWs) and veterinary drug retailers (VDRs) on antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The sample size was calculated following [1]. KAP data were scored and categorized following Bloom’s cut-off score. A total of 108 study populations (66 VAHWs and 42 VDRs) were purposively surveyed using a validated KAP questionnaire in 5 provinces across Cambodia. This study found that VAHWs and VDRs have moderate levels of knowledge (61% to 65%) and good attitudes towards AMU (83% to 84%) but employed moderate practices (59% to 74%) on AMU. VAHWs had moderate (66%);while DVRs had poor knowledge (58%) on AMR. Thus, regular awareness education specifically on proper use, prudent use, and stewardships on AMU and AMR in the form of refresher training or awareness events must be provided to VAHWs and VDRs to avoid inappropriate use of antimicrobials and spreading the AMR knowledge across Cambodia.

Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Perceptions for Salt/Sodium Reduction in the Gastronomic Sector of Costa Rica

Excess sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. This study examined food services in Costa Rica as a major source of sodium. The research included six cafeterias, six fast food establishments, 13 restaurants, and 15 diners using non-probabilistic convenience sampling. Interviews were conducted with workers to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding salt reduction. The findings were analyzed to determine effective intervention strategies. Participants showed regular knowledge about salt/sodium. While they recognized the link with high blood pressure, understanding of other health problems was limited. Positive attitudes were observed toward healthy cooking and reducing sodium in pre-prepared food, especially in restaurants. Over 70% expressed a desire to reduce salt in food services, with more than 80% indicating a need for staff training, particularly in cafeterias lacking knowledge of low-salt preparations. High-sodium ingredients were prevalent, with saltshakers and sauces readily available. However, some individuals were reluctant to reduce salt/sodium intake, citing concerns about taste, food variety, and customer complaints. Obstacles to reducing salt/sodium levels included limited accessibility and the cost of low-sodium ingredients. The data collection tools and methodologies used in this study can serve as a foundation for future investigations and strategies to reduce salt consumption in food services. The study recommends government support for transforming the gastronomic sector and implementing regulations and knowledge enhancement. Collaboration with the productive sector is crucial for creating healthy environments. This research presents valuable evidence regarding the utilization of salt and sodium in the gastronomic sector, thereby assisting in the decision-making process for public health initiatives and the prevention of non-communicable chronic diseases. It highlights the significance of tackling sodium reduction in food services to encourage the adoption of healthy culinary practices and enhance the overall health of the population.

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.