Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of foodborne parasitic diseases among middle school students in Xuzhou City

Abstract

To investigate the status of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of foodborne parasitic diseases among middle school students in Xuzhou City, so as to provide a reference to the health education. A total of four middle schools were selected and their students were investigated with the basic information questionnaire and questions of foodborne parasitic diseases. The awareness rates of parasitic diseases, hazards and transmission were 56.50%, 66.33% and 70.50% respectively. The awareness rates of transmission of the diseases in the senior high school students and urban students were higher than those in the junior middle school students and rural students (χ2 = 8.684, 8.470, both P < 0.05). The formation rates of not drinking raw water and not eating raw food were higher among the female students than those among the male students (χ2 = 7.675, 15.230, both P < 0.05). The formation rate of not eating raw food was higher among the senior high school students than that among the junior middle school students (χ2 = 49.276, P < 0.001), and the formation rates of washing hands before meals and not keeping pets were higher among the urban students than those among the rural students (χ2 = 5.833, 13.443, both P < 0.05). Totally 64.83% of the students would not eat food that might be infected with foodborne parasites, and the proportion of girls was higher than that of the boys (χ2 = 11.690, P < 0.05), and 20.5% of the students would suggest others not eating food that might be infected with foodborne parasites, and 81% of the students would plan to get rid of bad habits. The cognition of foodborne parasitic diseases is poor among the middle school students in Xuzhou City. The health education work on foodborne parasitic diseases should be strengthened.