Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of COVID-19. However, data on HCWs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 are limited. Between September and November 2020, we conducted a questionnaire-based COVID-19 KAP survey among HCWs at three hospitals in Uganda. We used Bloom’s cut-off of ≥80% to determine sufficient knowledge, good attitude, and good practice, and multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance for statistical analysis. Of 717 HCWs invited to participate, 657 (91.6%) agreed and were enrolled. The mean age (standard deviation) of enrollees was 33.2 (10.2) years; most were clinical HCWs (64.7%) and had advanced secondary school/other higher-level education (57.8%). Overall, 83.9% had sufficient knowledge, 78.4% had a positive attitude, and 37.0% had good practices toward COVID-19. Factors associated with KAP were: Knowledge: being a clinical HCW (aRR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.02–1.23) and previous participation in health research (aRR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.04–1.17); Attitude: age > 35 years (aRR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79–0.98); Practice: being a clinical HCW (aRR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.41–2.59). HCWs in Uganda have good knowledge and positive attitude but poor practices towards COVID-19. Differences in COVID-19 KAP between clinical and non-clinical HCWs could affect uptake of COVID-19 interventions including vaccination.

Malnutrition remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five years especially in developing countries. The high burden of wasting and stunting among children under five years of age is of great concern to policy makers and public health practitioners in Uganda. Prevention and treatment of malnutrition is a priority in the United Nations 2030 development agenda. This study investigated the risk factors for wasting and stunting among children aged 6-59 months in the general population in Uganda. Secondary data from the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey was utilised. A sample of 2214 children was studied. Bivariate analysis and multivariate conditional logistic regression was used to determine the association between risk factors and childhood wasting and stunting. 5% and 33.5% of the children were wasted and stunted respectively. Risk factors associated with wasting were lack of maternal education; OR (3.66; 1.22-11.01), maternal underweight -BMI < 18.5 kg/m2; OR (3.39; 1.72 -6.70) and children aged 6-11 months OR (2.20; 1.09 – 4.42). On the other hand, those risk factors associated with stunting included: child`s very small size at birth; OR (2.59; 1.58-4.27), male children; OR (1.5; 1.12 -2.18), children aged 24-35 months (1.17-3.23), maternal height <150cm; OR (7.53; 4.07-13.94) and lack of maternal education; OR (2.47; 1.37-4.44). In conclusion, children’s age and low maternal formal education level predicts wasting. Likewise, children`s male gender, age, size at birth, maternal height and low maternal formal education level also predicts stunting among children under five years of age. This finding suggests that interventions to reduce under-five stunting and wasting in Uganda may benefit from focusing on improvement of maternal nutritional status and formal education.

Breastfeeding has proven to be a reference standard for infants’ and young children nutrition worldwide. Improvement of breastfeeding rates is important if lives of under-five age children are to be saved yearly. In Uganda, malnutrition remains a serious health problem contributing significantly to both infant and child mortality and this has been attributed to low levels of breast feeding practices. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of knowledge and occupation of mothers on breastfeeding practices of infants and young children in Bushenyi, Uganda. A heath facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among lactating mothers who attended Kyabugimbi health center IV, Ishaka Adventist Hospital and Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH). Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire from 346 participants. Majority (87.6%) of the participants had knowledge of the right time to initiate breast milk, majority (87.3%) and (93.9%) had good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding duration respectively. Majority (87.6%) of the mothers initiated breast milk within 1 hour of child birth. Only 31.9% of children above 6 months were exclusively breastfed. Majority (81.9%) of the mothers practiced complementary breastfeeding for at least 2 years. House wives have 42% [OR: 1.42, 95% (1.31-3.88) x²=0.79] higher odds to practice breastfeeding while mothers whose occupation is studentship have 2 times [OR: 2.04, 95% (1.31-3.88) x²=1.767] higher odds to practice breastfeeding optimally. Young children in Bushenyi district are at risk of malnutrition and childhood diseases as breastfeeding practices especially exclusive breastfeeding do not meet the national and WHO target and recommendation given that only three in ten children were exclusively breastfed. A combination of rural health outreaches and health education could be a possible option for the improvement of breastfeeding practices in the region.

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) morbidity is rising in Uganda. However, data are limited about people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Objective To determine knowledge about COVID-19, attitudes towards presidential directives and Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines, and adherence to practicing public health preventive measures (KAP) in Uganda. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 28 and May 19, 2020. Data were collected using online social media platforms, websites, and popular media outlets. We descriptively summarized data and categorized KAP scores as knowledgeable about COVID-19, positive attitude towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines, and adherent to public health preventive measures, respectively. We tested sex differences in KAP using tests of significance and established independently associated factors using modified Poisson regression analysis, reported using adjusted prevalence risk ratio (aPR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results We studied 362 participants with the following sociodemographic characteristics: 86 (23.8%) aged 25-29 years, 212 (58.6%) males, 270 (74.6%) with tertiary or university levels of education, and 268 (74.0%) urban residents. Of the 362 participants, 264 (93.9%) were knowledgeable about COVID-19 (94.1% males and 93.8% females), 51.3% had positive attitudes towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines (51.0% male and 51.8% female), and 175 (48.3%) were adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (42.9% males and 56.0% females). Compared to males, our data shows that females were more adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (aPR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01-1.53), knowledgeable about COVID-19 (aPR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.95-1.07), and had positive attitudes towards directives and guidelines (aPR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82-1.25). Conclusions This study shows that public health prevention efforts should be directed to closing the identified gaps in KAP among Ugandans in order to halt the spread of COVD-19 in Uganda as well as the East African region.

Introduction: Child malnutrition still a major health problem in the world, including in Indonesia. According to World Health Organization (WHO) African Region and South-East Asia Region data, malnutrition affects nearly 20 million under five children and the main factors that affects about a third of child mortality worldwide. The aims of this study was to analyze and develop mother’s behavior model in severe malnutrition prevention for under five children based on Integration Health Belief Model and Health Promotion Model. Method: Type of this research was an explanatory observational with cross sectional design. Affordable population namely children under five’s years and cadres who visited Posyandu in April 2015 as many as 136 and 20 peoples. This study used proportional random sampling, with sample size 65 mothers; 10 children under five’s mothers and 10 Posyandu Balita’s cadres for FGD. Variables were personal factors, behavioral specific cognitions and affect, individual perceptions, commitment, cues to action and mother's behavior in severe malnutrition prevention. Data were collected by using questionnaires and food recall 24 hours, analyzed by Smart PLS. Result: Mother’s behavior model in severe malnutrition prevention for under five children can be formed by mother's commitment, behavioral specific cognition and affect and personal factors (income and motivation). Discussion: Nurse as a community health care providers have a role in improving community health status through health promotion. High commitment to behave in certain ways according to plan, improving the ability of individuals to maintain health promotion behavior all the timeKeywords: models, mother’s behavior, severe malnutrition prevention, Health Belief Model, Health Promotion Model

Parent’s nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and dietary practices (KAP) play imperative roles in preventing malnutrition for themselves and their children. Our study aimed to determine the status and contributing factors of nutrition KAP among parents of children and adolescents. A total of 1746 parents (mean age 39.67 ± 5.38 years, females accounting for 69.82%) of primary and junior high school students in Weifang, China, completed a self-reported KAP questionnaire in August 2021. An analysis of Pearson product-moment correlation was conducted to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Chi-square test, followed by a multivariable robust Poisson regression analysis, was performed to identify the contributing factors to parents’ KAP. A 65.94% awareness rate of nutritional knowledge was observed. The correlations between nutrition knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.03, P = 0.23), knowledge and practices (r = 0.02, P = 0.34), and attitudes and practices (r = 0.16, P < 0.01) were relatively weak. After adjusting for other contributing factors, females [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13–1.45], participants with secondary education (PR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.60–13.50), junior college education (PR = 5.87, 95% CI = 2.01–17.13) and college degree or above education (PR = 6.58, 95% CI = 2.25–19.23) acquired higher nutrition knowledge scores. Moreover, healthy diet behaviors were more commonly implemented by females than males (PR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.14–1.76), and which needed to be improved in those with abnormal body mass indexes (BMIs) [overweight (PR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.74–0.99) and obese (PR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.56–0.99)]. It was necessary for nutrition KAP promotion to be emphasized in nutritional knowledge and dietary practices, as well as health behavior guidance, especially for parents with low education and elevated BMIs.

Background: Malnutrition is a problem not only in rural area but also among the urban poor. Also, the urban poor are a neglected segment of population in terms of basic services and amenities. Nutrition in children is affected by various determinants including mother’s level of knowledge, attitudes and practices. Hence, this study was conducted in an urban slum setting to understand the extent and determinants of malnutrition in children below five years of age. Aims & Objectives: The study objectives were to understand the knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers with respect to nutrition of their under five children and to measure the extent of malnutrition in the sample population of under five children. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study and data was collected on a sample of 300 children under five years and their mothers selected through cluster sampling technique in Turbhe stores urban slum community of Navi Mumbai. Using a semi-structured interview schedule, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) on nutrition among mothers of these children were assessed and anthropometric measurements were taken. The study used the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for measuring malnutrition. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS, version 20. z score analysis for malnutrition assessment was done using the appropriate WHO software. Results: The knowledge levels of mothers regarding breast-feeding were mixed. Majority (88%) of the mothers were aware that only breast-feeding is required post-delivery, and duration of breast-feeding could be more than six months. there was a gap in knowledge about breast-feeding practice during infant illness. Only 9% of mothers had the correct knowledge to increase breast feeding if the infant was ill and 20% felt breast feeding should be decreased during illness of child. Mothers had very poor knowledge about nutritious food. The attitude score was created using the Likert scale with a minimum score of 16 and maximum score of 64. The mean attitude score was 54.29 with a standard deviation of 5.24. In terms of breast-feeding practices, 74 (24.6%) mothers did not initiate breast-feeding within one hour of birth, and only 21 (7%) mothers increased breast feed frequency during illness of child. Conclusion: The study found gaps in knowledge about breast-feeding practices among mothers and very poor practices related to adequate nutrition for children. Stunting was seen in more than 50 % of children. However, the mothers had a very positive overall attitude about improving nutrition of their children and were willing to learn about it. This provides an opportunity for a targeted intervention among the mothers of these children in the community

The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers to the use of appropriate infant and young child-feeding practices by primary caregivers living in a rural Ugandan district. A community-based qualitative design and focus group discussions were used for collecting data from primary caregivers of children aged 0 to 24 month(s). On an average, each of the four focus group discussions had 11 participants. The focus group discussions were conducted using a structured interview guide and were tape-recorded. The recorded data were later transcribed and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis techniques. All the participants were females, and the majority had low levels of education and at least one child in the age-group of 0-24 month(s) in their household. The findings show that the main barriers to the use of appropriate infant and young child-feeding practices fall under four themes: caregiver's knowledge about breastfeeding, caregiver's knowledge about complimentary feeding, influence of culture custodians on the caregivers, and patterns and burden of other responsibilities the caregivers have in the household. The four categories of barriers imply that there are various missed opportunities to implement hospital and community-based interventions to improve infant and young child-feeding practices, which is one way of preventing malnutrition. Therefore, in rural areas of Uganda, the major factors responsible for the high prevalence of malnutrition among infants and children are still those related to knowledge, culture, and social status of the primary caregivers.

Background: Nutrition of the under-five children is of greatest importance because the foundation of our lifetime health, strength, intelligence, and vitality is laid during this period. Our country faces the burden of diseases in which nutritional deficiencies are the most common. The prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the world. Knowledge of mothers has an important role in the maintenance of nutritional status of the children. For this mother has to be made more aware about feeding practices of children and other health-care practices. Objective: This study was undertaken with an aim to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of mothers regarding nutrition of under-five children and prevention of malnutrition. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional community-based study was conducted among 300 mothers with under-five children. A structured questionnaire based on KAP survey guidelines, previous studies, but relevant to local context was developed. The KAP questionnaire comprised three parts which assessed the KAP regarding nutrition of under-five children and prevention of malnutrition. Results: A total of 300 mothers were enrolled in the study. Majority of mothers had fair to good KAP regarding nutrition of under-five children and prevention of malnutrition. Conclusion: Adequate knowledge of mothers regarding dietary patterns of under-five children will enhance the attitude and practice to prevent malnutrition.

(1) Background: Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable to malaria infection, and they suffer serious complications. Sierra Leone is one of the countries with the highest malaria burden in the world. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward malaria control and prevention among caregivers of children under 5 in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among caregivers of children under-5 visiting the out-patient department of six selected hospitals/community health centers. Data were collected via questionnaire interviews with 350 caregivers. (3) Results: A total of 97.1% of the respondents were women and the majority of them were young mothers; 46.3% of respondents were unemployed; and 27.1% received no education. Only 1.4% accessed malaria related information from the internet/social media. This KAPs survey indicated that a misconception of the cause, transmission, and clinical symptoms of malaria; unawareness of its lethality and its severity; and inappropriate prevention and treatment behaviors, such as self-medicating, were still in existence among some caregivers. However, a positive correlation in knowledge–attitudes (rs = 0.13, p < 0.05) and in attitudes–practices (rs = 0.45, p < 0.001) was revealed. The caregivers, being mothers and having at least a secondary education, demonstrated positive attitudes and practices. Meanwhile, more urban caregivers (79.8%) followed a complete malaria treatment course of artemisinin-based combination therapies than the rural (63.3%), but in view of insecticide treated net use, more rural caregivers presented positive attitudes (85.3%) and practices (70.1%) than the urban (69.9%, 52.0%). (4) Conclusions: For better protection of children under-5 against lethal malaria, it is essential to provide better guidance at the community level for their caregivers, especially young mothers, in order to reduce some misconceptions and inappropriate behaviors. An increase in education and employment opportunities for women, establishment of an accessible community-based malaria counselling service, and construction of an effective communication channel are also needed.