Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Research Articles

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general community population toward heatstroke

Background and objectiveHeatstroke (HS) is a life-threatening condition resulting from thermal injury within the body, and it is associated with a significantly high mortality rate. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among the general community population toward heatstroke.MethodsThe web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2023 and October 2023 at the Emergency Department of Dongyang People's Hospital. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of the general community population and to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices toward heatstroke.ResultsA total of 1,356 valid questionnaires were collected. Among the participants, 875 (64.53%) were female, and 496 (36.58%) had regular exercise. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practices scores were 12.73 ± 1.42 (possible range: 0–14), 33.74 ± 2.91 (possible range: 8–40) and 34.65 ± 5.30 (possible range: 8–40), respectively. The structural equation model demonstrated that education had direct effects on knowledge (β = 0.017, p < 0.001), attitudes (β = 0.123, p < 0.001), and practices (β = −0.094, p < 0.001). Moreover, knowledge had direct effects on attitudes (β = 1.920, p < 0.001), and attitudes had direct effects on practices (β = 0.642, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe findings revealed that the general community population have sufficient knowledge, active attitudes and proactive practices toward the heatstroke. However, there is still room for improvement and it is necessary to develop and implement educational initiatives and interventions designed to further enhance their KAP toward heatstroke.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Sterilization and Disinfection of Health Care Professionals in Bangladesh

<i>Background:</i> Healthcare professionals face a constant risk of acquiring infections from patients. Exposure to blood, saliva, and sharp instruments increases their susceptibility to various infectious diseases. Proper sterilization and disinfection procedures are crucial for protecting both healthcare workers and patients. <i>Objective:</i> This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding sterilization and disinfection among healthcare professionals in Bangladesh.<i> Methods</i>: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases & Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January to June 2023. A total of 81 healthcare professionals were randomly selected and participated in the study after providing verbal consent. Data collection involved a pre-structured questionnaire focusing on knowledge, attitude, and practices related to sterilization and disinfection. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, and results were presented as frequencies and percentages. Ethical clearance was obtained before the study commenced. <i>Results: </i>The study included healthcare professionals from various backgrounds, with the majority being young adults (21-25 years old). Knowledge assessment revealed a good understanding of sterilization methods, disinfection procedures, post-sterilization instrument management, and waste disposal practices. Additionally, most participants were aware of the hospital's sterilization protocols and infection prevention policies. Regarding attitudes, a positive response was observed towards regular training for staff, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to sterilization and disinfection guidelines. However, a minority expressed concerns about reusing disposable items. Practices reflected the positive knowledge and attitudes, with a high percentage of participants following hand hygiene protocols, using PPE, and opting for disposable equipment. However, a small number reported experiencing needle-stick injuries, highlighting a potential gap between knowledge and practice. <i>Conclusions:</i> the study found that a majority of healthcare professionals in this setting demonstrated good knowledge, positive attitudes, and appropriate practices regarding sterilization and disinfection. However, a small knowledge, attitude, and practice gap was identified, particularly concerning needle-stick injuries. These findings suggest a need for ongoing education and reinforcement of safe practices to ensure optimal infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward sleep disorders and sleep hygiene among perimenopausal women

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) toward sleep disorders and sleep hygiene among perimenopausal women, who were enrolled in Dezhou region of Shandong Province between July and September 2023. A total of 720 valid questionnaires were collected (mean age: 51.28 ± 4.32 years old), and 344 (47.78%) reported experiencing insomnia. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, practice, and Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (DBAS) were 15.73 ± 7.60 (possible range: 0–36), 29.35 ± 3.15 (possible range: 10–50), 28.54 ± 4.03 (possible range: 10–50), and 6.79 ± 1.90 (possible range: 0–10), respectively. Path analysis showed that knowledge had direct effects on attitude (β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01–0.07, P = 0.001), and DBAS (β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.02–0.05, P < 0.001). Knowledge had direct effects (β = 0.11, 95% CI 0.08–0.15, P < 0.001) and indirect (β = 0.02, 95% CI 0.00–0.03, P = 0.002) effect on practice. Moreover, attitude also had a direct impact on practice (β = 0.34, 95% CI 0.25–0.43, P < 0.001). In conclusion, perimenopausal women exhibited insufficient knowledge, negative attitude, inactive practice toward sleep disorders and sleep hygiene, and unfavorable DBAS, emphasizing the need for targeted healthcare interventions.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among patients with anemia towards disease management

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices among anemia patients toward disease management.MethodsThis web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2023 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine). A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of anemia patients, and assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) toward disease management.ResultsA total of 396 valid questionnaires were collected. The mean age of the participants was 57.44 ± 16.80 years, and 52.02% were female. The mean knowledge, attitudes, and practices scores were 11.47 ± 1.73 (possible range: 0–14), 27.32 ± 2.96 (possible range: 7–35), and 40.49 ± 6.06 (possible range: 10–50), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that bachelor’s degree or above was independently associated with sufficient knowledge (OR = 2.372, 95%CI: 1.160–4.853, p = 0.018). Knowledge (OR = 1.350, 95%CI: 1.166–1.563, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and hemoglobin within 60-90 g/L (OR = 1.782, 95%CI: 1.090–2.912, p = 0.021) were independently associated with positive attitudes. Moreover, attitudes (OR = 1.618, 95%CI: 1.454–1.799, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and diagnosis ≥1 year (OR = 1.949, 95%CI: 1.171–3.243, p = 0.010) were independently associated with proactive practices. The path analysis demonstrated that knowledge was directly and positively correlated with attitudes (β = 0.484, 95% CI: 0.363–0.647, p = 0.008), and attitudes was directly and positively correlated with practices (β = 1.195, 95% CI: 1.062–1.332, p = 0.007). Moreover, knowledge was indirectly and positively correlated with practice (β = 0.579, 95% CI: 0.434–0.805, p = 0.004).ConclusionAnemia patients have sufficient knowledge, negative attitudes, but proactive practices toward the toward disease management Comprehensive training programs are needed to improve anemia patients practices in this area.

Indoor air pollution: an Italian Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study among the general population.

Indoor air pollution negatively affects population health and the national health services in terms of socio-economic costs. The presence of indoor pollutants depends a lot on lifestyles. The aim of this work is to evaluate knowledge, daily habits and the preventive behaviors in order to contrast the effects on health caused by indoor pollutants. The study was conducted through the administration of questionnaires to the population resident in the metropolitan city of Messina (Italy), asking about sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, daily habits and preventive behaviors. The questionnaire was filled by 894 subjects (46.8% M; 53.2% F). Regarding knowledge, 66.8% had heard of indoor air pollution and 94.9% knew what the most common indoor pollutants are; regarding daily habits they often aired out the house (91.9% in the morning and 71.4% after cleaning), 24.8% were smokers and 36.7 of them smoked indoors; regarding preventive behaviors, 41.6% chose the cleaning products based on habit and only 32.9% bought plants able to purify environments. Although the analyzed population had adequate knowledge of indoor air pollution, this did not strongly impact on the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Therefore, it becomes necessary to intervene on a social level with environmental education activities, starting from school age.

A Study to Evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Medical, Dental, Nursing and Physiotherapy Students

Introduction: The term ‘hepatitis’ describes an inflammation of the liver. A viral infection commonly causes it, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include hepatitis caused by drugs, alcohol, toxins and other pharmaceuticals, as well as hepatitis caused by autoimmune conditions. The World Health Organisation suggested that by the close of the 20th century, all nations should include the Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) in their regular infant and childhood immunisation regimens. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among students attending medical, dental, nursing and physiotherapy courses. Materials and Methods: Students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing and physiotherapy at a tertiary health care facility in Kerala’s Kozhikode district are participating in this cross-sectional survey. A structured, open-ended questionnaire that the self-administered knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) used to gather information regarding HBV infection and vaccination was employed to assess the KAP. For the assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice, appropriate scoring was carried out. Utilising SPSS Software version 20.0, the data was analysed. Results: Out of the total 335 students who responded, 256 (76.4%) students were vaccinated, 232 (69.3%) showed poor knowledge towards Hepatitis B vaccination, 6 (16.7%) were not vaccinated and the remaining 23 (6.9%) are not sure about vaccination status. About 38.8% of students have good practice and show a significant association between knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among students. Conclusion: This study shows an association between knowledge, attitude and practice of Hepatitis B vaccination among students, implying that a better understanding of the disease has a positive effect on the practices exercised by an individual.

Development and validation of a structured questionnaire to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) regarding the effect of yoga on periodontal health among Indian adults.

Background Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of structures surrounding the teeth. Its etiology is multifactorial. The primary etiological factor is the microbial component; the other factors are systemic, behavioral, environmental, and psychological. Conventional management includes routine periodontal therapy involving prophylactic and surgical management. In developing countries like India, complementary medicine and alternative medicines like yoga are gaining popularity for improving systemic health. Hence this pilot study was designed to assess the psychometric properties of a structured questionnaire that can assess knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding the impact of yoga on oral and periodontal health in Indian population. Methods The KAP questionnaire was developed (Stage One) using a deductive approach, and a psychometric evaluation of the questionnaire was performed to evaluate it’s reliability and validity (Stage Two). Initial content validation and test re-test reliability were assessed using kappa statistics with binary responses. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the questions in the practice and attitude category with categorical variables. Further assessment of psychometric properties of the questionnaire was done using item response theory. The developed questionnaire had four principal sections: demography of participants; knowledge regarding yoga and oral health; attitude towards yoga and oral health; and practice towards implementing yoga for oral health. Results The ICC for all the assessed questions was greater than 0.60 suggesting satisfactory stability. Internal consistency measured using Cronbach’s alpha for knowledge, attitude, and practice items were reported to be 0.632, 0.923, and 0.591 respectively and that of the KAP total was 0.632. Conclusions The findings of this study showed that the questionnaire had an acceptable psychometric property for measuring KAP regarding yoga and it’s role in oral and periodontal health among Indian adults. The analysis of participant responses revealed that they had a medium level of knowledge regarding yoga and periodontal disease.

Resident Doctors and Food Labelling: A Descriptive Study from India

Abstract Background: Perception of front-of-package label (FOPL) amongst doctors is crucial to sensitise patients towards healthy eating choices using FOPL. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of FOPL amongst resident doctors. Methods: A descriptive study was carried out on 100 resident doctors at Sawai Man Singh Medical College during the period of September–November 2023. KAP regarding FOPL were assessed using validated questionnaire, scored and categorised as per Bloom’s criteria. Results: The study showed a mean KAP score of 8.17 ± 1.95 for the participants, out of maximum score of 15. Participants scored highest in the knowledge (4.07 ± 1.08) and lowest in the practice section (0.90 ± 1.16). Although 99% of respondents were aware about some labelling on packaged food items, only 23% of respondents were aware about FOPL. Majority of the respondents rarely or never read nutrition labels (87%) or compared nutritional content of two similar items before purchasing (89%). Sixty-two per cent of respondents considered nutrition labelling as a guarantee of food safety. ‘Multiple Traffic Light’ was the most preferred FOPL design (43%), followed by ‘Health Star Rating’ (21%). Conclusion: There is low awareness of FOPL and a knowledge-behaviour gap amongst the residents. This gap needs to be addressed to ensure better patient counselling for healthy eating choices.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of poststroke depression among patients with poststroke depression and their family members in Heilongjiang Province, China: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of poststroke depression (PSD) among patients with PSD and their family members.DesignWeb-based cross-sectional study.SettingThis study was conducted in Heilongjiang...

A Comparative Study between Time Series and Machine Learning Technique to Predict Dengue Fever in Dhaka City

The dengue virus is the most dangerous one that mosquitoes may spread to people. Despite attempts by the government, dengue outbreaks are becoming increasingly common in Bangladesh. Interventions in public health rely heavily on KAP (knowledge, attitude, and practice) studies. The primary goal of this research is to forecast the occurrence of dengue disease in the city of Dhaka using methods from machine learning and time series analysis and then to compare the models in order to find the one with the lowest MAPE. From January 2016 through July 2021, monthly data were retrieved for this study from WHO and the Directorate General of Health and Services (DGHS). According to the findings of this research, neural networks outperform time series analysis when it comes to making predictions. The best-fitted neural network (NN) model was found in model 04 with 05 hidden layers which produced the minimum error model with the value of error 0.003032557, and the values of RMSE and MAPE are 7.588889e − 06 and 1.15273, respectively, for the prediction of the dengue fever in Dhaka city. In contrast, the original dengue data in the time series analysis is not stationary. Take the difference and run the unit root test by the augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test to make it stationary. The dengue data series is stationary at the first-order difference, as evidenced by the ACF and PACF, which show no noticeable spike in the first-order difference. The ARIMA (6, 1, 1) model with the lowest AIC = −251.8, RMSE = 0.0310797, and MAPE = 15.2892 is the best choice model for predicting the dengue death rate. Therefore, from these two models, the NN model gives better prediction performance with the lowest value of MAPE. So, the neural network gives better prediction performance than time series analysis. The NN model forecasted 12-month death rates of dengue fever that suggest the death rate in dengue fever falling month by month. This study is more innovative than any other research because this research approach is different from any other research approach. The model selection criteria are based on the most effective performance metrics MAPE, indicating the lowest error and better prediction performance. Therefore, from this research, the author suggests machine learning gives better prediction performance than time series analysis for any other prediction performance.

Impact of Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Attitude &amp; Practice About Pharmacovigilance in Nursing Students in A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is crucial for healthcare professionals to know how to report adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To improve reporting rates, it is essential to improve knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of healthcare professionals regarding Pharmacovigilance (PV) and adverse drug reactions (ADR) reporting. According to previous studies, there has been a lack of knowledge in nursing students regarding Pharmacovigilance (PV) and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR). Hence, this study was planned to assess the impact of educational intervention on nursing students' knowledge, attitude, and practice of pharmacovigilance at a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. Materials and Methods: This was an interventional study conducted among 93 BSc nursing students at a tertiary care teaching hospital, India. Each participant was explained the purpose of study and asked to fill in a questionnaire about their knowledge, attitude and practice of pharmacovigilance. The post-KAP questionnaire was re-circulated among participants at the end of the intervention and data was analyzed using Chi square test. Results: The study involved 93 BSc nursing students aged 21.52 ± 1.11 years, with a male to female ratio of 1:2. All statistical calculations were performed using Graph Pad prism v10.1.0. Results showed significant differences in understanding pharmacovigilance between pre-intervention and post-intervention, and a significant change in attitudes towards pharmacovigilance due to the educational intervention. A statistically greater proportion of students learned about Pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting forms. Conclusion: The Continuing Medical Education (CME) and group discussions significantly enhanced the knowledge and attitude of nursing students regarding pharmacovigilance.

A Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study on sheep owners regarding fasciolosis in northwest of Tunisia

Fasciolosis is a worldwide zoonotic snail-borne infection that affects ruminants, it causes high economic losses among livestock. A participatory epidemiological survey was conducted on 204 sheep owners of Sejnane region (District of Bizerte, Northwest Tunisia) to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding fasciolosis. All interviewed sheep owners are aware of this parasitic infection (100%, 204/204), among them, 81% (165/204) reported history of clinical cases in their sheep flocks. According to 33.73% (113/335) of them, sheep get infected by fasciolosis mainly by grazing in wet areas, 79.9% (163/204) of these farmers think that wet climate is the most favourable for the infection. Weight loss (28.40%, 121/426) and submandibular oedema (20.42%, 87/426) are the main clinical signs of fasciolosis cited by interviewed sheep owners and the majority of them (98.53%; 201/204) confirmed that fasciolosis causes significant economic losses. Fasciolosis infection persists in Sejnane region despite the use of antiparasitic drugs, this is due mainly to the fact that animals graze in moist grass (39.88%, 132/331). Treat animals (51.47%, 193/375), prohibit grazing on moist grass (15.20%, 57/357), prohibit grazing on wet soils (14.33%, 53/357) and avoid pastures (10.93%, 41/357) are the main prevention measures cited by interviewed sheep owners. Only 18,14% (37/204) of responders knew that fascioliasis is a zoonotic disease. These results could be considered by animal health decision makers and field veterinarians when implementing control programmes in order to increase breeders' knowledge of fasciolosis.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to dog bite and its management among adults in rural Maharashtra with reference to their literacy status: a cross sectional study

Background: In India, 97% of human rabies is transmitted by dogs. Rabies is 100% fatal but 100% preventable by vaccination. In rural community, there exists a considerable gap in knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to dog bite and its management. So, study was planned to assess same with reference to literacy status among adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of Rajiv Gandhi medical college in Maharashtra during April to June 2023. Sample size was estimated. Simple random sampling technique was used to select the subjects. Data was collected by personal interview using pretested questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. The statistical level of significance was fixed at p&lt;0.05. Results: Of the 254 subjects interviewed, 208 (81.89%) were literate and 46 (18.11%) were illiterate, 224 (88.19%) subjects knew about rabies disease of which 190 (91.35%) were literate (p&lt;0.05), 208 (81.89%) subjects mentioned that the dog bite leads to rabies of which 178 (85.58%) were literate (p&lt;0.05), 172 (67.72%) said rabies can be prevented through vaccination of which 151 (72.60%) were literate (p&lt;0.05), 179 (70.47%) said washing dog bite wound can reduce chance of rabies of which 158 (75.96%) were literate (p&lt;0.05), 88 (34.65%) subjects have given history of dog bite. Literate subjects were having better knowledge, positive attitudes and healthy practices related to dog bite and its management. Conclusions: The gap in knowledge, attitude and practices about dog bite and its management among the subjects can be reduced by increasing literacy status, health education and focusing on communication services in rural area.

Development and validation of a questionnaire in Hindi language to assess Parental Knowledge, Attitude and Practices regarding Calcium and Vitamin D deficiency in children

Background: Despite being in temperate zone, India is endemic to nutritional rickets. However, very little has been studied on knowledge, perception and cultural practices of Indian communities, towards calcium and vitamin-D deficiency in children. Aim &amp; Objective: The study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire in Hindi language for the assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices of parents towards calcium and vitamin D deficiency among children. Methodology: We searched electronic databases for item generation. The questionnaire was developed in Hindi language by five experts in the field of pediatrics, pediatric orthopaedics and community medicine using Delphi method. After language correction from Hindi language experts, a convenient sample of 30 participants filled the questionnaire and tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results: The overall Cronbach’s alpha value for the finalized 46-item scale indicated an acceptable reliability (alpha = 0.91). The internal consistency reliability for six domains created was acceptable. The results revealed ‘high’ test-retest reliability, and there was no statistically significant difference noted between any of the first test and re-test corresponding values (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion: The present questionnaire developed in Hindi Language to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of parents towards Calcium &amp; Vitamin-D deficiency in children, has a good validity and reliability. This newly developed instrument could prove its use to highlight the gaps that may exist among parents. The use of this tool may help clinicians, health educators and policy makers to identify key areas of intervention with regards to Calcium &amp; Vitamin-D deficiency in children.

Application Effect of WeChat Platform Continuity of Care Model Based on KAP Theory on Self-Management of Stroke Patients with Hypertension

Objective: To explore the impact of the WeChat platform continuity of care model based on the KAP (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) theory on the self-management of stroke patients with hypertension after discharge from the hospital. Methods: 62 stroke patients with hypertension discharged from the rehabilitation department of a tertiary A hospital in Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from October 2022 to April 2023 were sampled by convenience sampling method. Patients discharged from Rehabilitation I were included in the control group, and conventional nursing care was used; while patients discharged from Rehabilitation II were included in the observation group, and WeChat platform continuity of nursing care model based on the KAP theory was implemented. The intervention effect of the two groups was compared. Results: After 4 and 12 weeks of intervention, the diastolic and systolic blood pressure of the patients in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P &lt; 0.05); after 12 weeks of intervention, the rate of medication adherence and the score of adherence to hypertension treatment in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The application of the WeChat platform continuity of care model based on KAP theory to stroke patients with hypertension can improve blood pressure, medication adherence rate, hypertension treatment adherence, and overall enhance the self-management level of these patients.

Preliminary Study on Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Pharmacy Workers on Generic Vs. Branded Medicine in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Pharmacists, apprentice pharmacists and non-pharmacists belong to the same umbrella of pharmacy workers as they all work in a pharmacy. They perform a wide range of tasks within the pharmacy. In addition to ensuring that the medications patients are prescribed are appropriate, speciality pharmacists also help patients with concerns and provide advice on how to take their medications and potential side effects. Therefore, pharmacy employees must have the right knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours for a pharmacy to run well and to provide the right medication along with the right guidance. This study aimed to investigate pharmacy workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the Colombo district. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among pharmacy workers in the Colombo district, including pharmacists and non-pharmacists, using a structured questionnaire. The ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, CINEC Campus. Out of 100 participants, 15% were pharmacists, 37% were assistant pharmacists and 48% were pharmacy-supporting workers. Among the participants, 60% agreed with substituting generics for branded medicines in all cases where a generic is available. While 14% disagreed with that, 26% were neutral. However, 61% believed some medicine brands are more effective, and 6% disagreed. Among participants, 33% mentioned that sometimes they believe some brands are more effective. Further, 5% of participants always dispense other brands in addition to the brand which the doctor has prescribed. While 89 % are only dispensed to other brands when the prescribed brand is unavailable, 6% have never done so. Out of the 5 % of participants who always dispense other brands 20% are pharmacists and 80% are non-pharmacists. Also, 93% of participants usually inform the patients when they change the brand, and 7% are not informed. According to the results, some workers still needed to have adequate KAP regarding generic and brand of drugs. Hence, it is concluded that some healthcare workers at pharmacies require further improvement based on KAP.

Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among community members of Mtendere Township in Lusaka, Zambia: findings and implications on antimicrobial stewardship

Background: Antibiotic resistance is a public health problem affecting all countries and leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality rates. In Zambia, there is little information on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of community members about antibiotic use and resistance. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) regarding antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among community members in Mtendere township of Lusaka Zambia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted from May 2020 to August 2020 using a structured questionnaire among 369 Mtendere residents. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Results: Of the 369 participants, 50.9% were male and 62.1% were aged between 18 and 29 years. Overall, this study found a poor KAP (38% good knowledge, 58% positive attitudes, and 52% good practices) regarding AMU and AMR. More than half of the participants 66.7% (246/369) had heard of antibiotics, 33.6% heard of AMR, and 23% heard of antimicrobial-resistant infections. Most of the participants 48.2% were not aware that AMR is a public health issue. A total of 52.8% (195/369) of the participants said they did not take antibiotics without consulting a doctor or pharmacist, translating into a prevalence of self-medication of 47.2%. Conclusions: This study showed that Mtendere residents had poor KAP towards antibiotic use and resistance. There is a need to implement community-based interventional campaigns including antimicrobial stewardship programmes address the gaps in KAP identified in this study.

Detection of selected antimicrobial residues in red meat and kidney of beef cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir, Ethiopia.

Antibiotics are commonly used drugs in farm animals for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnosis purposes. As a result of the use of antibiotics in livestock, residues of antibiotics may be present in animal-derived foods, especially in meat. This study aimed at determining the antibiotic residues in cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir and assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) level of the community about antibiotic residue in food of cattle origin. A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected kidney and muscle samples slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir. The samples were collected aseptically and analysed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometer. In addition the KAP of cattle handlers, butcher men and meat users were collected using structured questionnaire. The data was analysed by SPSS and intercooled Stata version 7.0, 2001. Results are presented as percentages and frequency distributions in tabular and graphical form. From 120 individuals interviewed, only 25.83% knew about withdrawal time and had limited knowledge on effect of antibiotic residue on human health, whereas about 47.5% did not heard about antibiotic residue in meat. Tetracycline was detected in all the sampled meat 60 (100%), whereas oxytetracycline residues were detected in half 15 (50%) of the samples. In the current study doxycycline, sulphadiazine, penicillin G and enrofloxacin were not detected in all samples. Oxytetracycline residue levels ranged from 0.00 to 463.35µg/kg for the kidney and 0.00 to 354.55µg/kg for muscle samples. About 10% of kidney and 3.33% muscle samples collected had oxytetracycline residues above maximum residue limits. In general, the study revealed that oxytetracycline residues were prevalent among antimicrobial residues analysed from the study area. The study indicated the presence of high antimicrobial residue and hence exposes for antimicrobial resistance of pathogens warranting coordinated effort to mitigate its health effect on the animal and hence human being.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice towards postoperative nursing of patients with digit replantation and skin flap transplantation among new nurses in Beijing: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectiveTo explore the knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) towards the postoperative nursing of patients with digit replantation and skin flap transplantation among new nurses.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingTwo tertiary medical centres in Beijing,...

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of adults on the uses and relationships with water in the communes of Sô-Ava, Aguégués and N’dali in Benin

Bilharzia (Schistosomiasis) is a neglected tropical disease prevalent in endemic areas and causes many health problems related to water sanitation. Objective: This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of adults on the uses and relationships with water, which, although vital for humans, sometimes generates water-borne diseases including Bilharzia in endemic areas. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) carried out among 415 households on uses and relationships with water. The calculated sampling made it possible to survey 415 targeted households. The qualitative data collected is transcribed and analyzed. The analysis of quantitative data is carried out using the Student’s T-test and Barlett’s T-test using STATA software version 2015. Results: The study showed that 92.54% of respondents knew the symptoms of the disease, 62.40% associate it with the consumption of unsanitary water, 86.75% declare the appearance of blood in the urine as the main symptom, 73.01% of households use water from the backwater for domestic purposes, 84.34% of respondents are willing to participate in communication for behavior change. Conclusion: The communes of Aguégués, Sô Ava and N’dali remain areas with endemic potential for schistosomiasis infestation. Attitudes and practices such as swimming, urination in fresh water, fishing and agricultural activities without any health and hygiene precautions observed and recorded are unfavorable to the elimination of schistosomiasis La Bilharziose (Schistosomiase) est une maladie tropicale négligée répandue dans les zones endémiques et qui cause de nombreux problèmes de santé liés à l'assainissement de l'eau. Objectif : Cette étude a pour objectif de déterminer les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des adultes sur les usages et rapports avec l’eau qui bien ayant un caractère vital pour l’homme est parfois génératrice des maladies hydriques dont la bilharziose dans les zones endémiques. Matériels et Méthodes : Il s’agit d’une étude transversale, descriptive et analytique des connaissances, attitudes et pratiques (CAP) réalisée auprès 415 ménages sur les usages et rapports avec l’eau. L’échantillonnage calculé a permis d’enquêter 415 ménages ciblés. Les données qualitatives recueillies sont transcrites et analysées. L’analyse des données quantitatives est réalisée grâce au test t de Student et de Barlett à l’aide du logiciel STATA version 2015. Résultats : L’étude a montré que 92,54% des enquêtés connaissent les symptômes de la maladie, 62.40% l’associent à la consommation de l’eau insalubre, 86,75% déclarent comme symptôme principal l’apparition du sang dans les urines, 73,01 % des ménages utilisent l’eau du marigot à des fins domestiques, 84,34 % des enquêtés sont disposés à participer à une communication pour un changement de comportement. Conclusion : Les communes des Aguégués, Sô Ava et N’dali demeurent des zones à potentialités endémiques à l’infestation bilharzienne. Les attitudes et pratiques telles que les baignades, les mictions dans les eaux douces, les activités de la pêche et de l’agriculture sans aucune précaution sanitaire d’hygiène observées et recensées sont défavorables à l’élimination de la schistosomiase.