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Background and Aim: Small ruminants require vaccines to prevent and manage diseases. Unfortunately, no studies have been conducted in Bangladesh to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of small ruminant farmers (SRF) regarding vaccine use against infectious diseases, affecting the success of vaccination campaigns. The present study aims to assess SRF’s KAP regarding vaccines, revealing gaps and barriers to efficient vaccination. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight SRF in northern Bangladesh were surveyed in a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from random participants through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. KAP levels were categorized as “good” or “poor” and “positive” or “negative” using a scoring method with a 60% cutoff. The analysis comprised the utilization of descriptive statistics as well as logistic regression models. Results: Results showed that most participants were female (60.5%), aged 31–40 (34.2%), with secondary education (28.1%), and vaccination training (22.8%). While 75% knew about vaccines, only 37.3% understood their role in preventing infectious diseases, and 63.6% in reducing antibiotic use 68.4% of farmers were aware of negative drawbacks, and 61.8% reported vaccinating their herds. About 42.1% of the farmers had good knowledge, 52.6% had a positive attitude, and 22.8% followed good practices. Female farmers with graduate degrees and 6–10 years of goat farming experience, but not those with vaccination training, demonstrated stronger knowledge. Female farmers with a graduate degree and 6–10 years of goat farming experience displayed positive attitudes. Female goat farmers from Thakurgaon had a higher likelihood of following good vaccination practices than those with vaccination training. Conclusion: The study unearths disparities in KAP scores among farmers. To effectively address KAP gaps concerning vaccine usage and prevent potential infectious diseases, it is essential to design focused educational and training programs. About 52.6% of SRF hold a positive view toward vaccines.

Background and Aim: Small ruminants require vaccines to prevent and manage diseases. Unfortunately, no studies have been conducted in Bangladesh to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of small ruminant farmers (SRF) regarding vaccine use against infectious diseases, affecting the success of vaccination campaigns. The present study aims to assess SRF's KAP regarding vaccines, revealing gaps and barriers to efficient vaccination. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight SRF in northern Bangladesh were surveyed in a cross sectional study. Data were collected from random participants through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. KAP levels were categorized as "good" or "poor" and "positive" or "negative" using a scoring method with a 60% cutoff. The analysis comprised the utilization of descriptive statistics as well as logistic regression models. Results: Results showed that most participants were female (60.5%), aged 31-40 (34.2%), with secondary education (28.1%), and vaccination training (22.8%). While 75% knew about vaccines, only 37.3% understood their role in preventing infectious diseases, and 63.6% in reducing antibiotic use 68.4% of farmers were aware of negative drawbacks, and 61.8% reported vaccinating their herds. About 42.1% of the farmers had good knowledge, 52.6% had a positive attitude, and 22.8% followed good practices. Female farmers with graduate degrees and 6-10 years of goat farming experience, but not those with vaccination training, demonstrated stronger knowledge. Female farmers with a graduate degree and 6-10 years of goat farming experience displayed positive attitudes. Female goat farmers from Thakurgaon had a higher likelihood of following good vaccination practices than those with vaccination training. Conclusion: The study unearths disparities in KAP scores among farmers. To effectively address KAP gaps concerning vaccine usage and prevent potential infectious diseases, it is essential to design focused educational and training programs. About 52.6% of SRF hold a positive view toward vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review summarises health literacy and disease knowledge in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the influencing factors. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL covering the period January 2012 to October 2022. This scoping review was undertaken in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Inclusion criteria encompassed studies addressing health literacy, knowledge, perception, or awareness in patients with AAA or PAD. Two authors independently reviewed abstracts and full texts, resolving any discrepancies through discussion or by consulting a third author for consensus. All article types were included except letters, editorials, study protocols, reviews, and guidelines. No language restrictions were applied. Primary outcomes were health literacy and disease knowledge. Secondary outcomes were factors that could influence this. Quality assessment was done using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The review included 32 articles involving a total of 5 268 patients. Four articles reported health literacy and the rest disease knowledge. Ten studies (31%) met all quality criteria. Twenty studies were quantitative, eight were qualitative, and four were mixed methods studies. The review revealed inadequate health literacy in the majority of patients, and disease knowledge was relatively low among patients with AAA and PAD, with disparities in measures and assessment tools across studies. Factors influencing health literacy and disease knowledge included socioeconomic status, education, income, and employment. This scoping review revealed low health literacy and low disease knowledge in patients with AAA and PAD. Standardised health literacy assessment may contribute to improve communication strategies and decision aids to enhance patients' understanding and engagement in healthcare decisions, however further research is needed to prove its merits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filipino-Americans are the third largest Asian-American population, with a median age of 44. However, there is limited literature focusing on the group's ophthalmic care engagement. Timely eye examinations and outreach are necessary to reduce visual impairment in this older community. To assess eye care knowledge, attitudes, and practices, we conducted a cross-sectional study surveying Filipino-Americans within the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Associations between primary outcomes and sociodemographic factors were analyzed using chi-squared analysis and student's T-test. In our convenience sample of 256 surveys, a majority of participants are receiving appropriate eye care; those that lacked health and eye insurance, immigrated and are lower income did not receive optimal eye care. Study participants also demonstrated a lack of awareness of eye diseases and risk factors. Our results suggest that culturally sensitive eye health education materials are lacking and should be made accessible for this large and rapidly growing population.

The article "Knowledge, attitudes, and practices among MBBS students about vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study" focuses on the perspectives of medical students in South India regarding COVID-19 vaccines. The study found that the majority of the 296 participants believed that vaccination is necessary, and a large percentage had already been vaccinated. Common side effects included pain at the injection site, body aches, headaches, and fever. The study also revealed that most students believed that the same vaccine is required for the second dose. Overall, the findings indicate positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination among medical students in South India, emphasizing the importance of understanding their perceptions to address vaccine hesitancy effectively. [Extracted from the article]

Ascariasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. The knowledge, attitude, and practices related to the prevalence of ascariasis among primary school children in Mkpat Enin LGA, Akwa Ibom State, were investigated. Two hundred sixteen faecal samples were examined for ascariasis. Data on sociodemographic and hygiene habits were obtained using a structured questionnaire. The formol-ether sedimentation concentration technique was used to diagnose the ascariasis. Chi-square at a 5 % level of significance was used in assessing the relationship between the prevalence of ascariasis and other variables. The overall prevalence of ascariasis among the pupils was 86.67 %. Prevalence of ascariasis among schools was highest (91.67%) for Primary School, Ikot Ebak, while True Church Primary School, Mkpat Enin, had the lowest (75.00 %) prevalence (p > 0.05). Based on the age distribution, pupils aged 3-5 years had the highest prevalence of ascariasis (92.00 %), while pupils aged 6-9 years had the lowest (84.71 %) prevalence (p > 0.05). Males had a higher (72.22 %) prevalence of ascariasis than females (70.37 %) (p > 0.05). Pupils with good knowledge about ascariasis, positive attitudes towards ascariasis, and good hygienic practices were less infected. There were significant associations between the prevalence of infection and some of the variables of knowledge, attitude, and practices. The high prevalence of ascariasis in the study area could be reduced through health education on proper hygiene habits and regular de-worming exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is a public health concern. Early identification of the warning signs and appropriate management and referral by the first contacts are of immense importance. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the change in knowledge, attitude, and awareness about suicide and its prevention following an educational program on the topic of suicide prevention. Methodology: A brief educational program was conducted for the nursing staff and nursing students of a neuropsychiatric institute. The knowledge and attitude of the participants were assessed through a validated semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed in a descriptive manner. Pre- and postscores were analyzed through a paired t-test. Results: A total of 57 participants completed the questionnaires. The mean knowledge score pretest was 14.01 and posttest was 16.70, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The change in attitude is seen; however, on the Chi-square test, the change is not statistically significant. Only a limited number were aware of the useful practices and resources related to suicide prevention. Conclusion: Nurses can act as gatekeepers for suicide prevention, and there seems to be an important role of educational and skill-building programs to primary health-care workers (including nurses) in preventing suicide.

Background: The importance of vitamin D in maintaining overall health cannot be overstated, as its deficiency is a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity. There is a paucity of literature on vitamin D deficiency among healthcare workers (HCWs) in India, especially those working in emergency settings and day-night shifts. Aims and Objectives: This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to assess the levels of vitamin D among emergency healthcare workers (HCWs) and evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding vitamin D deficiency. The study sought to address the limited literature on vitamin D deficiency among HCWs in emergency settings in India. Materials and Methods: A total of 105 randomly selected healthy HCWs from the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital in north India participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect demographic information and assess the participants' knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to vitamin D. Serum vitamin D levels were measured using a 2 ml venous blood sample. Results: The mean serum vitamin D level was 15.08 ± 8.52 ng/ml, indicating a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (94.3%) among the participants. While most participants were aware of the active form of vitamin D, its sources and critical functions, knowledge about non-skeletal manifestations and measurable forms of vitamin D deficiency was limited. A majority of the participants (85.3%) recognized the importance of vitamin D as a micronutrient, and 69.3% expressed the need for education on its role. However, only 48.5% emphasized regular vitamin D intake. Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among HCWs in the emergency department and identifies knowledge gaps regarding its critical functions. There is a need for an effective system to identify and address vitamin D-related health issues among HCWs, which could potentially enhance their overall efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy (HL) is the ability of an individual to obtain and translate information in order to maintain and improve their health. Objective: To characterize the level of HL of patients admitted to an oncology hospital and assess the reliability of the Portuguese version of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-PT). Methodology: Cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive, and methodological study. Sample of 188 patients admitted to a surgical oncology unit between May and September 2020. Data were collected through a sociodemographic and health characterization form and a HL assessment tool. Results: The HLS-EU-PT had a high level of internal consistency. All domains and information-pro- cessing levels correlated positively with each other. Participants had on average a problematic level of HL. Conclusion: The results indicate the need for greater investment in HL training. Further studies are needed in this population and in other populations and healthcare settings to provide an effective response to health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy (HL) is the ability of an individual to obtain and translate information in order to maintain and improve their health. Objective: To characterize the level of HL of patients admitted to an oncology hospital and assess the reliability of the Portuguese version of the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-PT). Methodology: Cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive, and methodological study. Sample of 188 patients admitted to a surgical oncology unit between May and September 2020. Data were collected through a sociodemographic and health characterization form and a HL assessment tool. Results: The HLS-EU-PT had a high level of internal consistency. All domains and information-processing levels correlated positively with each other. Participants had on average a problematic level of HL. Conclusion: The results indicate the need for greater investment in HL training. Further studies are needed in this population and in other populations and healthcare settings to provide an effective response to health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is a public health concern. Early identification of the warning signs and appropriate management and referral by the first contacts are of immense importance. Aim and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the change in knowledge, attitude, and awareness about suicide and its prevention following an educational program on the topic of suicide prevention. Methodology: A brief educational program was conducted for the nursing staff and nursing students of a neuropsychiatric institute. The knowledge and attitude of the participants were assessed through a validated semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed in a descriptive manner. Pre- and postscores were analyzed through a paired t-test. Results: A total of 57 participants completed the questionnaires. The mean knowledge score pretest was 14.01 and posttest was 16.70, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The change in attitude is seen; however, on the Chi-square test, the change is not statistically significant. Only a limited number were aware of the useful practices and resources related to suicide prevention. Conclusion: Nurses can act as gatekeepers for suicide prevention, and there seems to be an important role of educational and skill-building programs to primary health-care workers (including nurses) in preventing suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Informal prescribers (IPs) significantly contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance and in disseminating pathogens from poultry to humans and other animals through the food chain, posing a serious global health threat. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether the knowledge of IPs has an impact on their attitude and practice toward antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues, and antimicrobial resistance. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we conducted a pre-tested and questionnaire-based survey to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of IPs in selected parts of the Mymensingh division, Bangladesh. Then, we used the linear regression model test with R-squared (R2) to measure the association between the study variables. Results: Our investigation revealed that 70% of the IPs knew about antibiotics and 75% had good knowledge about antibiotic resistance, whereas only 50% were aware of withdrawal periods. Informal prescribers also displayed good attitudes toward the use and sale of antibiotics with withdrawal periods and completion of medication (50%). Analysis of their practice on the sale and prescription of antibiotics showed that 70% and 30% of IPs use antibiotics against bacterial infections and other conditions, respectively. Most of them do not consult a veterinarian before selling or prescribing antibiotics, although 80% claim to do so. This is because 75% of IPs gave other options regarding their consultations. However, 95% of IPs uses antibiotics only for therapeutic purposes. Furthermore, only 10% sell antibiotics based on a veterinarian’s recommendation. Approximately 45% of IPs use single antibiotics at a time, while the rest use multiple antibiotics, individually or combined. Approximately 15% use antibiotics monthly, while 85% use them whenever the need arises. The knowledge and attitude of IPs are significantly affected by their age (p ≤ 0.025). The district of domicile also impacted their knowledge. Surprisingly, IPs from Jamalpur had significantly better knowledge compared to those from Mymensingh and Sherpur (p ≤ 0.01). The attitude of IPs from Jamalpur and Netrokona also differed significantly (p ≤ 0.001) from that of Mymensingh and Sherpur. The knowledge of IPs influenced their attitude up to 80.5% (r2 = 0.628) and their practice up to 75.4% (r2 = 0.545). Conclusion: The knowledge of IPs greatly influenced their attitude and practice, while sociodemographics also influenced their knowledge and attitude toward antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues, and antimicrobial resistance.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection continues to affect the daily life of communities worldwide. Nutrition is a vital determinant of overall health. Given the lack of specific drugs for COVID-19 and incomplete vaccination coverage, optimizing nutrition appears to be one of the most cost-effective means of enhancing immunity. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) to offer insights into the personal determinants of dietary behavior during COVID-19 pandemic in four major cities within the Northeast region.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were entered in EpiData V-3.02 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression analysis was also employed to examine the association between dependent and independent variables.ResultsA total of 4,092 respondents were included in the study. Most of the respondents demonstrated had inadequate nutrition knowledge, 26% of them provided ≥60% of correct answers. About one-third of the respondents were knowledgeable about the daily levels of oil, salt, milk, water, vegetables and fruits for adults. Furthermore, our results showed that 60.6% of participants held positive attitudes toward healthy eating. Additionally, only 54.6% of the participants have heathy dietary practices during COVID-19 pandemic. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the following characteristics were associated with displaying unhealthy dietary behaviors: being men, having a lower education level, having a family income of 10,000–19,999 and more than 20,000, being resided in Harbin, Shenyang, and Changchun. Importantly, the strongest associations were observed between poor dietary knowledge and unhealthy eating behaviors. Similarly, dietary attitudes were strongly associated with healthy dietary behaviors when the effects of other factors were excluded; responders with negative attitudes were more likely to exhibit unhealthy eating behaviors.ConclusionOur findings suggest that residents in the Northeast China possessed a relatively low level of nutritional knowledge, which directly influenced their dietary practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides valuable insights into the cross-sectional description and key factors related to nutrition-related KAP, serving as a basis for future policymaking to respond more effectively to health crises.

Background and Aim: Informal prescribers (IPs) significantly contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance and in disseminating pathogens from poultry to humans and other animals through the food chain, posing a serious global health threat. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether the knowledge of IPs has an impact on their attitude and practice toward antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues, and antimicrobial resistance. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we conducted a pre-tested and questionnaire-based survey to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of IPs in selected parts of the Mymensingh division, Bangladesh. Then, we used the linear regression model test with R-squared (R2) to measure the association between the study variables. Results: Our investigation revealed that 70% of the IPs knew about antibiotics and 75% had good knowledge about antibiotic resistance, whereas only 50% were aware of withdrawal periods. Informal prescribers also displayed good attitudes toward the use and sale of antibiotics with withdrawal periods and completion of medication (50%). Analysis of their practice on the sale and prescription of antibiotics showed that 70% and 30% of IPs use antibiotics against bacterial infections and other conditions, respectively. Most of them do not consult a veterinarian before selling or prescribing antibiotics, although 80% claim to do so. This is because 75% of IPs gave other options regarding their consultations. However, 95% of IPs uses antibiotics only for therapeutic purposes. Furthermore, only 10% sell antibiotics based on a veterinarian's recommendation. Approximately 45% of IPs use single antibiotics at a time, while the rest use multiple antibiotics, individually or combined. Approximately 15% use antibiotics monthly, while 85% use them whenever the need arises. The knowledge and attitude of IPs are significantly affected by their age (p ≤ 0.025). The district of domicile also impacted their knowledge. Surprisingly, IPs from Jamalpur had significantly better knowledge compared to those from Mymensingh and Sherpur (p ≤ 0.01). The attitude of IPs from Jamalpur and Netrokona also differed significantly (p ≤ 0.001) from that of Mymensingh and Sherpur. The knowledge of IPs influenced their attitude up to 80.5% (r² = 0.628) and their practice up to 75.4% (r² = 0.545). Conclusion: The knowledge of IPs greatly influenced their attitude and practice, while sociodemographics also influenced their knowledge and attitude toward antimicrobial use, antibiotic residues, and antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic praziquantel Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to vulnerable populations, especially school-aged children, to reduce the risk of transmission. In the S. haematobium endemic Lindi region, on the southeastern coast of Tanzania, praziquantel has been distributed for more than a decade (12 rounds) in schools. However, there is a paucity of data on the current burden and factors perpetuating ongoing urogenital schistosomiasis among SAC. The study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with the ongoing transmission of S. haematobium among school-age children (SAC) after 12 rounds of praziquantel in Nachingwea, Southern Tanzania. Material and methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2022 among 483 SAC in the Nachingwea district. Macrohematuria, microhaematuria, and S. haematobium eggs were assessed in the collected urine sample for each participant, using macroscopic observation, urine dipstick, and urine filtration techniques, respectively. Infection intensity was quantified for positive S. haematobium urine samples. Knowledge and attitudes towards schistosomiasis were assessed among participants through an interview-administered questionnaire, and water contact practices were registered through an observation checklist. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 10.6%, with 0.6% (3/51) prevalence of heavy infection. The factors associated with S. haematobium persistence transmission were a habit of visiting the water bodies (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.40–1.96), swimming in the visited water bodies (AOR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.72–12.19), using water from the river source (AOR = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.51–9.51) and attending Mkumba Primary School (17.4%; AOR = 6.12, 95% CI: 1.64–22.85). Conclusions: Findings suggest ongoing transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in the Nachingwea District despite 12 rounds of praziquantel treatment, with a low prevalence of heavy infection (0.6%). Praziquantel distribution should be complemented with health education, especially on the cause and transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis to increase knowledge that will improve a good attitude towards schistosomiasis prevention. An adequate water supply is to be considered to reduce infections due to the visit to water sources for daily use.

Background: With the anticipation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) third wave, there were reports of increased rates of infection among children. So naturally, there will be apprehension among parents regarding this. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) play an important role in effectively controlling the infection. Aims and Objectives: The study is an attempt to understand parental apprehension and their KAP regarding COVID-19 infection in children. Materials and Methods: A total of 367 parents participated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using R language. Results: Higher scores of knowledge were reported among higher age (P=0.003), higher education (P

BACKGROUND: Despite health education efforts, pregnant women still face major health problems. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women on measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus in a context of social vulnerability. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey of 384 pregnant women randomly selected from the 20 health districts in the province of Essaouira. This study was carried out from January 2022 to June 2022. A questionnaire was used, and bivariable logistic regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women about mother-tochild transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. RESULTS: Low knowledge (75.8%) and negative attitudes (72.7%) about preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV were observed in study participants. The knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women about the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV varied by education level, number of children, and source of information. There was a very significant correlation between knowledge and attitude (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: A significant number of pregnant women have incomplete knowledge and attitudes about preventing mother-tochild transmission of HIV. Actions to increase the knowledge of pregnant women are essential. The capacity of healthcare providers should also be strengthened to improve the quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the anticipation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) third wave, there were reports of increased rates of infection among children. So naturally, there will be apprehension among parents regarding this. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) play an important role in effectively controlling the infection. Aims and Objectives: The study is an attempt to understand parental apprehension and their KAP regarding COVID-19 infection in children. Materials and Methods: A total of 367 parents participated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using R language. Results: Higher scores of knowledge were reported among higher age (P=0.003), higher education (P<0.001), professionals (P<0.001), urban area (P<0.001), and two or more children (P=0.022). Good practices were noted among unemployed (P<0.001), Hindu religion (P=0.045), and single child (P=0.002). Higher educated and employed had good knowledge, but practices were better among unemployed and illiterate. Knowledge was positively correlated with attitude (r+0.54, P<0.001, 95% CI [0.47, 0.61]) and practices (r+0.26, P<0.001, 95% CI [0.17, 0.36]); and attitudes with practices (r+0.32, P<0.001, 95% CI [0.22, 0.41]). Conclusion: The study finds that generally, parents have good KAP toward COVID-19. However, they have limited knowledge regarding COVID-19 infection in children contributing to parental apprehension. It is time we spread awareness on KAPs regarding COVID-19 infection in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This cross-sectional study aims to assess parents' knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the oral health of their children with primary dentition. Patients and methods The study was performed in the Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. Data were obtained through 301 questionnaires translated from English to Arabic, for the assessment of the parents' knowledge, attitude, and practices scores and via clinical examination of the children for the assessment of caries prevalence by calculation of their dmf scores. Results The majority of parents (90%) had adequate knowledge scores with a significantly strong negative correlation to dmf scores of their children. For attitude score, 100% of parents reported adequate attitude score, with insignificant weak negative correlation to dmf scores of their children. Finally, the practice score was adequate in only 44.52% of parents, with a significantly strong negative correlation to dmf scores of the children. Conclusions The majority of parents had adequate knowledge and attitude, although having inadequate practice. The mean dmf score of the children was significantly affected by parents' knowledge, but weakly affected by their beliefs and attitudes. The poor practice of parents revealed in the present study had a strong negative influence on their children's caries prevalence.

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the most common disease in children under 5 years. Maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) affect children's morbidity and mortality from acute respiratory infections. The study aimed to assess the mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in caring for children under five with ARIs and identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study interviewed mothers of children under 5 with ARIs. A questionnaire was used to assess the maternal KAPs. Each question was rated on a 5-point Likert scale. The KAPs levels were measured in mean values. Results: A total of 172 mothers were included in the study. Mean item scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ARIs were 3.8 ± 0.6, 4.2 ± 0.4, and 3.9 ± 0.4, respectively. Only 38.4%, 30.3%, and 47.5% of mothers had good KAPs scores about watching for danger signs, using antibiotics, and giving cough syrups, respectively. Mothers with higher education levels and higher income obtained higher KAPs scores than their counterparts (4.1 ± 0.4 vs. 3.5 ± 0.7) (p = 0.01), (4.2 ± 0.4 vs. 3.7 ± 0.4) (p = 0.03), respectively. Factors affecting maternal KAPs were education level, occupation, and family income (p

Objective: To investigate the effects of peer-led intervention on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of stoma care, as well as quality of life in bladder cancer patients post-permanent ostomy., Methods: A series of 340 eligible bladder cancer patients who underwent permanent ostomy from January 2019 to December 2022 were enrolled in this study. These participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (peer-led intervention) and the control group (routine health intervention) using random number table, with 170 cases in each group. A 30-item questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge, healthy attitudes, and healthy practices (KAP) of disease; the WHO Quality of Life-100 (WHOQOL-100) was utilized to assess the quality of life among patients; and the incidence of complications in two groups were also recorded during six-month intervention. For the comparison of continuous variables within and between groups, paired sample and independent t -test were applied. The categorical variables analyzed using x 2 test or rank-sum test., Results: After six-month intervention, 144 participants in the intervention group and 151 participants in the control group were finally retained in this study. The scores of the 20 items in KAP (including basic knowledge of disease, basic knowledge of ostomy, observation of stoma, etc.) in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all p  < 0.05); the scores of 12 items in WHOQOL-100 (including the positive feelings, thinking, learning, memory and concentration, etc.) in the intervention group were markedly higher than those in the control group, while negative feelings and dependence on medical support in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all p  < 0.05); the total rate of complications in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (18.31% vs. 31.13%, p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: The peer-led intervention has a positive effect on improving patients' KAP of stoma care and quality of life and reducing the rate of complications, which enables it to be a favorable intervention approach for patients with permanent ostomy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ding, Pan, Lu, You and Qi.)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, known to be associated with several oral complications. A less well-known, but proven bidirectional relationship exists between diabetes and oral health, where one affects the other. Previous studies have shown a lack of awareness about this two-way relationship. This Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) study was undertaken to identify the gaps in awareness about diabetes mellitus and its association with oral health. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the KAPs of diabetics and nondiabetics (ND) regarding the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and oral health. Methodology: This study was conducted at a tertiary dental care institute wherein 75 diabetics, both Type I and II and 75 ND were enrolled. A questionnaire was administered by the investigators, in which responses to various questions regarding their demographics, KAPs in the context of oral health and diabetes were collected. The Chi-Square test was utilized for statistical analysis. Results: 27.3% of respondents had no knowledge about the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and oral health. Although the majority (69.3%) considered regular dental check-ups to be important for good oral health, they were found to be lacking in their practices, where 51.3% followed once a day brushing routine and 71.3% did not know about flossing or interdental cleaning. Conclusion: The study highlights the gaps in KAPs of people regarding the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and oral health and thus emphasizes the need for educational interventions at the community level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to assess parents' knowledge, attitude, and practices toward the oral health of their children with primary dentition. Patients and methods: The study was performed in the Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. Data were obtained through 301 questionnaires translated from English to Arabic, for the assessment of the parents' knowledge, attitude, and practices scores and via clinical examination of the children for the assessment of caries prevalence by calculation of their dmf scores. Results: The majority of parents (90%) had adequate knowledge scores with a significantly strong negative correlation to dmf scores of their children. For attitude score, 100% of parents reported adequate attitude score, with insignificant weak negative correlation to dmf scores of their children. Finally, the practice score was adequate in only 44.52% of parents, with a significantly strong negative correlation to dmf scores of the children. Conclusions: The majority of parents had adequate knowledge and attitude, although having inadequate practice. The mean dmf score of the children was significantly affected by parents' knowledge, but weakly affected by their beliefs and attitudes. The poor practice of parents revealed in the present study had a strong negative influence on their children's caries prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To plan suitable policy against COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that the nurses have updated knowledge related to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and management of COVID-19 and have an optimistic attitude and good practices in managing the patients during the pandemic crisis. Thus, we conducted a study on the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among Indian nursing professionals. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 22 to May 22, 2020 using a pretested 37-item-self-reported e-questionnaire among nursing professionals above 18 years of age, working in health-care setting across 25 states. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: demographic details, knowledge (26 items), attitude (6 items), and practice (5-itmes). KAP questionnaire was shared through e-mail, SMS, and WhatsApp groups. Results: A total of 1182 participants responded to the online survey with 94% completion rate. The study analyzed the data for 1110 nurses with a mean age of 30 ± 6.7 years and 68% being females. The mean KAP score was 16.82 ± 3.3, 9.77 ± 2.03, and 18.37 ± 3.29, respectively. Knowledge was significantly correlated with attitude (r = 0.1316) and practice (r = 0.1526). Practice and attitude were also found to be positively correlated (r = 0.4398). Good knowledge related to COVID-19 was significantly affected by age, gender, location, and type of facility (

Background: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is one of the most commonly prevalent and a highly pathogenic human coronavirus. The infection may lead to severe acute respiratory illness in a large proportion of affected individuals, with a high mortality rate. The processes and procedures involved in the management of patients could significantly improve the disease outcome. The purpose of the study was multifold: (1) to assess the actual knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward MERS-CoV infection and (2) to determine the factors affecting KAP among the medical laboratory staff in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Both the aims would collectively help in designing effective policies in our fight against the evolving coronavirus disease. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was conducted among medical laboratory staff associated with tertiary health-care hospitals between October and December 2018. The participants were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire about MERS-CoV infection. The association between KAP score and potential dependent variables was computed using multivariable linear regression model. Results: A total of 180 participants (57.8%) completed the survey. Our univariate analysis demonstrated that experience and education of an individual played a significant role in determining knowledge and attitude scores, respectively. On the other hand, practice score of an individual was shaped by age, profession, and department. Finally, our multivariate analysis regression analysis showed that staff with a bachelor's degree and those with a minimum laboratory experience of 15–20 years scored significantly higher KAP scores with respect to other individuals (P = 0.019 and P = 0.026). Conclusion: Our study identified alarming gaps in KAP toward MERS-CoV among different individuals. Furthermore, data collected in the present study might help to define strategies required to establish professional education programs for training medical laboratory staff.

This study aims to explore if and how cultural beliefs, norms, and practices might contribute to Nigerian women's experiences of sexual abuse and violence. In-depth narrative interviews were conducted with 12 women of Nigerian origin living in the Northwest of England who had experienced sexual abuse and violence. Women's accounts were analyzed thematically, and drawing upon a feminist-intersectional conceptual framework, analysis reveals that male privilege defined by gendered role and expectation, religious beliefs, rape myths, and bride-price with the associated practice of libation may have contributed to women's experiences of sexual abuse and violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blaans are one of the tribes that reside in the Mindanao archipelago in the Philippines. This study collected, transcribed, classified, and analyzed Blaan folk literature in the barangays of Sinapulan and Eday in the municipality of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. This also sought to identify the context that brought about the folk literature’s citation and identified the beliefs and practices embedded in these literary texts. This Blaan oral literature was transcribed and translated in Cebuano or Filipino by the informants and analyzed using Alan Dundes’ theory of analyzing folklore- through its text, and context. The gathered Blaan folk literature was classified as occasional songs, work songs, and prose narratives depicting legends, and creation stories. It was also found out that the folk literature was recited during important occasions like weddings, tribal assemblies either as a form of entertainment or a form of reminder for the members in the importance of tribal peace and unity as well as their role in protecting nature and their environment. This study also revealed that Blaan folk literature embodies the tribe’s values and ideals like generosity, courage, bravery, and traditions like the giving of dowry to their intended bride. They also valued nature and believed in the Supreme Being, whom they call Dwata but whose traits are like the Christian god.

Introduction:  Food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the United States, with approximately 12.8% of American households experiencing this challenge in 2023, as reported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Wisconsin, a state with a notable agricultural heritage, the prevalence of food insecurity averaged 9.9% between 2019 and 2023. A growing body of research underscores the importance of consuming diets rich in fruits and vegetables for maintaining optimal health and mitigating the risk of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obesity. Fruits and vegetables are reservoirs of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, which collectively contribute to overall well-being. Despite the well-documented health benefits of fruits and vegetables, a considerable proportion of the population fails to meet the recommended daily intake of at least five servings. This disparity underscores the importance of exploring factors influencing dietary behaviors and identifying strategies to promote adherence to dietary guidelines., Methods: Surveys were distributed by staff at the family medicine residency clinic in La Crosse, Wisconsin, during routine visits in April and May 2023. Any patients ≥18 years old presenting to the Family Health Clinic (FHC) were eligible for inclusion. Patients were excluded if they were unable to read/answer survey questions due to intellectual/language/other barriers. Surveys included demographic data such as the participant's age, gender, race, income bracket, and primary mode of transportation. A total of 122 participants were then asked how many servings in a day they ate of 100% juice, fruits, beans, green vegetables, yellow/orange vegetables, and other vegetables, as well as about barriers to more fruit and vegetable consumption and a Likert scale about their attitudes toward fruit and vegetable consumption and interest in discussing it with a healthcare provider. Demographic characteristics were analyzed through graphical representation to elucidate trends and patterns among the surveyed population. We compared different demographics with the barriers to fruits and vegetables using bar graphs., Results:  The primary barrier to fruit and vegetable intake varied by age group: "cost" for 18-30, "other" for 31-50, "cost" and "none" for 51-70, and "none" for over 70. For gender, "none" was most frequent for males while "cost" was for females. By income, "cost" was common for $0-20k and $20-50k, "none" for $50-100k, and "other" for >$100k. A Likert scale assessed interest in discussing healthy foods with healthcare providers. Most responses were "neutral," with "strongly agree" highest in 18-30 and "agree" in 31-50, 51-70, and over 70 age groups., Conclusions:  The purpose of this study was to ascertain barriers to fruit and vegetable access and identify patients' attitudes toward discussing healthy food choices with healthcare providers. There appears to be a correlation between decreasing income and increasing age and the likelihood of identifying cost as a barrier to fruit/vegetable intake. Barriers identified in our clinic included convenience/time constraints and cost. Many people in our survey also identified the lack of quality or good variety of fruits and vegetables at the store (availability) as a significant barrier to eating them., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. The Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board (IRB) issued approval 22-012364. The application was reviewed using expedited review procedures and is determined to be exempt from the requirement for IRB approval (category 2). Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Patel et al.)

Abstract Background Breast and cervical cancers constitute the most common cancers among women in sub-Saharan Africa. In Zimbabwe, cervical cancer accounts for more than a third of all cancers among women of African descent. Cancer knowledge levels, attitudes and practices of people in different sections of society should be assessed in order to guide current cancer interventions. This study aimed to assess breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes and practices of women of reproductive age, in Mudzi District, Republic of Zimbabwe. Methods A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted. A total of 409 survey household questionnaires were administered to women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in 2014. Results A total of 409 respondents were interviewed. Nearly 85% of respondents had heard of cancer. 34.2% did not know of any cervical cancer risk factors and 51% were not familiar with the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. Fifty five percent (55%) had not discussed cancer issues with partners in the past 12 months, and only 27.4% had discussed cancer issues with partners at all. Most of the respondents (96.2%) had never undergone cervical cancer screening. The majority of the respondents (70.8%) had never discussed breast cancer issues with community members. About 70% had never discussed cervical cancer issues with community members. Conclusions This study revealed a lack of awareness and comprehensive knowledge about breast and cervical cancer. It also revealed low self-risk perception, low uptake of cancer early detection services and low capacity of the local health institution in offering cancer services. It is recommended that the scaling-up of cancer information, dissemination, and early detection services must be prioritised, including training of local health institutions.

Avian influenza (AI) is a global health obstacle of critical concern as novel viruses are capable of initiating a pandemic. Recent spillover events of AI into human populations have occurred at human-poultry food system interfaces. As Nepal's poultry sector transitions to more intensified commercial production systems, it is important to examine the epidemiology of AI and the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of poultry sector workers. We conducted a cross-sectional KAP study utilizing a structured survey to interview 150 commercial poultry farmers in Chitwan District, Nepal. All commercial poultry farmers had knowledge of AI previous to the study and the majority farmers were able to identify farm-farm and poultry-human transmission mechanisms of AI. Farmers had more knowledge surrounding poultry AI symptoms as compared to human AI symptoms. Most farmers believe that AI is serious, contagious and a threat to everyone, yet only half believe it can be prevented. Individual-level personal protective equipment (PPE) uptake, such as facemask, glove and boot usage, on the enrolled farms was low and farm-level biosecurity practices varied greatly. Nine commercial poultry farms (6%) self-reported having an HPAI outbreak and 60 farms (40%) self-reported having an LPAI outbreak in the past 5 years. Layer farms had higher odds (OR: 5.4, 95% CI: 2.3–12.8) of self-reported LPAI as compared broiler farms. Poultry sector farmers face multiple obstacles when attempting to report AI to government authorities such as the fear of flock culling and the perceived lack of monetary compensation for culling. Our study provides updated KAP surrounding AI of farmers and self-reported AI farm-level epidemiology in Nepal's highest density commercial poultry production district. Commercial poultry farmers are fairly knowledgeable on AI, but do not take further protective practice efforts to implement their knowledge and prevent AI. Due to the potential role that human-poultry interfaces may play in AI emergence, it is critical to collaborate with the commercial poultry industry when planning and conducting AI pandemic preparedness mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: India is in the intermediate hepatitis B virus endemicity zone with hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence among the general population ranges from 2% to 8%. Among health-care workers, seroprevalence is two to four times higher than that of the general population. AIM: The aim of the study was done to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of medical students regarding hepatitis B. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted from March to April 2018. Students were invited to the department on specified dates for awareness and immunization against hepatitis B. Their KAP was assessed with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: With a response rate of 81.3%, a total of 161 students participated in the study out of 198. Out of the 161 study participants, only 13 (8%) students had received a completed course of hepatitis B vaccination in the past, 30 (18.7%) students had a history of inability to complete the three doses of hepatitis B vaccination, and the rest 118 (73.3%) students were never immunized against hepatitis B. The knowledge about the risk of acquiring the disease at the hospital or high-risk setting was present in less than half of the students. The average knowledge score was 10.63 out of 16 and average healthy practice score was 2.94 out of 4. On applying Pearson correlation test, it was found that there was a positive correlation of knowledge and practices of the students (P = 0.012), implying that better knowledge of the disease has a positive effect on the practices exercised by an individual. CONCLUSION: Newly enrolled students and other individuals attached to a high-risk setting such as a medical institution should be screened for immunization status during initial medical examination as the number of unimmunized persons, especially against hepatitis B is high.

Past research has shown student-teacher relationships (STRs) are associated with student outcomes, including improvements in academic achievement and engagement and reductions in disruptive behaviors, suspension, and risk of dropping out. Schools can support STRs universally and systematically by implementing universal, school-wide, and class-wide programs and practices that aim to facilitate high-quality STRs. This study applied meta-analytic and common element procedures to determine effect sizes and specific practices of universal approaches to improving STRs. The universal programs with the largest effects were Establish-Maintain-Restore and BRIDGE. Other programs demonstrated moderate effects in one study, with combined effect sizes revealing smaller effects. The common elements procedure identified 44 practices teachers can implement to promote positive STRs, with 14 proactive and direct practices. Programs with the largest effects, in general, contained the most proactive and direct practices for improving STRs. Implications of these findings and future research recommendations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The main purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women concerning breast cancer in Jos and environs. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents within the age of 18 years and above residing in Jos North and South Local Government Areas of Plateau state. The data collected were then analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 software programmer. Results: Out of the 400 study populations, only 395 (98.8%) responded to the study and 209 (53.0%) of them fall within the age 18–27 years while 89 (22.6%) were within 28 and 37 years, with only 17.8% and 6.6% in the age groups of 38–47 and ≥48 years, respectively. Two hundred and twenty (55.6%) were single, 153 (38.8%) married, while 8 (2.3%) divorced/separated, and 11 (2.8%) were widowed. The highest number (172 [43.7%]) of the respondents had secondary certificates as their highest academic qualifications, followed by diploma/The Nigeria Certificate in Education/Community Health Extension Workers (25.1%) and first degree (20.8%). Nearly 95% of the respondents have heard of breast cancer, with 30.94% of them having knowledge of the risk factors, 59.9% knew the signs and symptoms of the disease, and their main source of information (35.8%) was the media. Most of the respondents had positive attitude toward the disease, but their cancer breast screening practices were generally poor as majority of them (47.1%) had no idea of the right age to initiate self-breast examination, with majority (28.4%) confessing not practicing self-breast examination very often, neither visiting medical practitioner for breast cancer examination and care. Conclusion: The result of this study shows positive attitudes of the respondents toward the disease though high percentage of them had poor knowledge on risk factors and average knowledge of the signs and symptoms of the disease, in addition to poor breast self-examination practices.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to SARS-CoV-2 infection continues to affect the daily life of communities worldwide. Nutrition is a vital determinant of overall health. Given the lack of specific drugs for COVID-19 and incomplete vaccination coverage, optimizing nutrition appears to be one of the most cost-effective means of enhancing immunity. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) to offer insights into the personal determinants of dietary behavior during COVID-19 pandemic in four major cities within the Northeast region., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were entered in EpiData V-3.02 and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Binary logistic regression analysis was also employed to examine the association between dependent and independent variables., Results: A total of 4,092 respondents were included in the study. Most of the respondents demonstrated had inadequate nutrition knowledge, 26% of them provided ≥60% of correct answers. About one-third of the respondents were knowledgeable about the daily levels of oil, salt, milk, water, vegetables and fruits for adults. Furthermore, our results showed that 60.6% of participants held positive attitudes toward healthy eating. Additionally, only 54.6% of the participants have heathy dietary practices during COVID-19 pandemic. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the following characteristics were associated with displaying unhealthy dietary behaviors: being men, having a lower education level, having a family income of 10,000-19,999 and more than 20,000, being resided in Harbin, Shenyang, and Changchun. Importantly, the strongest associations were observed between poor dietary knowledge and unhealthy eating behaviors. Similarly, dietary attitudes were strongly associated with healthy dietary behaviors when the effects of other factors were excluded; responders with negative attitudes were more likely to exhibit unhealthy eating behaviors., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that residents in the Northeast China possessed a relatively low level of nutritional knowledge, which directly influenced their dietary practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides valuable insights into the cross-sectional description and key factors related to nutrition-related KAP, serving as a basis for future policymaking to respond more effectively to health crises., Competing Interests: SL and WL were employed by Dalian Xinyulong Marine Organisms Seed Industry Technology Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hou, Xia, Du, Zhang, Li, Liu, Zhao, Wang, Zhang and Wang.)

Objective: To assess adherence to best practices in labor and childbirth care by doctors, nurses, obstetric nursing residents, and obstetric medical residents working in public hospitals in the Federal District of Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with care providers working in 11 public hospitals in the Federal District of Brazil between January and March 2015. A questionnaire containing 20 sociodemographic questions and 50 five-point Likert items was administered. The average scores of each group and each hospital were analyzed. Results: Nurses obtained the highest scores for the use of evidence-based practices (57.8 ± 12.9), while doctors achieved the highest scores for the work process dimension (72 ± 8.5). Medical residents obtained the highest scores for organization of labor and childbirth care (56.5 ± 8.5). No statistically significant differences were found between groups. Hospital scores ranged from 55 to 64. No statistically significant differences were found between hospitals. Most professionals encourage natural childbirth. Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen actions to promote greater adherence to best care practices, both in relation to organization of labor and childbirth care and to the attitudes and values of health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast and cervical cancers constitute the most common cancers among women in sub-Saharan Africa. In Zimbabwe, cervical cancer accounts for more than a third of all cancers among women of African descent. Cancer knowledge levels, attitudes and practices of people in different sections of society should be assessed in order to guide current cancer interventions. This study aimed to assess breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes and practices of women of reproductive age, in Mudzi District, Republic of Zimbabwe.Methods: A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted. A total of 409 survey household questionnaires were administered to women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in 2014.Results: A total of 409 respondents were interviewed. Nearly 85% of respondents had heard of cancer. 34.2% did not know of any cervical cancer risk factors and 51% were not familiar with the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. Fifty five percent (55%) had not discussed cancer issues with partners in the past 12 months, and only 27.4% had discussed cancer issues with partners at all. Most of the respondents (96.2%) had never undergone cervical cancer screening. The majority of the respondents (70.8%) had never discussed breast cancer issues with community members. About 70% had never discussed cervical cancer issues with community members.Conclusions: This study revealed a lack of awareness and comprehensive knowledge about breast and cervical cancer. It also revealed low self-risk perception, low uptake of cancer early detection services and low capacity of the local health institution in offering cancer services. It is recommended that the scaling-up of cancer information, dissemination, and early detection services must be prioritised, including training of local health institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: India is home to three-quarters of the world's auto-rickshaws, which are three-wheeled motor vehicles that are hired to move both people and goods. Since there were hardly any studies reported in literature on auto drivers, we planned to do a study on auto drivers. Knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) being the basis of any public health study, we decided to start with KAP among auto drivers. Aim: To determine the KAP regarding oral health among auto drivers in south Chennai. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was carried out among auto drivers in Chennai. The Chennai Corporation is divided into four zones - north, south, east, and central. Out of these zones, South zone was selected by convenience sampling. Simple random sampling methodology was used to select various auto stands in South Chennai. Data were collected by means of a self-administered close-ended questionnaire. Results: About 47.1% of the subjects knew that tooth decay is a disease that destroys the tooth. About 63.7% of the subjects were aware that tobacco consumption causes oral cancer. The importance of oral health was perceived by 96.1% of the participants. While 61.8% of the subjects performed toothbrushing once a day, 50% of the auto drivers changed their toothbrush once in 3 months. Majority of the subjects below 35 years did not have the practice of using tobacco, whereas a majority of them above 35 years used tobacco every day with a statistical significance at a level of 0.024. Conclusion: The overall oral health-related KAP among the auto drivers seems satisfactory.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic caused by a novel genetically-mutated strain of coronavirus has posed a tremendous challenge to healthcare professionals, worldwide. This study aimed to explore the healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to coronavirus disease in Western Uttar Pradesh and provide data to improve awareness about this disease and remove the knowledge gap, if any, by disseminating the updated information to the corona warriors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the form of a structured 28-item online questionnaire using SurveyMonkey software. The qualitative data were coded numerically, and the KAP score was calculated. Pearson Chi-square test was used to study the association, among variables. RESULTS: Of 509 respondents, 296 (58.19%) were males and 213 (41.81%) were females. The median age bracket of the sample was 20–40 years. By profession, 255 (50.10%) were doctors, 167 (32.74%) were medical students, 80 (15.78%) were other healthcare workers, and a minority 7 (1.38%) were the nursing staff. Educational status covered a range from secondary (2.01%) to senior secondary (17.51%) to bachelors and equivalent (29.18%) to masters and equivalent (51.31%). The average KAP scores were 54%, and the score was highest among doctors as compared to other healthcare professionals (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In light of these study findings, we conclude that healthcare professionals are aware of coronavirus disease. However, the overall KAP score regarding its clinical course, preventive strategies, and judicious use of personal protective equipment was less than expected. There is a need to address all misconceptions and empower the corona warriors with the right information through effective mass media communication and reinforcement through seminars and workshops in the medical institutes and hospitals. The healthcare professionals are a cornerstone to prevent the nosocomial and community spread of this pandemic.

Introduction: The current practice of offering fertility preservation (FP) counseling and treatment has become one of the focal points in patient care throughout cancer treatment. The turning point was the approval of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars four years ago to freeze tissues from the ovarian membrane, the entire ovary, and the eggs for later use in reproduction to preserve the offspring. Thus, we aimed to assess any development in oncologists' knowledge, attitude, and referral practices regarding FP in Saudi Arabia., Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire. We assessed oncologists' opinions on the importance of FP, their perception of the patient's preferences, and factors to consider when discussing the subject. Then, we assessed the knowledge and referral practices, including the timing of referral before starting cancer treatment., Results: Most oncologists showed good knowledge and positive attitudes toward FP; however, their referral practices could be better. Most were familiar with FP options. The most significant factors influencing the oncologist-patient FP discussion were the number of existing children, marital status, cost, and type of cancer (96.6%, 76.7%, 65.7%, and 58.9%, respectively)., Conclusions: There is a significant improvement in the knowledge and attitude of oncologists toward FP. However, patients' counseling and referral to fertility services still need to be improved. There is a shortfall in the clinical practice guidelines for FP in cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. The implementation of clinical practice guidelines would enhance FP. However, patients' counseling and referral to fertility services still need to be improved. The lack of proper guidelines on FP is affecting oncologists' practice., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Arafa et al.)

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) recommends periodic praziquantel Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to vulnerable populations, especially school-aged children, to reduce the risk of transmission. In the S. haematobium endemic Lindi region, on the southeastern coast of Tanzania, praziquantel has been distributed for more than a decade (12 rounds) in schools. However, there is a paucity of data on the current burden and factors perpetuating ongoing urogenital schistosomiasis among SAC. The study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with the ongoing transmission of S. haematobium among school-age children (SAC) after 12 rounds of praziquantel in Nachingwea, Southern Tanzania., Material and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2022 among 483 SAC in the Nachingwea district. Macrohematuria, microhaematuria, and S. haematobium eggs were assessed in the collected urine sample for each participant, using macroscopic observation, urine dipstick, and urine filtration techniques, respectively. Infection intensity was quantified for positive S. haematobium urine samples. Knowledge and attitudes towards schistosomiasis were assessed among participants through an interview-administered questionnaire, and water contact practices were registered through an observation checklist. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and logistic regression., Results: The prevalence of S. haematobium infection was 10.6%, with 0.6% (3/51) prevalence of heavy infection. The factors associated with S. haematobium persistence transmission were a habit of visiting the water bodies (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI: 0.40-1.96), swimming in the visited water bodies (AOR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.72-12.19), using water from the river source (AOR = 3.79, 95% CI: 1.51-9.51) and attending Mkumba Primary School (17.4%; AOR = 6.12, 95% CI: 1.64-22.85)., Conclusions: Findings suggest ongoing transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis in the Nachingwea District despite 12 rounds of praziquantel treatment, with a low prevalence of heavy infection (0.6%). Praziquantel distribution should be complemented with health education, especially on the cause and transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis to increase knowledge that will improve a good attitude towards schistosomiasis prevention. An adequate water supply is to be considered to reduce infections due to the visit to water sources for daily use., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (© 2023 The Authors.)

BACKGROUND: India is in the intermediate hepatitis B virus endemicity zone with hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence among the general population ranges from 2% to 8%. Among health-care workers, seroprevalence is two to four times higher than that of the general population. AIM: The aim of the study was done to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of medical students regarding hepatitis B. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted from March to April 2018. Students were invited to the department on specified dates for awareness and immunization against hepatitis B. Their KAP was assessed with the help of a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: With a response rate of 81.3%, a total of 161 students participated in the study out of 198. Out of the 161 study participants, only 13 (8%) students had received a completed course of hepatitis B vaccination in the past, 30 (18.7%) students had a history of inability to complete the three doses of hepatitis B vaccination, and the rest 118 (73.3%) students were never immunized against hepatitis B. The knowledge about the risk of acquiring the disease at the hospital or high-risk setting was present in less than half of the students. The average knowledge score was 10.63 out of 16 and average healthy practice score was 2.94 out of 4. On applying Pearson correlation test, it was found that there was a positive correlation of knowledge and practices of the students (P = 0.012), implying that better knowledge of the disease has a positive effect on the practices exercised by an individual. CONCLUSION: Newly enrolled students and other individuals attached to a high-risk setting such as a medical institution should be screened for immunization status during initial medical examination as the number of unimmunized persons, especially against hepatitis B is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Providing evidence for institution of school-based oral health promotion programs is paramount in developing countries, due to increasing unmet dental needs impacting on quality of life of children. Aim To evaluate oral health knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of pupils in a country lacking formal school oral health promotion. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,297 pupils in randomly selected primary schools in one city. Information on oral health KAP were obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Responses to questions were graded, standardized, and data analyzed using SPSS. Results The mean age was 10.6 (±1.7) years. Mean KAP percentage scores were 18.1 (±5.0)%, 18.3 (±4.9)%, and 17.3 (±12.8)%, respectively. Older age, male gender, and previous dental consultations were significantly associated with higher KAP scores. Those who had been educated informally about oral health had higher mean KAP scores (p = .013, p < .001, and p < .001, respectively). Previous oral health education and consultation with dentists were significant predictors of higher oral health practice scores. Conclusion Poor oral health KAP exists among the pupils. Those who had consulted the dentist or had oral health education had better KAP. These findings reinforce the need for formal school-based oral health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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