Association between knowledge and actual practices of family member caregivers of lowincome families on the prevention and control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis in an urban barangay: An analytical cross-sectional study
- Author:
Maria Eliza S. Pascual
1
;
Thereese Maeann C. Patron
1
;
Rydni B. Pastor
1
;
Maria Francel Charlyn N. Tan
1
;
Ranee Coeline B. Tongco
1
;
Josel R. Tanciongco
1
;
Patrick Joshua C. Pascual
1
;
Januario E. Sia-Cunco
1
,
2
;
Ramon Jason M. Javier
1
,
3
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Soil-transmitted helminthiasis; Deworming prophylaxis
- MeSH: Hand Hygiene
- From: Health Sciences Journal 2024;13(1):31-37
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction:Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) remains to be highly prevalent in the Philippines,
despite the implementation of school-based bi-annual mass drug administration and other preventive
measures under the Garantisadong Pambata Program by the Department of Health (DOH).
Methods:This analytical cross-sectional study determined the association between the level of knowledge and the actual practices of family care givers in the prevention of STH among school-age children belonging to low-income families in an urban barangay.
Results:Among 193 respondents, 97.93% had good level of knowledge of STH prevention and control, 83.42% had good hand hygiene practices, but only 39.90% adhered to the recommended bi-annual anti-helminthic prophylaxis for their school-aged children. A positive association was noted between level of knowledge and actual hand hygiene practices, but this was not statistically significant (i.e., prevalence odds ratio = 5.3, p = 0.129). Among those who did not comply with the bi-annual anti-helminthic administration, there was a prevalence odds ratio (POR) of 0.66 that the family care giver was knowledgeable on STH prevention and control, and this negative association was not statistically significant (i.e., p = 0.529).
Conclusion:Level of knowledge on STH prevention was positively associated with hand hygiene practices but was negatively associated with compliance with the bi-annual deworming prophylaxis. But these associations were not statistically significant. - Full text:2024062820130815558knowledge.pdf
