Factors associated with mothers’ knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) on the prevention of hand, foot, and mouth disease among children under 5 years old

Abstract

This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of mothers with children under five regarding the prevention of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Truc Thang Commune, Nam Dinh Province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 310 mothers, utilizing structured questionnaires to assess KAP levels. Results reveal that mothers with religious affiliations were3.94 times more likely to have higher qualified knowledge scores compared to those without  (95%CI:1.29-16.01). Mothers in non-laborer occupations demonstrated 1.83 times higher  level of knowledge score than their peers in laborer group  ( 95%CI: 0.97-3.55). In terms of attitudes, mothers with higher education levels displayed more positive attitudes towards HFMD prevention, with significant differences observed between educational groups (p < 0.05). Mothers with average incomes were 4.88 times more likely to have positive attitudes compared to those with higher incomes (95%CI: 1.07-22.36). Regarding practices, mothers in labor-intensive occupations were 2.7 times more likely to practice  prevention more effectively than in other occupation group (95%CI: 1.42-5.08). This study highlights significant associations between socioeconomic factors, education, and KAP concerning HFMD prevention. The findings underscore the need for targeted health education interventions to improve KAP among mothers, particularly in low-income and less-educated groups, to effectively mitigate the risk of HFMD in young children.