Knowledge and practices on intestinal nematode infections among selected mothers of preschool children in Manmunai-North Divisional Secretariat

Abstract

Background: Nematodes are parasites which can infect any age group of human population. It can be transmitted in many ways such as from contaminated food, water, soil or directly from another human. People at risk are preschool children, school children, women of childbearing age and adults in certain high-risk occupations such as tea-pickers or miners1According to the World Health Organization, globally, More than 1.5 billion people, or 24% of the world’s population, are infected with soil-transmitted helminthic infections. Aim: To assess the knowledge and practices with regard to nematodes infections among mothers of preschool children of selected preschools in infections among selected mothers of preschool children in Manmunai-North Divisional Secretariat. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices with regard to nematodes infections among selected mothers of preschool children in ManmunaiNorth Divisional Secretariat. Data collected from 252 mothers of preschool children of selected preschools using an interviewer-administered questionnaire (IAQ). Results: Results of overall knowledge regarding the four worm infections revealed that 108 (42.9%) of the participants had above average knowledge regarding Pin worm infestation followed by 119 (47.2%) of the mothers had above average knowledge in Hook worm infection. Regarding Whip worm and Round worm only less than 20% of the study population had above average knowledge. When we consider the cumulative knowledge regarding all types of above worm infections out of 252 mothers, no one had Good knowledge, 45 (17.9%) had average knowledge, and 207 (82.1%) had poor knowledge. This study shows a significant association between the knowledge level and educational level (p 0.018) and between the knowledge level and practice also has significant association (p 0.043).