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. 2022 Feb 19;7(2):33.
doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed7020033.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Udomsak Narkkul  1   2 , Prasit Na-Ek  1   2 , Jaranit Kaewkungwal  3 , Chuchard Punsawad  1   2
Affiliations

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Udomsak Narkkul et al. Trop Med Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Soil-transmitted helminth infections are most prevalent in rural populations. Village health volunteers (VHVs) are the key individuals for Thai primary healthcare. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding soil-transmitted helminthiasis in VHVs. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 552 VHVs randomly selected from four subdistricts in a southern province of Thailand. Sociodemographic variables and information regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to soil-transmitted helminthiasis were collected using a structured questionnaire. The results demonstrated that VHVs had poor knowledge (70.47%) and practices (66.49%); however, 69.57% had good attitudes. Most VHVs had inadequate knowledge and practices regarding soil-transmitted helminthiasis. VHVs who had been trained in parasitic infection control measures were 2.18 times more likely to have good knowledge. VHVs with a monthly family income of more than 307 USD were 1.58 times more likely to have a good attitude. VHVs with good knowledge were more likely to have good practices. In conclusion, the development of training programs and health promotion should be considered to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to soil-transmitted helminthiasis in VHVs, who are the key individuals for providing health education to community members.

Keywords: Nakhon Si Thammarat province; Thailand; risk factors; soil-transmitted helminthiasis; village health volunteers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Location of the study site—Nopphitam District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Quantum GIS version 3.12 (ESRI base maps) was used to generate the map (https://qgis.org/en/site/ (accessed on 30 December 2021)).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of respondents who gained knowledge on soil-transmitted helminthiasis by source.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proportion of respondents advised to check for parasitic diseases by source of advice.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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