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. 2023 Dec 9:2023:5515603.
doi: 10.1155/2023/5515603. eCollection 2023.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Prevention of Intestinal Helminth Infection among Residents of the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana

Verner N Orish  1 , Moses A Asumbono  2 , Isaac B Addei  2 , Moses A Ayaaba  2 , Precious K Kwadzokpui  3   4 , Aleksandra Marinkovic  5 , Stephanie Prakash  5 , Chuku Okorie  6 , Ricardo Izurieta  7   8 , Rajashree Pandit  9 , Adekunle Sanyaolu  9
Affiliations

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Prevention of Intestinal Helminth Infection among Residents of the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region of Ghana

Verner N Orish et al. J Parasitol Res. .

Abstract

Background: This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and practices of residents in the Ho municipality towards intestinal helminth infections and their prevention.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving questionnaire administration was conducted among randomly sampled residents of the Ho municipality of the Volta Region of Ghana. A minimum sample size of 400 was calculated for subjects using Yamane's formula for population. Pearson's chi-square analysis was done to determine any relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and the categories of knowledge, attitude, and practices. Results from data analysis were computed as frequencies and percentages. P < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Results: Of the 400 participants, 343 (85.7%) were aware of intestinal helminths, but the majority had poor knowledge of its cause despite 50.5% (202) having good knowledge scores. Most participants (331, 82.8%) had a bad attitude toward preventing the disease. Most (335, 83.8%) of the community members still adhered to the poor practice of open defecation with the excuse of unavailable latrines, and some (143, 35.8%) believe that intestinal helminths are nothing to worry about.

Conclusion: Health education should address the perceptions towards preventing intestinal helminthiasis and be complemented by making available public lavatories in the municipality to curb the unacceptable practice of open defecation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Ho municipality.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage categories of participants on knowledge.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage categories of participants on attitude.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage categories of participants on preventive practices.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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