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

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 q...

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Main Authors: Udomsak Narkkul, Prasit Na-ek, Jaranit Kaewkungwal, Chuchard Punsawad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/2/33
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author Udomsak Narkkul
Prasit Na-ek
Jaranit Kaewkungwal
Chuchard Punsawad
author_facet Udomsak Narkkul
Prasit Na-ek
Jaranit Kaewkungwal
Chuchard Punsawad
author_sort Udomsak Narkkul
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-6b401785cbf54113a3821a30b7f302a12023-11-23T22:22:37ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662022-02-01723310.3390/tropicalmed7020033Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional StudyUdomsak Narkkul0Prasit Na-ek1Jaranit Kaewkungwal2Chuchard Punsawad3Department of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, ThailandDepartment of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, ThailandDepartment of Tropical Hygiene, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, ThailandDepartment of Medical Science, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, ThailandSoil-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.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/2/33soil-transmitted helminthiasisvillage health volunteersrisk factorsNakhon Si Thammarat provinceThailand
spellingShingle Udomsak Narkkul
Prasit Na-ek
Jaranit Kaewkungwal
Chuchard Punsawad
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
soil-transmitted helminthiasis
village health volunteers
risk factors
Nakhon Si Thammarat province
Thailand
title Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis among Village Health Volunteers in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort knowledge attitudes and practices regarding soil transmitted helminthiasis among village health volunteers in nakhon si thammarat province thailand a cross sectional study
topic soil-transmitted helminthiasis
village health volunteers
risk factors
Nakhon Si Thammarat province
Thailand
url https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/2/33
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