Introduction:Despite mass drug administration(MDA)in Zanzibar,schistosomiasis persists because of behavioral gaps.This study quantified the mediating role of attitudes in bridging knowledge and preventive practices am...Introduction:Despite mass drug administration(MDA)in Zanzibar,schistosomiasis persists because of behavioral gaps.This study quantified the mediating role of attitudes in bridging knowledge and preventive practices among schoolchildren,addressing the critical evidence gap in behavioral change(BC)interventions.Methods:A school-based cross-sectional study(N=390)was conducted on Pemba Island(2024),using cluster sampling.Knowledge,attitudes,and practices(KAP)surveys were combined with urinary egg detection for parasitological confirmation.Statistical analyses included regression to identify influencing factors(P<0.05)and mediation analysis to quantify the role of attitude in the knowledge-practice pathway.Results:The infection rate was 12.05%.Mean scores were 6.89±1.50(out of 10)for knowledge,41.40±9.77(out of 55)for attitudes,and 19.28±2.78(out of 30)for practices.Regression analysis identified sex,grade level,access to tap water,and opportunities for water contact as influencing factors(P<0.05).Critically,attitudes mediated 68.35%of the total effect of knowledge on practices,confirming their pivotal role.Conclusion:These findings highlight the importance of accurate knowledge and positive attitudes towards promoting preventive practices among students.This study thus proposes a community health volunteer(CHV)-led intervention that integrates attitude-focused education(e.g.,peer role-playing)with WASH infrastructure improvements.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(Grant No.2024YFC2310902 to YH)the Special Foundation for Science and Technology of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.BZ2024044 to YH)+2 种基金Jiangsu Province Capability Improvement Project through Science,Technology,and Education(Grant No.ZDXYS202207 to YH)The funders had no role in study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript.No authors received a salary from any of the funding sources.Additionally,the research was funded by the Jiangsu Province Research Project for Control of Schistosomiasis,Parasitic Diseases,and Endemic Diseases(No.x202301)Changzhou“The 14th Five-Year Plan”High-Level Health Talents Training Project..
文摘Introduction:Despite mass drug administration(MDA)in Zanzibar,schistosomiasis persists because of behavioral gaps.This study quantified the mediating role of attitudes in bridging knowledge and preventive practices among schoolchildren,addressing the critical evidence gap in behavioral change(BC)interventions.Methods:A school-based cross-sectional study(N=390)was conducted on Pemba Island(2024),using cluster sampling.Knowledge,attitudes,and practices(KAP)surveys were combined with urinary egg detection for parasitological confirmation.Statistical analyses included regression to identify influencing factors(P<0.05)and mediation analysis to quantify the role of attitude in the knowledge-practice pathway.Results:The infection rate was 12.05%.Mean scores were 6.89±1.50(out of 10)for knowledge,41.40±9.77(out of 55)for attitudes,and 19.28±2.78(out of 30)for practices.Regression analysis identified sex,grade level,access to tap water,and opportunities for water contact as influencing factors(P<0.05).Critically,attitudes mediated 68.35%of the total effect of knowledge on practices,confirming their pivotal role.Conclusion:These findings highlight the importance of accurate knowledge and positive attitudes towards promoting preventive practices among students.This study thus proposes a community health volunteer(CHV)-led intervention that integrates attitude-focused education(e.g.,peer role-playing)with WASH infrastructure improvements.
