1. Worm Infestation: What do Mothers know in urban slum area of Vadodara?
Dr. Samarth Shihora
Dr. Kalpita Shringarpure
Dr. Bharati Makwana
Dr. J. R. Damor
Dr. V. S. Mazumdar
Dr. R. K. Baxi
Medical College Baroda

2. Introduction

3. Parasitic worms (helminths), such as soil transmitted helminths continue to affect millions of people today.
Improvement had been made to reduce helminths transmission in many parts of world, but worm infestations continue to be a major issue of public health and socio-economic concern.

4. WHO expert committee has made a global strategy for prevention and control of worm infestations.
Little improvement has been done for clean water supply, sanitation and hygiene.
However, local knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of parasitic worms are poorly understood, although such information is required for prevention and sustainable control.

5. Objectives

6. With regards to worm infestation:
To evaluate knowledge, attitude and practice of mothers with children less than 6 years age
To associate their level of knowledge, attitude and practice with their educational status and other factors.

7. Methodology

8. Type of study: Cross sectional
Study settings: Field practice area of Urban Health Training Centre(UHTC), Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Medical College Baroda
Study population: All mothers having children less than 6 years of age
Study period: December 2013

9. Inclusion criteria:
All mother residing in field practice area of UHTC
Having at least one child under 6 years of age
Who gave verbal consent
Data collection: Using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire imparted in local simple language. Data thus collected was entered in Microsoft Office Excel 2007.
Statistical analysis: Descriptive and Analytical statistics done using Epi-Info

10. Results

11. Demographic Profile Parameters Variable Frequency (n=361)
Percentage (%)
Age (in years)
≤25
155 43
>25
206 57
Literacy
Illiterate
166 46
Literate*
195 54
No. of children ≤2
198 55
>2
163 45
Religion
Hindu 78 22
Muslim
283

12. Awareness about worm infestation

13. Knowledge about risk factors
*Multiple answers

14. Knowledge about symptoms
*Multiple answers

15. Attitude Towards Treatment

16. Practices for Prevention
*Multiple answers

17. Association of Age with Knowledge, Attitude and Practice
Age group (in years)
n=295
≤25 (118)
>25 (177)
Chi-square value
p-value
Awareness about worm infestation
76%
86%
5.0414
0.0247
Knowledge about risk factors
51%
60%
1.0548
0.3043
Knowledge about symptoms
87%
93%
2.3255
0.1272
Attitude towards treatment of worms
94%
95%
0.2531
0.6149
Practice to prevent worms
42%
43%
0.0052
0.9425

18. Association of Literacy with Knowledge, Attitude and Practice
Literate (159)
Illiterate (136)
Chi-square value
p-value
Awareness about worm infestation
83%
80%
0.7792
0.3777
Knowledge about risk factors
45%
53%
1.6974
0.1926
Knowledge about symptoms
89%
93%
1.4254
0.2325
Attitude towards treatment of worms
96%
95%
0.0006
0.9799
Practice to prevent worms
41%
0.4845
0.4863

19. Association of Parity with Knowledge, Attitude and Practice
No. of children
n=295
≤2 (155)
>2 (140)
Chi-square value
p-value
Awareness about worm infestation
77%
85%
1.0175
0.3130
Knowledge about risk factors
43%
55%
4.0589
0.0439
Knowledge about symptoms
86%
89%
0.5256
0.4684
Attitude towards treatment of worms
94%
96%
0.3936
0.5300
Practice to prevent worms
42%
44%
0.7723

20. Conclusion

21. Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding worm infestation is lacking in mothers of this UHTC area.
Mothers >25 years of age have significantly more awareness about worm infestation.
Mothers having more than two children have more knowledge about risk factors while other factors were not significantly associated.

22. Recommendation

23. Increasing awareness about worm infestation with IEC activities can help in improving Knowledge, attitude and practice towards worm infestation.

24. Thank you