STUDY OF THE KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF MOTHERS ABOUT KALA-AZAR IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF ENDEMIC AREA OF MESHKIN - SHAHR

Abstract

In a descriptive analytical study in six villages in Meshkin shahr area, the important endemic focus of Kala-Azar in northwest Iran, a KAP study was carried out on various aspects of Kala-Azar in a total of 245 young mothers selected randomly and interviewed The results of the present investigation showed that 93.5% of the mothers were illiterate and only 2.4% of them had acceptable knowledge about the methods of prevention and control of Kala-Azar. Regarding environment health activities for prevention of the disease, 85% of the mothers knew nothing or had no acceptable method of practice, but despite the lack of the knowledge, their attitude toward taking suspected cases of the diseased children to health units was at an acceptable level.