Habib Mohammad Asadul, Sajid Mohammad, Sultana Marjia, Hasan Towhid
Department of Food Technology and Nutrition Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh.
Prev Med Rep. 2025 Jun 19;56:103147. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2025.103147. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Zinc deficiency is a critical public health issue, particularly among under-five children in low- and middle-income countries, such as Bangladesh, with significant implications for growth, immunity, and cognitive development. Despite its high prevalence, maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding zinc deficiency remain understudied, especially in vulnerable coastal regions. Hence, this study aimed to assess maternal KAP relating to zinc deficiency and explore their interrelationships using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in coastal Bangladesh.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2023 across three coastal districts (Noakhali, Lakshmipur, and Chattogram) of Bangladesh. Data were collected from 378 mothers with under-five children using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. SEM was employed to assess the relationships among maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding zinc deficiency.
The majority of mothers (96 %) exhibited low knowledge about zinc deficiency, while around 41 % held positive attitudes toward addressing zinc deficiency, and only 10 % reported good practices related to addressing zinc deficiency. SEM analysis revealed a significant positive effect of maternal knowledge on maternal attitudes toward zinc deficiency (β = 0.03, = 0.003). Additionally, maternal attitudes toward zinc deficiency had a significant and notable influence on practices related to addressing zinc deficiency (β = 0.08, < 0.001).
Maternal KAP regarding zinc deficiency was suboptimal, with attitudes serving as a key driver of practices. Interventions should prioritize community-based education and attitude modification to improve zinc-related practices and mitigate deficiency in coastal Bangladesh.
锌缺乏是一个关键的公共卫生问题，在孟加拉国等低收入和中等收入国家的五岁以下儿童中尤为突出，对生长、免疫和认知发展有重大影响。尽管锌缺乏的患病率很高，但关于锌缺乏的母亲知识、态度和行为（KAP）仍未得到充分研究，特别是在脆弱的沿海地区。因此，本研究旨在评估孟加拉国沿海地区母亲与锌缺乏相关的KAP，并使用结构方程模型（SEM）探索它们之间的相互关系。
2023年2月至7月在孟加拉国的三个沿海地区（诺阿卡利、拉克希米布尔和吉大港）进行了一项横断面研究。使用访谈式问卷从378名有五岁以下儿童的母亲那里收集数据。采用SEM评估母亲关于锌缺乏的知识、态度和行为之间的关系。
大多数母亲（96%）对锌缺乏的知识了解不足，而约41%的母亲对解决锌缺乏问题持积极态度，只有10%的母亲报告了与解决锌缺乏问题相关的良好行为。SEM分析显示，母亲的知识对其对锌缺乏的态度有显著的正向影响（β = 0.03，p = 0.003）。此外，母亲对锌缺乏的态度对与解决锌缺乏问题相关的行为有显著且明显的影响（β = 0.08，p < 0.001）。
母亲关于锌缺乏的KAP不理想，态度是行为的关键驱动因素。干预措施应优先考虑基于社区的教育和态度转变，以改善与锌相关的行为，并减轻孟加拉国沿海地区的锌缺乏情况。
