Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Nutrition and Worm Infestation Among Parents/Guardians of Tribal Children of Udupi District: A Cross-Sectional Assessment.

BACKGROUND

The Koraga tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in India, faces significant health disparities, especially among children. This study focussed on assessing knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding nutrition and worm infestation among parents/guardians of Koraga tribal children aged 5 to 10 years in Udupi District.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 122 Koraga tribal households to assess the KAP among parents/guardians regarding the nutrition and worm infestation in their children aged 5 to 10 years, using a structured and validated questionnaire developed for this purpose. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic characteristics, and Spearman's correlation was applied to assess associations between the study variables. Statistical tests were performed using SPSS version 20.0.

RESULTS

Out of the total 122 participants, the majority (94.3%) were females, with a median age of 32 years (IQR 29-36). Most (82%) had a primary level of education, and 56.2% were mothers or female guardians with primary household responsibilities. The median KAP scores were knowledge, 25 (IQR 22-27); attitude, 46 (IQR 44-49), and practice, 23 (IQR 22-25) respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between knowledge and attitude (rho = 0.314, p < 0.05) and between knowledge and practice (rho = 0.186, p < 0.05). Socio-economic status showed positive correlations with knowledge (p < 0.05) and attitude (p < 0.05) scores, while the availability of toilet facilities was positively associated with practice scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that parents/guardians had moderate to good KAP regarding nutrition and worm infestation. The positive correlations suggest an association between higher knowledge, improved attitudes, and better practices, although causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectional study design. Future interventional programs may help enhance KAP and promote sustained health benefits among Koraga tribal children.