Knowledge, attitude and practice on hygiene of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat residents and its related factors November 2003

Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2003 to evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) level on hygiene of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat residents and its related factors. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted by a group of year four medical students 2003/2004 from Community Health and Family Medicine posting, Kulliyyah of Medicine, IIUM. Data collection methods included observations and interview-guided questionnaires. Out of the total number of 2620 residents, 304 people aged 18 and above from 200 houses which were randomly selected from 600 houses in that village were surveyed on the KAP of hygiene. We then determined the factors that affect the KAP level, and how it in turn influenced the health status of the respondents, particularly their susceptibility towards hygiene-related diseases. Result: From the statistical analysis, it was found that the mean KAP score of the respondents was 26.42+4.15, on a scale that ranged from 0 to 39 with the lowest KAP score of 14 and the highest KAP score of 36. It was then found that the higher the age of the respondents, the lower the KAP score (p<0.001). Higher socioeconomic status was associated with higher KAP score (occupation (p=0.007), academic level (p<0.001), and income per capita (p<0.001)). Malaysians of non-Pahang origin also had higher KAP score compared to residents of Pahang origin (p<0.001). People living in modern houses had a higher KAP value than those living in traditional houses (p<0.001). Housing quality also had effect on the KAP score (r=+0.665). However, the KAP level was not significantly related to gender difference (p=0.162). Personal hygiene had the lowest mean KAP score, followed by domestic hygiene and then community hygiene. Meanwhile, the highest mean low KAP score were found to have no significant preponderance towards hygiene-related diseases (p=0.409) Conclusion: Overall, the KAP level on hygiene of residents of Kampung Sungai Karang Darat was at a satisfactory level