Abstract:
Nowadays, Diarrhea is an important public health problem, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh, where it is affecting more children. Lack of knowledge, poor hygiene practices, and lack of awareness are the primary factors contributing to its high prevalence. It is essential to understand the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of school going students to create an effective program related to diarrhea. This study evaluates the KAP associated with diarrhea among high school students from four schools in Mograkanda, Bhakurta Union, Savar and analyzes the correlation between sociodemographic factors and their awareness, perspective, and practice. A validated questionnaire was employed to capture data from 288 high school students in a crosssectional study. The relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and KAP were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. The findings indicated that the majority of students were from (15000-30000) Tk monthly household income group, and from nuclear families. The majority of mothers were homemakers (93.4%), while the majority of fathers were businessmen (47.6%). There were statistically significant relationships between knowledge and class (p=0.025), mother's education and knowledge (p=0.001), and father's occupation and knowledge (p=0.016). Class (p=0.020), family type (p=0.041), and monthly household income (p=0.032) were all significantly correlated with attitudes. Class was significantly associated with practices (p=0.000). The research highlights notable connections between high school students' socio-demographic attributes and their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) about diarrhea. Class, mother's education, father profession, family type, and monthly household income significantly influence students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). The results indicate the need for focused health education and socio-economic assistance to enhance personal hygiene and decrease diarrhea prevalence, stressing the influence of familial education and economic circumstances on students' health behaviors.
