Knowledge and prevention practices of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among parents who visited Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects children. While typically mild, severe complications may arise without timely intervention. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and preventive practices regarding HFMD amo...
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| Format: | Monograph |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Universiti Sains Malaysia
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/63438/1/NUR%20FAZLIN%20ADRIN%20SAKRI-E.pdf http://eprints.usm.my/63438/ |
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| Summary: | Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral illness
that primarily affects children. While typically mild, severe complications may arise
without timely intervention. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the level of
knowledge and preventive practices regarding HFMD among parents who visited
Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM), and to examine the relationship
between knowledge and preventive behaviour. A total of 191 parents participated
using a validated, self-administered questionnaire adapted from previous studies. The
instruments measured socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of HFMD, and
preventive practices. Responses were classified using Bloom’s cut-off points. Results
showed that 52.8% of respondents had a high level of knowledge, 44.6% moderate,
and 0.5% low. In terms of preventive practices, 87.2% reported good practices,
10.8% moderate, and none reported poor practices. Common measures included
frequent handwashing, avoiding crowded areas during outbreaks, and cleaning toys
and surfaces. However, some misconceptions persisted, particularly regarding modes
of transmission and the severity of the disease. Pearson’s correlation analysis
revealed a weak, positive but statistically insignificant relationship (r = 0.118, p =
0.103) between knowledge and preventive practices. This suggests that knowledge
alone may not sufficiently influence behaviour, and that other factors such as risk
perception and social norms may also play a critical role. Overall, the study indicates
a generally high level of knowledge and good preventive practices among parents at HPUSM. Nonetheless, targeted health education initiatives remain necessary to
address knowledge gaps and promote sustained hygiene practices to curb the
transmission of HFMD |
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