Knowledge, attitude and practice toward pediatric COVID-19 among parents of children aged 1-9 years

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that children are at a higher risk of developing COVID-19 symptoms than initially predicted. Understanding the level of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of parents in the target community of parents with 1-9 year old children is essential to provide appropriate methods for educating parents to prevent their children from contracting this disease. However, no such study has been conducted at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of a sample of parents in Tabriz city regarding COVID-19 in this study. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 255 parents of 1-9 year old children. Convenience sampling was used to select participants from those visiting the preventive clinic of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and the Zehra Mardani Azar Children's Hospital. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the participants were assessed using a questionnaire, which was analyzed descriptively (presenting frequency and percentage of responses) and analytically (using scores for each question and comparing mean scores to examine relationships with gender, education, and other factors). Results: The mean knowledge score was 39.43±4.25 (out of 50), the mean attitude score was 13.03±1.72 (out of 15), and the mean practice score was 6.21±0.97 (out of 7). The practice score was significantly higher in participants under 30 years old (P-Value: 0.001). Additionally, the knowledge (P-Value: 0.017) and practice (P-Value:0.000) scores were significantly higher in women. The practice score was significantly higher in rural residents (P-Value: 0.025). A significant relationship was found between knowledge and not contracting COVID-19 (P-Value: 0.046), but no relationship was found with hospitalization. The knowledge score was significantly higher in participants with a master's degree or higher (P-Value:0.000). The knowledge score was significantly higher in government employees compared to self-employed individuals (P-Value: 0.019), and the practice score was significantly higher in homemakers compared to self-employed individuals (P-Value: 0.017). The attitude score was significantly higher in self-employed individuals compared to homemakers (P-Value: 0.000). No significant relationships were found between knowledge, attitude, and practice.