Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Japanese Encephalitis among Mothers of Under Five Children in Selected Hospital at Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh

Sangeeta Kumari, Nithya KS

Abstract: Introduction: Case fatality rate of Japanese encephalitis ranges from 0.3% to 60% and depends on the population and age. Countries which have had major epidemics in the past, but now controlled the disease primarily by vaccination, include china, south Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. Other countries that still have periodic epidemics include Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Nepal and Malaysia. Objective: the main objective of the study was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, practice and its association with demographic variable. Methodology: A descriptive study was conducted in selected hospitals at Varanasi. The target population of this study were 100 mothers of under five children selected by purposive sampling technique coming to selected hospital for OPD check-Up. Structured interview questionnaire tool was used to collect data from the participants. Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The result shows that 54% were having moderately adequate knowledge, 94% had a good attitude towards prevention of Japanese encephalitis, 82% of the study population had a good practice towards prevention of Japanese encephalitis, on associating the demographic variables with the knowledge of the Japanese encephalitis there was a significant association with the demographic variables like drainage system, family history of Japanese Encephalitis and source of information. Conclusion: The finding of this study indicates that the mothers have moderately adequate knowledge regarding Japanese encephalitis. However, their attitude towards prevention of Japanese encephalitis was generally positive and had a good practice towards prevention of Japanese encephalitis. This concludes that still more training and health education is needed among the under-five mothers on the prevention of Japanese Encephalitis.

Keywords: Japanese Encephalitis, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Mothers, Under five children, India, Varanasi

How to Cite?: Sangeeta Kumari, Nithya KS, "Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Japanese Encephalitis among Mothers of Under Five Children in Selected Hospital at Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1799-1804, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25729120714, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25729120714