Assessment of Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Rural Population Towards Infectious Diseases and Their Prevention

Introduction: Understanding the etiological agents, reservoirs, and transmission dynamics of infectious diseases is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies, particularly in rural settings where healthcare access and awareness may be limited.Past pandemics, such as COVID-19 and historical influenza pandemics, have highlighted the diverse nature of infectious diseases and underscored the critical importance of public health awareness, particularly in underserved rural communities.This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of a rural population regarding infectious diseases and their prevention.Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults aged 18 years and older residing in rural areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.Data were collected using a questionnaire validated through expert review and pilot testing.Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic variables.Continuous variables were summarized as mean standard deviation, and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages.Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the Chi-square test, while correlations between ordinal or non-normally distributed continuous variables were evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation test.Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.Results: The study included 1,714 participants, with 56.2% males and 43.8% females.The majority of participants (52.8%) were young adults aged 18-25 years.A majority of participants (58.8%) had attained or were pursuing college-level education or higher.Most respondents (84.2%) lacked knowledge of endemic diseases, and 82% lacked knowledge of vaccine-preventable diseases in the study region.Significant gaps were observed in participants' knowledge of disease transmission modes and preventive practices.Employed participants demonstrated significantly higher attitude and practice scores compared to unemployed participants and students (P < 0.05).A weak positive correlation was observed between knowledge and practice scores (r = 0.202; P < 0.001).No significant associations were observed between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.035, P = 0.704) or between attitude and practice (r = 0.099; P = 0.274). Conclusion:The study highlights significant gaps in knowledge about infectious diseases among the rural population, particularly regarding endemic and vaccinepreventable diseases.The weak correlation between knowledge and practice underscores the need for targeted, behavior-focused health interventions.Community-based programs, such as village workshops, school campaigns, and mobile health outreach, should be integrated with existing national disease control efforts to address the significant knowledge gaps identified and improve preventive practices.Future research should assess the impact of such interventions on healthseeking behaviors in rural communities.