Assessment of Knowledge about Dementia among Medical and Environmental Health Students at the State University of Zanzibar

Background: Dementia is a public health concern and a pressing problem for families and society. Also is a leading cause of disability and dependency among older people worldwide. Medical and environmental health students will play a crucial role in the future of professional caregiving. Particularly, having good knowledge and attitudes towards dementia will be key elements in providing the best care for people with dementia. Objectives: To assess knowledge about dementia among medical and environmental health students at the State University of Zanzibar. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study to assess knowledge about dementia among medical and environmental health students at the State University of Zanzibar. This was conducted from March 2024 to April 2024. A validated study questionnaire, DKAS, was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and knowledge. Results: The study included150 participants, and the majority of students were female 94(62.7%); overall knowledge was good, with an average of 85.3%, while 14.7% had poor knowledge; those 2nd-year participants had good knowledge, about 92.3%, OR-0.034(CI:0.12-0.75), compared to 80.0% of 1styear students. The areas of expertise included causes and characteristics, communication and behaviour, care and consideration, and risk and health promotion. Conclusion: The majority of participants demonstrated good knowledge about dementia. Students in the second year of their career had better knowledge compared to those in the first year; however, there was no significant difference between students from both years. The areas with better Knowledge were care and consideration, while the poorest areas were communication and behaviour.