Assessment of citizens' knowledge and behaviors about sterilizing drinking water in district and sub-districts at Kirkuk governorate

Abstract EN

Introduction: Inadequate water supply, unsanitary behaviors, and sterile environments all have a role in the transmission of infectious diseases.

The lack of knowledge, behavior, and practices (KBP) on WASH is one of the most common causes of infectious disease transmission.

Objective: To assess citizen knowledge and behavior about sterilizing drinking water in district and sub-districts at Kirkuk governorate.

Methods: "Cross-sectional study design" was used the study carried out Al-Hawija district.

The study conducted at Alhawija district for 20 village.

The study period from 3rd February 2021 to the 10th of June 2021.

A nonprobability (purposive) sample of (1200) citizen from village.

With the end goal of information assortment, a survey design was built which contains (41) things Demographic information incorporate (9) things, general information about sterilizing water include (10) items knowledge of citizen about sterilizing water include (7) items and knowledge of citizen about effect unsterile water include (7) items finally behavior of citizen about sterilizing water include (8) items.

Anova and T.test were used to assess the association between study variables and knowledge and attitude of citizen at level of association among variables at the significance level of p<0.05by using SPSS version 24.0.

Result: (1200) participated complete the survey.

The statistics suggest that citizens aged 20 to 29 years old account for a large percentage of the population (30.2 percent).

Also the results show (56.5 %) were male.

Most of the citizens were single and constituted (63.4%).

Also, the result shows high percentage from citizen were Retired and constitute (33.1).

With regard to education level most of the citizen were complete Primary school and constitute (30.2%).

(30.2%) from citizen never have Concomitant diseases.

With relation to smoking, the majority of the subjects (63.3 %) were nonsmoker.

Also the result shows (73.6%) of the sample no family history for kidney stone, finally (40.3 %) from citizen was using river water.

Also the result shows poor knowledge and negative attitudes of citizen toward using of sterile water .In addition, the data analysis revealed that there is a statistically significant relationship between citizen knowledge and attitudes and education level and water source in rural areas.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the citizen have poor knowledge and negative behaviors toward sterile water at rural area ,also the result shows a significant statistical association between knowledge and attitudes of citizen with education level, gender, marital state and source of water in rural area.