Degree of awareness and practices on urinary tract infections: A study of Sri Lankan school teachers selected from a chronic kidney disease high-prevalent setting

Abstract

Objective: As key stakeholders in educational settings, teachers’ awareness on Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) will ultimately enhance its management in schools and community. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) on UTIs among teachers in Sri Lanka. Materials and methods: Conveniently selected 373 school teachers were assessed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Each of the individual was scored and categorized as either satisfactory or poor. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were performed to describe the outcomes. Results: Around 80% of respondents demonstrated awareness regarding the microbial origin of UTIs, while 42% possessed knowledge of women’s increased susceptibility to UTIs. Over 90% of participants had favorable attitudes toward drinking adequate amounts of water, personal hygiene, and consulting doctors for UTI symptoms. Each inquiry demonstrated significant disparities between individuals with satisfactory and poor attitudes ( p = 0.000), with over 95% adhered to effective hygiene practices as a preventive measure against UTIs. The demographics of the participants did not show any significance over the KAP results of the study ( p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study revealed satisfactory levels of awareness and favorable attitudes among respondents on UTIs. However, there is a further need for increased awareness, specifically regarding the risk factors associated with UTIs.