Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey among healthcare professionals in pediatrics on the psychomotor development of children. Case of urban and rural health areas in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Development refers to change. The study of development is the understanding of how a subject functions at a particular age or time in life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pediatric healthcare personnel on the psychomotor development of the child. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitude, and practice conducted in the health areas of South Kivu. Results: Twenty-six caregivers participated in the survey. Men were the most represented (61.5%), mean age 27.62±5.07 years; median experience in pediatrics: 1 year; predominantly urban setting with 69.2%. General practitioners were more represented, with 57.7%. The overall state of knowledge was insufficient in 69.2%. Knowledge1 improves with increasing experience in pediatrics (P=0.008), and qualification improves knowledge1 (P=0.033) and knowledge3 (P=0.009). Knowledge4 improved from rural to urban settings (P=0.022). A good knowledge of the scales used in the evaluation of psychomotor development influences the use of one or the other (P=0.000). The authors also notice that those who indicate and/or have physical therapy practiced in rehabilitation are generally those who have a good knowledge of the use of psychomotor development assessment tools (P=0.010). Conclusion: This study highlights the low theoretical knowledge of caregivers on psychomotor development in our study setting, resulting in late diagnosis and consequently poor treatment of psychomotor development disorders. The results of this study indicate a need for continuing education for pediatric caregivers on the psychomotor development of the child.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on child and adolescent mental health among healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review

“…The most described CAMH disorder was autism, which was reported in ten papers [ 33 , 39 , 40 , 57 , 58 , 60 , 62 – 64 , 68 ], papers described CAMH in general [ 27 , 28 , 35 , 43 ], one reported on child and adolescent mental illness [ 41 ], two reported on developmental disorders [ 22 , 67 ], one on child mental health [ 59 ], one on adolescent depression [ 65 ], one on Tourette’s Syndrome [ 66 ], and one on psychomotor development of children [ 61 ].…”

“…There were six studies from Nigeria [ 27 , 35 , 39 , 41 , 43 , 57 ], and four from Uganda [ 22 , 28 , 40 , 66 ]. Four studies were from Ethiopia [ 33 , 59 , 68 ], two from Ghana [ 58 , 67 ], two from South Africa [ 60 , 63 ], one from Congo [ 61 ], one from Kenya [ 64 ], and one from Tanzania [ 65 ]. The geographic distribution of studies is shown in Fig.…”

“…The healthcare workers represented in the reviewed studies were mostly nurses [ 22 , 27 , 28 , 35 , 41 , 43 , 57 , 58 , 61 – 65 , 67 , 68 ], followed by midwives [ 22 , 28 , 65 , 67 ] and medical doctors [ 39 , 41 , 43 , 64 , 67 ]. Clinical officers were evaluated in three studies [ 22 , 28 , 64 , 65 ].…”

“…Ten of the included studies reported on knowledge only [ 39 , 40 , 57 , 58 , 61 – 64 , 67 , 68 ]. Only two papers evaluated all three outcomes of interest related to the review, namely, knowledge, attitude, and practices related to CAMH [ 61 , 65 ].…”

“…Ten of the included studies reported on knowledge only [ 39 , 40 , 57 , 58 , 61 – 64 , 67 , 68 ]. Only two papers evaluated all three outcomes of interest related to the review, namely, knowledge, attitude, and practices related to CAMH [ 61 , 65 ]. One paper reported on attitudes [ 33 ], one on both knowledge and practices [ 35 ], and two studies on knowledge and attitudes toward CAMH [ 28 , 41 ].…”