Gaps in Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Mosquito-Borne Diseases among Secondary School Children in a Rural Area of West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background
Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) remain a public health challenge in rural India. Assessing Gaps in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among school children can inform targeted interventions.
Methods
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to December 2025 among 215 secondary school children from one randomly selected rural secondary school in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh (selected by simple random sampling using the lottery method after line-listing all rural secondary schools). A pre-tested questionnaire assessed sociodemographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 with chi-square tests (p<0.05).
Results
About 99.1% of the study subjects were aware that mosquito bites cause sickness, but specific knowledge was limited (e.g., only 18.6% knew dengue mosquito breeding sites). Teachers were the primary source of information (63.3%). Attitudes were positive (89.3% believed mosquito control is possible). Preventive practices showed notable gaps (e.g., only 19.1% used daytime bed nets). Significant associations were observed between gender, parental education, attitudes, and key KAP variables (p<0.05).
Conclusions
Majority of the students had basic awareness and positive attitudes were noticed, but critical gaps in specific knowledge and preventive practices remain. School-based education is recommended to address both knowledge depth and behavioural barriers to translate awareness into sustained action.