Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) Prevention: A Study of Parental Knowledge, Perception and Practice in Malaysia.

Abstract

Introduction: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a prevalent viral illness affecting primarily children under five years of age, with significant outbreaks in Asian countries, including Malaysia. This study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge, perception, and practice (KPP) regarding HFMD among Malaysian parents. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Malaysia using convenience and snowball sampling. A total of 390 parents from 13 states participated. Questionnaires were administered to collect socio-demographic data and assess the KPP on HFMD. Result: Knowledge was moderate (56.4%), and perception was neutral (49%). However, item-level analysis revealed critical gaps: 62.6% incorrectly believed HFMD only affects children, and 40-50% failed to recognise severe symptoms requiring urgent medical attention. Preventive practices among parents, with 60% (234/390) demonstrating good practice. Significant factors influencing knowledge included gender (p=0.046), race (p=0.038), education (p=0.038), state (p=0.010), and number of children (p=0.044), while age, marital status, and occupation were not significant. Perception was significantly associated with age (p=0.006), gender (p=0.046), state (p<0.001), and number of children (p<0.001), but not with race, marital status, education level, or occupation. Conclusion: The study revealed that Malaysian parents had moderate knowledge and a neutral perception of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), with good prevention practices. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted educational interventions to enhance knowledge, perception, and practices among parents, ultimately contributing to a safer environment for young children in Malaysia.