Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Rubella Infection among Preparatory Year Students: A Preliminary Exploratory Study in Aden, Yemen

Abstract

Introduction: Rubella is a contagious viral infection characterised by mild fever and rashes. Maternal infection early in pregnancy often leads to birth defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Raising awareness among students about the importance of vaccines is a key to helping eliminate the spread of diseases. Moreover, the university students who are young adults will start their own family some day and some might become healthcare providers in the future. Data pertaining to Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) regarding rubella are needed to sensitise and create awareness among health care administrators and providers. Aim: To assess the KAP regarding rubella among preparatory year students attending Aden University, Yemen. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among preparatory year students attending Aden University. The students were chosen randomly. A pre-designed, validated (Cronbach’s alpha was 0.83) and structured questionnaire that gathered personal data and contained questions designed to assess the KAP regarding rubella and its vaccine was administered. Descriptive statistics and the chi-Square test (alpha=0.05) were used to analyse the data. Results: One hundred ninety of the 250 (76%) responses were usable. Overall, 63.2% of participants had heard about rubella but lacked accurate knowledge of the signs, symptoms, causes and modes of transmission of rubella. Regarding their attitude towards rubella, 62.5% of participants considered rubella infection to be harmful to people’s health. Conclusion: This study reveals inadequate KAP regarding rubella among preparatory year students attending Aden University. Hence, there is a great need for adequate health education programs and community mobilisation to enhance public knowledge of rubella.

Keywords

• adolescence
• education
• german measles
• virus infection