Kindergarten Teacher’s Knowledge of Enterobiasis in Korea

Previous reports have suggested that the environment of day care centres is a crucial factor in the development of enterobiasis. There is a lack of data regarding a teacher’s knowledge about enterobiasis although kindergarten teachers have the greatest influence on a child’s habits because the child spends a lot of time with them and because they manage the child’s physical environment. The focus of the present study was to evaluate the kindergarten teacher’s level of knowledge regarding enterobiasis. The cross-sectional survey is with 287 kindergarten teachers from 36 kindergartens in Korea. The level of knowledge regarding Enterobius vermicularis infection was measured using questionnaires. The percentage of correct answers to questions testing knowledge of enterobiasis ranged from 23.7 percent to 99.3 percent. The average score for the section on knowledge of enterobiasis was 7.85 (possible range: 0 12). The question “enterobiasis occurs through contaminated water” had the least correct answer rate (23.7%). The findings of this study suggest the need for increasing the kindergarten teacher’s knowledge regarding enterobiasis. Educational programs for kindergarten teachers will have a long-term impact on the prevalence of this infection.