Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Environmental Risk Perception Related to Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Montserrado County, Liberia: A Cross-Sectional Study
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Background: Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) pose a significant public health risk in Liberia. While malaria remains endemic, emerging arboviruses offer an increasing danger. This study examined community-level knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP), and perceptions of environmental risk regarding MBD in Montserrado County, Liberia. Method: A community-based crosssectional survey of 384 adults from seven distinct socioeconomic categories was conducted in Montserrado County. Data were collected using a validated and pretested questionnaire and analysed in R (version 4.3.0). The independent predictors of health-promoting activities were identified using descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square tests, one-way ANOVA for group comparisons, and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The data found that malaria awareness was high (98.2%), but dengue (24.7%) and chikungunya (12.0%) had significant knowledge gaps. The mean knowledge score was 12.66 ± 3.12 (maximum 20), whereas the mean practice score was 6.53 ± 1.60. Higher education levels were significantly associated with higher knowledge scores (F = 168.93, p < 0.001) but not with yellow fever vaccination status (χ² = 4.57, p = 0.335). There was a substantial positive correlation between knowledge and practice scores. Despite high awareness of environmental risks (36.05 ± 5.56), implementing consistent preventive measures was challenging due to structural constraints. Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant "knowledge-practice gap," with a special focus on non-malarial arboviruses. Malaria-centric paradigms should be replaced with Integrated Vector Management (IVM). Policymakers in West Africa must address the structural and environmental risk factors of MBD to enable long-term community-based prevention.
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