Parents' Knowledge and Attitudes on Pediatric Short Stature in Children Aged 2–14 Years

Background: This study aims to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of parents and guardians of children aged 2–14 years concerning pediatric short stature (SS), a condition associated with growth-related health issues. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among parents and guardians of children aged 2–14 years between June 1, 2023, and October 10, 2024, in Guizhou Province, China. A self-designed, validated questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and KAP scores. Results: A total of 395 (88.37% %) valid responses were obtained. Among the respondents, 258 (65.32%) were female, 228 (57.72%) resided in rural areas, and 196 (49.62%) had two children. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 11.79±5.86 (possible range: 0-28), 43.07±5.56 (possible range: 11-55), and 24.94±4.65 (possible range: 6-30), respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that knowledge had direct effects on attitude (β = 0.16, P < 0.001) and practice (β = 0.19, P < 0.001). Meanwhile, attitude had a direct impact on practice (β = 1.42, P < 0.001). Furthermore, knowledge indirectly affected practice through attitude (β = 0.23, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Parents and guardians of children aged 2–14 years demonstrated inadequate knowledge but generally held positive attitudes and adopted proactive practices regarding pediatric SS. Targeted educational interventions are recommended to enhance parental knowledge, which could further strengthen attitudes and practices, ultimately improving early detection and management of pediatric SS in both rural and urban settings. Clinical trial number: not applicable