Cutaneous leishmaniasis: knowledge, attitudes, practices, and risk factors among the general population of Kandahar city in southwest Afghanistan

Kandahar city is a highly endemic area for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Afghanistan. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, prevention practices, and risk factors associated with CL in Kandahar city.This was a cross-sectional analytical study, with data collected from 2044 adults during six months (March–August 2024). Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis.In this study, the mean (SD) age of the study participants was 33.8 (10.2) years, 54.5% were females, 75.7% were jobless, 77.4% were illiterate, and 88.0% were poor. Among the study participants, 23.6%, 40.6%, and 33.3% had good knowledge about CL, a positive attitude towards CL, and good preventive practices towards CL. The statistically significant factors associated with poor knowledge about CL were being male (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.5), being jobless (AOR 3.4), being illiterate (AOR 2.4), and the presence of confirmed CL case in family members (AOR 1.3). The statistically significant factors associated with a negative attitude towards CL were aged > 40 years (AOR 4.0) and belonging to a middle- or high-income family (AOR 1.6). The statistically significant factors associated with poor preventive practices towards CL were aged > 40 years (AOR 1.5), being illiterate (COR 1.3), and having a family size of < 5 members (COR 1.4).This study concludes that most of the residents of Kandahar city had poor knowledge, negative attitude, and poor prevention practices towards CL. Results of this study emphasize that the policy makers in Afghanistan should plan and implement the health education programs to increase the knowledge about CL, a positive attitude towards CL, and good preventive practices towards CL of the residents of Kandahar city.