<![CDATA[Background: Deworming is a key public health intervention, especially in contexts where intestinal parasitic infections are prevalent and affect vulnerable populations lacking basic sanitation services. Despite the global burden of parasitic infections in early childhood, local data on knowledge and practices related to parasitosis and deworming in Colombia remain limited. Purpose: This study aimed to assess mothers’ knowledge and practices regarding deworming in children aged 2 to 5 years.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 324 mothers selected using convenience sampling. The KP-1 questionnaire on knowledge and practices related to deworming was used to collect data. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to establish associations between knowledge, practices, and demographic characteristics, with a significance level of p<0.05.Results: Most mothers exhibited regular (39.8%) or poor (37.3%) knowledge, while 62.3% reported good deworming practices. Statistically significant associations were found between maternal knowledge and education level (p=0.0110), income (p=0.0010), housing type (p=0.0007), and social security affiliation (p=0.0013). Deworming practices were also significantly associated with education level (p=0.0114), income (p=0.0012), housing type (p=0.0009), and social security (p=0.0011). No significant associations were observed between knowledge levels and deworming practice with age, marital status, occupation, religion, child’s age, or gender (p>0.05).Conclusion: Although mothers demonstrated good deworming practices, their knowledge levels were generally regular or poor. Education level, income, housing conditions, and social security coverage significantly influenced both knowledge and practices. These findings highlight the need for community nursing interventions aimed at improving maternal awareness and education on deworming practices.]]>
