European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety

Aims: Assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of staff at the National Institute of Public Hygiene of Côte d'Ivoire regarding nutritional anemias and the link between hygiene and iron status

Study Design:  A cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: National Institut of Public Hygien of Cote d’Ivoire, from headquarters, municipal, departmental, and regional offices, and border health control posts from October 30, 2023, to November 10, 2023.

Methodology: Study was conducted within the institutional WhatsApp group comprising staff from headquarters, municipal, departmental, and regional offices, and border health control posts. The survey targeted all staff members present in this group (n=815), with exhaustive sampling by invitation to all and analysis of voluntary respondents, yielding a response rate of 9.2% (n=75). Data were collected using a digital questionnaire administered via Google Forms and automatically consolidated in an Excel spreadsheet linked to the form. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's chi-squared test with a significance level of 5%.

Results: The sample, predominantly healthcare personnel (76.7%), had a mean age of 40.6 years and a male-to-female ratio of 2.4. The results show good general knowledge: 80–85% identified nutritional anemia and iron deficiency anemia as the most frequent, 77.3% knew that iron deficiency precedes anemia, and 81.3% recognized the impact of an uncorrected iron deficiency before age 2 on cognitive development. Nevertheless, significant gaps remain: only 45.3% know the recommended treatment duration (3 months), 34.7% distinguish between heme and non-heme iron, 41.3% are unaware of the beneficial role of vitamin C in iron absorption, and local food resources such as baobab leaves are underestimated by 86.7% of participants. In terms of practices, 69.3% consult a doctor if anemia is suspected, but 36% also resort to traditional therapies. The analyses did not reveal any significant associations between knowledge and sociodemographic variables, suggesting widespread gaps in knowledge. Targeted skills development through modules on functional nutrition and hygiene-nutrition interactions, the systematic integration of the Wash’Nutrition approach into field activities, and increased use of media and technology for awareness-raising are recommended to improve the impact of prevention programs.The identified knowledge gaps may significantly undermine public health efforts for anemia control, particularly in settings where infectious diseases and malnutrition coexist. Addressing these gaps through targeted interventions is essential to improve health outcomes.