KAP Surveys and Oral Health: A Detailed Review

Abstract

‘KAP’ study measures the knowledge, attitude and practices of a community. It serves as an educational diagnosis of the community. The main purpose of this knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) study is to explore changes in knowledge, attitude and practices of the community. A KAP survey is a representative study of a specific population to collect information on what is known, believed and done in relation to a particular topic. In most KAP surveys, data are collected orally by an interviewer using a structured, standardized questionnaire. These data then can be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively depending on the objectives and design of the study. Before beginning the process of creating awareness in any given community, it is first necessary to assess the environment in which awareness creation will take place. KAP study tells us what people know about certain things, how they feel and also how they behave.