ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS OF PARASITIC AND BACTERIAL INFECTIONS, THEIR NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS AND THE USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR THEIR TREATMENT AMONG THE GENERAL POPULATION OF DISTRICT KOHAT

Parasitic and bacterial infections remain important public-health concerns and may cause serious systemic and neurological complications. Infections involving the central nervous system can result in seizures and acquired epilepsy, while traditional medicinal practices remain an important component of healthcare in many communities. The present study assessed awareness of parasitic and bacterial infections, their neurological complications, preventive practices, treatment-seeking behavior, and knowledge and use of medicinal plants among the general population of District Kohat. A total of 300 participants were included in the study dataset supplied. Information was assessed regarding socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of parasitic and bacterial infections, transmission and preventive practices, neurological complications, medicinal-plant knowledge and use, sources of health information, and treatment preferences. A composite awareness score was generated from knowledge responses, and associations between overall awareness and socio-demographic variables were assessed using the chi-square test, with statistical significance considered at < 0.05. Basic awareness of infectious diseases was generally satisfactory. Overall, 77.3% of participants had heard of parasitic infections and 90.3% had heard of bacterial infections. Awareness of contaminated water, personal hygiene and other basic preventive practices was relatively high. However, knowledge of neurological complications was comparatively limited. Only 47.3% had heard that infections could affect the brain or nervous system, while 54.7% recognized that certain infections could cause seizures and 42.3% recognized that some parasitic infections could affect the central nervous system. The mean awareness score was highest for transmission and prevention (7.6 ± 1.7) and lowest for neurological complications (4.2 ± 2.0). Overall, 52.3% of participants had moderate awareness, 28.7% had high awareness and 19.0% had low awareness. Overall awareness was significantly associated with age (p = 0.045), residence (p = 0.014), educational status (p < 0.001) and occupation (p = 0.009), but not gender (p = 0.546). Medicinal plants were widely recognized (81.3%) and 61.0% reported personal use. Garlic, ginger and mint were among the most frequently reported plants. However, 32.0% considered medicinal plants always safe and only 23.7% reported consulting healthcare professionals before combining herbal remedies with conventional medicines. The findings indicate a generally moderate level of awareness of parasitic and bacterial infections, but substantial knowledge gaps concerning neurological complications, antimicrobial resistance and safe medicinal-plant use. Targeted community health education, particularly among rural and less-educated populations, is recommended. Because the supplied dataset is identified as simulated, population-based studies are required to validate these findings in the general population of District Kohat.