Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Zoonotic Parasitic Infection Among Dog Owners in Selected Barangays of Marikina City

Zoonotic parasitic infections pose public health concerns in densely populated urban environments where close human-animal interactions are common. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dog owners in three barangays of Marikina City, Philippines (Fortune, Nangka, and Malanday) to identify factors associated with zoonotic parasite transmission from domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). A descriptive quantitative design was employed using a structured survey administered to 150 dog-owning respondents (50 per barangay). While participants demonstrated generally high knowledge (88.9% average affirmative response) and positive attitudes (mean: 3.69 on 4-point scale), actual preventive practices were less consistent (mean: 3.16), indicating a gap between awareness and behavioral implementation. Statistically significant differences were observed across barangays in attitudes (p = 0.031) and practices (p = 0.002), with Nangka exhibiting the most favorable outcomes and Malanday the lowest. Age showed significant positive correlations with knowledge (ρ = 0.199, p = 0.015) and practices (ρ = 0.324, p < 0.001), while sex had no significant association with any KAP component. The strongest association was between attitude and practice (ρ = 0.582). These findings suggest that improving attitudes may support better preventive behaviors, and that community-specific interventions addressing the awareness-practice gap could strengthen public health strategies for reducing zoonotic risks in urban settings.