Prevalence of Significant Bacteriuria, Knowledge, and Preventive Practices of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) among Final Year Undergraduate Public Health Students, Abia State University, Uturu

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections are common bacterial infections with important public health implications. Students may be exposed to behavioural and environmental factors that increase the risk of urinary tract infection, and knowledge of preventive measures may not always translate into appropriate practice. Aim: This study assessed significant bacteriuria, knowledge, and preventive practices related to urinary tract infections among final-year undergraduate Public Health students at Abia State University, Uturu. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 149 final-year Public Health students during the 2024/2025 academic session. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and laboratory analysis of mid-stream urine samples. Knowledge and preventive practice scores were categorised using predefined scoring criteria. Urine samples were cultured, and significant bacteriuria was defined as the growth of a uropathogen at ≥10⁵ CFU/mL. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise findings, while Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were applied where appropriate, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: All respondents had heard of urinary tract infections. Overall, 77 respondents (51.7%) had adequate knowledge, 45 (30.2%) had moderate knowledge, and 27 (18.1%) had inadequate knowledge. Preventive practices were inadequate among 123 respondents (82.6%) and adequate among 26 respondents (17.4%). Significant bacteriuria was detected in 136 of 147 eligible samples, giving a prevalence of 92.5%. The most frequently isolated organism was Escherichia coli (50.7%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (25.0%) and Pseudomonas spp. (14.0%). The highest sensitivity was observed for levofloxacin (88.2%) and ciprofloxacin (86.8%), while resistance was highest for azithromycin (67.6%) and ampiclox (55.1%). Conclusion: The study showed adequate UTI-related knowledge in slightly more than half of the respondents, but preventive practices were generally poor. The high prevalence of significant bacteriuria should be interpreted cautiously because culture positivity may include asymptomatic bacteriuria or possible contamination. Strengthening health education, hygiene practices, and laboratory-confirmed follow-up is recommended.