Stretch marks knowledge and attitudes among university students in Vietnam: a study with the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) model

Abstract

Stretch marks are dermal lesions that appear as linear scars, often affecting women's aesthetics and body image. Although they are a prevalent issue in dermatology, stretch marks have not received much attention from the community, especially in healthcare education. Understanding knowledge and attitudes about stretch marks can reveal public perceptions and misinformation that affect self-esteem and healthcare choices. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes about stretch marks among university students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 146 midwife students from February to June 2024 using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated self-reported questionnaire consisting of three sections: (1) general information, (2) knowledge of stretch marks, and (3) attitudes toward stretch marks. Descriptive statistics consist of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and chi-square test were used to describe the variables of interests and find the correlation between knowledge and attitude toward stretch marks. The statistical significance test was set up at 0.05. The findings revealed that 83.6% of midwifery students had correct knowledge of stretch marks and nearly half of students had positive attitude about stretch marks. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between knowledge of stretch mark and attitude about stretch marks (p > 0.05). The study highlights the role of community nurses in providing health education on stretch marks to university students. Educational interventions can help raise awareness, reduce stigma, promote healthier perceptions and behaviors. Subsequent studies ought to examine a more extensive and more varied demographic to improve the applicability of the results.

Keywords: Attitude, dermal lesion, knowledge, stretch marks, midwife student