"Nurturing Healthy Futures: A Comprehensive Review of Parental Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Child Health Practices"

Abstract: Parental knowledge and attitudes play a pivotal role in shaping child health practices and outcomes, particularly during the formative years of infancy and early childhood. Parents serve as the primary caregivers and decision-makers for children, influencing nutrition, hygiene, immunization, healthcare utilization, and preventive health behaviors. Inadequate knowledge, misconceptions, and negative attitudes toward child health practices remain significant contributors to preventable childhood morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This review article synthesizes existing literature on parental knowledge and attitudes toward child health practices, highlighting their influence on child health outcomes, determinants affecting parental perceptions, and the role of healthcare professionals—particularly nurses—in enhancing parental competence. The review explores key domains such as nutrition, immunization, growth monitoring, disease prevention, mental and emotional health, and healthcare-seeking behavior. It also discusses sociocultural, educational, and economic factors shaping parental attitudes. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based strategies to strengthen parental knowledge through health education, community engagement, and supportive healthcare systems. Understanding and addressing parental perspectives is essential for designing effective child health interventions and policies aimed at promoting holistic child well-being and achieving sustainable health outcomes.