Objective To understand the mediating effect of the attitude to the prevention and control of echinococcosis on the awareness of knowledge and practice of prevention and control of echinococcosis, and provide reference for further health education in the future.

Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted to statistically describe the knowledge, attitude and practice of echinococcosis prevention and control in residents of 7 counties (cities) in Changji prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the influencing factors were identified by multiple linear regression analysis. Stepwise method, Sobel method and non-parametric percentile Bootstrap method were used to analyze the mediating effect.

Results A total of 1 700 questionnaires were distributed, and 1 634 valid questionnaires were collected. The awareness rate of the knowledge of echinococcosis prevention and control in local residents was 60.53%, and the awareness rate of the transmission route was lowest (19.16%). The rate of positive attitude to echinococcosis prevention and control was 94.48% and the rate of correct practice of echinococcosis prevention and control was 84.68%. Age (P₁=0.003, P₂=0.006, P₃=0.031), education level (P₁＜0.001, P₂＜0.001, P₃＜0.001) and the health education frequency (P₁＜0.001, P₂＜0.001, P₃＜0.001) were the key factors that affected the knowledge, attitude and practice of echinococcosis prevention and control. The mediating effect of attitude to echinococcosis prevention and control accounted for 30.80%.

Conclusion The awareness rate of knowledge about echinococcosis prevention and control in local residents in Changji needs to be improved, and there is a mediating effect of the attitude on the knowledge and practice of echinococcosis prevention and control.