biostudies-literatureUnknown13Oh WO<h4>Introduction</h4>Empirical evidence is limited regarding the competency domains that influence childcare providers' routine and outbreak-related infection-prevention behaviors in early-childhood settings. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the competencies that affect the infectious-disease prevention behaviors of childcare providers.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 239 childcare providers in an early-childhood education center. The variables were measured using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive data for each factor were assessed, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between infectious-disease prevention practices and the related factors. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the predFrontiers in public health1707317https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12847404biostudies-literatureCompetencies influencing childcare providers' infectious-disease prevention in routine and outbreak contexts: a study in South Korea.PMC12847404Heo YJOh WOJung MJHan JLee EfalseCompetencies influencing childcare providers' infectious-disease prevention in routine and outbreak contexts: a study in South Korea.<h4>Introduction</h4>Empirical evidence is limited regarding the competency domains that influence childcare providers' routine and outbreak-related infection-prevention behaviors in early-childhood settings. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the competencies that affect the infectious-disease prevention behaviors of childcare providers.<h4>Methods</h4>A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 239 childcare providers in an early-childhood education center. The variables were measured using self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive data for each factor were assessed, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between infectious-disease prevention practices and the related factors. Stepwise multiple regression was used to identify the pred2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-06-10T08:58:49.059Z2026-06-10T03:11:49.856ZS-EPMC128474044161306810.3389/fpubh.2025.1707317