scholarly journals A Cross-sectional Analysis of Kogi State Residents' Knowledge and Perceptions on COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s):  
Taiye Babatunde Mofolorunsho ◽  
Kehinde Charles Mofolorunsho ◽  
Julius Olugbenga Owoyemi ◽  
Olowonibi Olabisi Oloruntoba ◽  
Joseph Ajogwu Onoja

Abstract Coupled with the outbreak of Covid-19 in Nigeria, there has been a controversial trailing of the Covid-19 incidence in Kogi State involving the state authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Giving the importance of appropriate awareness and the perceptions to curbing the spread of the disease, this study aimed at assessing the knowledge, perception and precautionary measures of Kogi state residents in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 401 residents in Kogi State Nigeria, with a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and Simple percentage in tables. Findings revealed that all the participants were aware of and had basic knowledge about Covid-19. The study participants had ample knowledge about the required preventive measures and how to protect themselves from Covid-19. It was also revealed that 45.2% of the respondents were conversant with the practice of three to more of the precautionary guidelines for preventing Covid-19. The study also found that a significant number of the respondents held a very low risk perception of Covid-19 by expressing an unlikely probability of getting infected by the virus. As regards skepticism and belief on coronavirus, 45.9% believed that Covid-19 is a hoax which was invented by interest groups for financial gains; 46.1% opined that the number of people reported by the NCDC as infected by the coronavirus in Nigeria is exaggerated. Again, 33.7% of the respondents believed that the second wave of the Covid-19 in Nigeria was a scam. The main source of Covid-19 information utilized by majority of the respondents was from Television programmes (34.2%) and Whatsapp (31.9%) platforms. The study concluded that while there was a high level of awareness of Covid-19 among residents of Kogi State and a remarkable level of precautionary practices against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there are however, indications of misconceptions and misinformation that breeds skepticism and belief that may be detrimental to curbing effectively, the spread of the Covid-19 virus within the state.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiye Babatunde Mofolorunsho ◽  
Kehinde Charles Mofolorunsho ◽  
Julius Olugbenga Owoyemi ◽  
Olowonibi Olabisi Oloruntoba ◽  
Sunday Samuel Boluromi ◽  
...  

Abstract Coupled with the outbreak of Covid-19 in Nigeria, there has been a controversial trailing of the Covid-19 incidence in Kogi State involving the state authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Giving the importance of appropriate awareness and the perceptions to curbing the spread of the disease, this study aimed at assessing the knowledge, perception and precautionary measures of Kogi state residents in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 401 residents in Kogi State Nigeria, with a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and Simple percentage in tables. Findings revealed that all the participants were aware of and had basic knowledge about Covid-19. The study participants had ample knowledge about the required preventive measures and how to protect themselves from Covid-19. It was also revealed that 45.2% of the respondents were conversant with the practice of three to more of the precautionary guidelines for preventing Covid-19. The study also found that a significant number of the respondents held a very low risk perception of Covid-19 by expressing an unlikely probability of getting infected by the virus. As regards skepticism and belief on coronavirus, 45.9% believed that Covid-19 is a hoax which was invented by interest groups for financial gains; 46.1% opined that the number of people reported by the NCDC as infected by the coronavirus in Nigeria is exaggerated. Again, 33.7% of the respondents believed that the second wave of the Covid-19 in Nigeria was a scam. The main source of Covid-19 information utilized by majority of the respondents was from Television programmes (34.2%) and Whatsapp (31.9%) platforms. The study concluded that while there was a high level of awareness of Covid-19 among residents of Kogi State and a remarkable level of precautionary practices against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there are however, indications of misconceptions and misinformation that breeds skepticism and belief that may be detrimental to curbing effectively, the spread of the Covid-19 virus within the state


Author(s):  
Abhijeet K. Mane ◽  
Anuradha G. Tolpadi ◽  
Meera S. Modak ◽  
Ashok K. Verma ◽  
Ancy C. Achenkunju ◽  
...  

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at frontline of response of the current pandemic of the COVID-19. This exposes them to risk of infection due to insufficient knowledge and unhealthy practices. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of infection control practices among HCWs regarding COVID-19.Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 2020 and June 2020. A 21-questions survey was developed and distributed among study population. A total of 622 HCWs working in a dedicated COVID-19 hospital participated in this study. Descriptive statistics was applied to represent participant characteristics and Chi-square test was used to evaluate the level of association among variables with a significance level of <0.05.Results: Out of 622 participants, 443 (71.22%) were females and 179 (28.78%) were males. Majority of the participants were nurses 308 (49.5%) followed by resident doctors 152 (24.4%), faculty doctors 108 (17.3%) and ancillary staff 54 (8.6%). Most participants 424 (68.1%) were less than 30 years of age. The overall response to survey was satisfactory with average correct responses recorded at 70.9%. Faculty doctors and resident doctors scored maximum average of 73% marks.Conclusions: The study participants showed sufficient basic knowledge about infection control practices regarding COVID-19. It also highlights the importance of continued training and educational interventions which are required to battle the present pandemic situation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simji Samuel Gomerep ◽  
Chundung Asabe Miner ◽  
Daniel Jatau Meshak ◽  
Solomon Chuwang Chollom ◽  
Kim Jerry Bot ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The global pandemic of COVID-19 has continued to spread across the world due to its highly infectious nature. Its control as of present is dependent on measures that involve banning of large gatherings, physical distancing, hand hygiene, cough hygiene and restrictions of movement. This requires that the general public is made aware of these strategies and adheres to them strictly. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to generate information on the knowledge base, perception, and prevalent practices in Plateau State of Nigeria. METHODS It was a cross-sectional survey in which responses were obtained through an online platform from adult residents of the State. Knowledge, perceptions and prevention practices of COVID-19 were assessed and analysed using Microsoft Excel and Epi-Info 7.2.3.1 at a significance level of p < 0.05 RESULTS Responses were obtained from 732 participants. Sixteen out of the 17 local government areas of the state were captured. The age group 21-50 year made up 85% of the respondents and all had some level of education. The mean level of knowledge was 24.5 ± 3.9 and was significantly associated with age and level of education. Perceptions and practices were however not commensurate with the high level of knowledge. CONCLUSIONS There is a need to increase awareness efforts to fill knowledge gaps and dispel some misconceptions and there is a need for a reciprocal improvement by the residents to adapt the practices that are needed to ensure that the disease is brought under control.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter O. Olapegba ◽  
Olusola Ayandele ◽  
Samson Olowo Kolawole ◽  
Rotimi Oguntayo ◽  
Joshua Chiroma Gandi ◽  
...  

This study assessed knowledge and perceptions about COVID-19 among the general public in Nigeria during the initial week of the pandemic lockdown in the country. From March 28 to April 4, 2020, this cross-sectional survey used an anonymous online questionnaire to collect data from respondents within Nigeria. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 1357 respondents, aged 15-70 years, from 180 cities and towns within Nigeria. Study data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Approximately more than half (57.02%) of the respondents were male with high level of education (48.86% bachelor’s degree or higher). Approximately half of the respondents (46.94%) opined that COVID-19 was “a biological weapon designed by the Chinese government.” About 94% of the respondents identified “contact with airborne droplets via breathing, sneezing, or coughing” as the most common mode of transmission; most respondents associated COVID-19 with coughing (81.13%), shortness of breath (73.47%) and fever (62.79%). “Regular hand washing and social distancing” was selected by most respondents (94.25%) as a way of preventing infection whereas 11.86% reported “consuming gins, garlic, ginger, herbal mixtures and African foods/soups” as preventive measures against COVID-19. Majority of the respondents (91.73%) thought COVID-19 is deadly; and most respondents (84.3%) got 4 or more answers correctly. It was also observed that the traditional media (TV/Radio) are the most common source of health information about COVID-19 (93.5%). Findings revealed that Nigerians have relatively high knowledge, mostly derived from traditional media, about COVID-19. Their perceptions of COVID-19 bear implications across public health initiatives, compliance with precautionary behavior as well as bilateral relations with foreign nations. Evidence-based campaign should be intensified to remove misconceptions and promote precautionary measures.


Author(s):  
Arpita Jain ◽  
Manju Toppo ◽  
Devendra Gour ◽  
Shipra Verma

Background: COVID-19 infection is a highly contagious disease and has affected a large population. As COVID-19 is a new disease and is having the most devastating effects globally, its emergence and spread, causes confusion, anxiety and fear among the general public. Objectives of the study were to know the preparedness measures adopted by the community by large in the beginning of epidemic of COVID-19 and to find out the perceptions and behavioral change of the community regarding COVID-19.Method: A cross sectional survey was conducted amongst the residents of India from 11th April 20 to 30th May 20. It was an online study. An online semi-structured questionnaire having both open and close ended   questions was developed by using Google forms, with a consent form appended to it. Data was collected in Google form and was reentered in MS excel and analyzed using EPIINFO.Results: Out of 301 study participants majority i.e., 162 (53.8%) of them were male. Majority of the participants were in the age group of 21-30. Occupation status of the respondents revealed that doctor accounted for 125 (41.5%). Only, 24 (8%) had chronic illness. Awareness regarding COVID-19 was 297 (98.7%).Conclusions: Perceptions have a great role in behavioral change.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
B.B. Subba ◽  
N. Rimal ◽  
B.M. Shrestha

Introduction: TB is considered one of the opportunistic infection among PLHIV. The increasing burden of HIV/TB co-infection among key population cause problem to maintain adherence to ART and DOTS services. The emergence of MDR-TB is one of the greatest challenge to control and management of both diseases. However, having knowledge and information of both diseases are important role to access the available HIV/TB services. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among key population who had HIV/TB co-infection in two-epidemic zone of Nepal. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. ANOVA test was done to analyze the collected data by using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 343 HIV/TB co-infected individuals were enrolled to the study. Most of participants were from ART and DOTS clients. Therefore, the study found that there was significance difference found between knowledge about TB (F=4.400, p= 0.005), causative agent of TB (F=3.160, p=0.025), risk of TB illness among PLHIV (F=8.491, p=0.001) and among key affected population. Moreover, there was significance difference found between access to OI treatment (F=5.113, p=0.002) and access to viral load (F=4.642, p=0.003) among key study population. In gender perspective, there was no significance difference to use and access to available HIV/TB services. Conclusion: The general knowledge on HIV/TB co-infection was significant association with key population. The knowledge on HIV/TB and access to NGOs’ help can significant effect to access the available HIV and TB services.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Rousset ◽  
G Voglino ◽  
E Boietti ◽  
A Corradi ◽  
M R Gualano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Infectious diseases are more common and severe in patients with HIV, which show different response to vaccines and a diminished protection. It is therefore very important to assess knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination in people with HIV, since precise vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy are not well established in this subgroup of patients. Methods A sample of 119 patients with HIV completed a cross-sectional survey. Patients were recruited during their routine medical examination at the infectious diseases clinic in Turin. The survey explored these main areas: demographics and history of HIV infection, vaccination history, attitudes towards vaccination, confidence in the public health system, contagion risk and disease seriousness perception. In this preliminary phase descriptive analysis were conducted. Results Preliminary data show that mean age of the participants was 49.51 years, 80% were males. The median of HIV infection duration was 10 years, while the median of the lymphocyte count was 762.50 cells/mm3. The disease with the highest vaccination coverage was tetanus (88.7%), considered a serious or very serious disease by 85.6% of the participants, despite low or very low contagion risk perception (84.1%). The disease with the lowest vaccination coverage was Herpes Zoster (7.3%), despite high or very high seriousness perception (70%). Furthermore, 99.1% of the participants showed high or very high confidence toward public health system professionals, and the majority of them (59.5%) stated that vaccines are more useful for the community than for the single person. Conclusions Vaccination coverage is still not fully satisfactory regarding diseases considered infrequent or mild. Considering the high level of confidence toward the public health system that has emerged, it is necessary to implement informative and operative strategies about vaccination for European HIV patients, which are particularly at risk regarding infectious diseases. Key messages Vaccination coverage and risk perception in HIV patients is not satisfactory for many diseases and an effort to implement informative strategies in Europe is needed. The role of vaccination in preventing infectious diseases in HIV patients should be recognized and strengthened by relying on the high level of confidence toward European public health systems.


Author(s):  
Jean-François Lemay ◽  
Shauna Langenberger ◽  
Scott McLeod

Abstract Background The Alberta Children’s Hospital-Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Clinic (ACH-ASDC) was restructured due to long wait times and unsustainable clinic workflow. Major changes included the initiation of pre- and post-ASD parent education sessions and distinct ASD screening appointments before the ASD diagnostic appointment. Methods We conducted a parental program evaluation in summer 2018 of the ACH-ASDC. We used a cross-sectional survey to evaluate key outcomes including parental satisfaction, and the percentage of families obtaining access to government supports and early intervention programs. Results For the 101 eligible patients diagnosed with ASD under 36 months of age 70 (69.3%) parents agreed to participate. The mean diagnostic age of the children diagnosed with ASD was 30.6 months (SD=4.1 months). There were no statistically significant age differences between biological sexes. Ninety-three per cent of parents felt that ASD educational sessions were useful, and 92% of parents were satisfied to very satisfied with the overall ASD diagnostic process. Ninety per cent of parents had access to at least one of the key resources available for ASD early intervention in our province following diagnosis. Parents reported a positive impact on intervention provided to their child in the areas of communication, social interaction, and behaviour. Conclusion Parents of children diagnosed with ASD expressed a high level of satisfaction with the restructured ACH-ASDC process. Implementing parent education sessions was well received and met parents’ needs. Parents were able to access intervention services following diagnosis and reported positive impacts for their child. Re-envisioning program approaches to incorporate novel strategies to support families should be encouraged.


Author(s):  
Sarah Commodore ◽  
Pamela L. Ferguson ◽  
Brian Neelon ◽  
Roger Newman ◽  
William Grobman ◽  
...  

Asthma in children poses a significant clinical and public health burden. We examined the association between reported neighborhood traffic (a proxy for traffic-related air pollution) and asthma among 855 multi-racial children aged 4–8 years old who participated in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort. We hypothesized that high neighborhood traffic density would be associated with the prevalence of asthma. Asthma/asthma-like symptoms (defined as current and/or past physician diagnosed asthma, past wheezing, or nighttime cough or wheezing in the past 12 months) was assessed by parental report. The relationship between neighborhood traffic and asthma/asthma-like symptoms was assessed using logistic regression. The prevalence of asthma/asthma-like symptoms among study participants was 23%, and 15% had high neighborhood traffic. Children with significant neighborhood traffic had a higher odds of having asthma/asthma-like symptoms than children without neighborhood traffic [adjusted OR = 2.01 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.62)] after controlling for child’s race-ethnicity, age, sex, maternal education, family history of asthma, play equipment in the home environment, public parks, obesity and prescribed asthma medication. Further characterization of neighborhood traffic is needed since many children live near high traffic zones and significant racial/ethnic disparities exist.


Author(s):  
Yoko Iwaki ◽  
Santosh Kumar Rauniyar ◽  
Shuhei Nomura ◽  
Michael C. Huang

Tuberculosis (TB) has still remained a serious global health threat in low- and middle-income countries in recent years. As of 2021, Nepal is one of the high TB burden countries, with an increasing prevalence of cases. This study evaluates factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. This study uses data from the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey carried out from June 2016 to January 2017. Multilevel logistic regression is performed to examine the association of demographic and socioeconomic factors with TB awareness. Our findings show a high level of TB awareness in all seven provinces of Nepal. Province 5 has the highest level of awareness (98.1%) among all provinces, followed by provinces 3 and 4, while province 6 has the lowest awareness level (93.2%) compared to others. Socioeconomic factors such as wealth, education and owning a mobile phone are significantly associated with TB awareness. Socioeconomic determinants are influential factors associated with TB awareness in Nepal. The wide variation in the proportion of awareness at a regional level emphasizes the importance of formulating tailored strategies to increase TB awareness. For instance, the use of mobile phones could be an effective strategy to promote TB awareness at a regional level. This study provides valuable evidence to support further research on the contribution of information and communication technology (ICT) usage to improving TB awareness in Nepal.


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