scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and practices among the population, towards COVID-19 in the Lubumbashi city (DR Congo): An online cross-sectional survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-018
Author(s):  
Manya Mboni Henry ◽  
Mutombo Shakalenga Cedrick ◽  
Bashige Chiribagula Valentin ◽  
Nzuzi Mavungu Gaël ◽  
Kabamba Tshikongo Arsène ◽  
...  

A survey was conducted online from December 30, 2020 to January 21, 2021, among the population of Lubumbashi city, to assess Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. The resource persons were self-selected at random, to have freely accepted to answer the online questionnaire. A total of 487 people (50.7% of women), with an average age of 28.3 ± 7.7 years, were interviewed. Overall, 98.2% said they were aware of COVID-19. This knowledge comes from several sources dominated by television (42.7%). Several respondents (71.9%) admitted to being afraid of human-to-human transmission of COVID-19; while 72.1% hope that this disease will stop one day. Protective practices against COVID-19 contamination are dominated by wearing a surgical mask, social distancing and hand washing (66.9%). Self-medication either with medicinal plants or with conventional drugs are the most recommended practices by the questioned people, in case of symptoms related to COVID-19 (70.6%). Most medicinal plants [predominated by Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (45.9%, n = 344)] and conventional drugs [predominantly aspirin (41.5%; n = 41)], cited in this case, are reported in various studies as being used in the management of patients with COVID-19. In general, the KAPs observed vary considerably according to the gender and study level of the questioned people. The level of knowledge about COVID-19 among the population of Lubumbashi seems satisfactory and its management acceptable. Practices to control the COVID-19 symptom are predominated by the use of both conventional and non-conventional medicine. However, sensitization of the population of Lubumbashi for a better knowledge and adequate management of this virus is desirable.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razan Khalid Alduraibi ◽  
Waleed mohammad altowayan

Abstract Background: Self-Medication (SM) is common practice worldwide in both developed and developing countries. SM is referred as self consuming of medication without consulting a physician for either diagnosis or treatment. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices toward SM among medical and pharmacy students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical and pharmacy students in Qassim university, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, during the period 2020-2021.Multistage random sampling technique was used to recruit students. The data were collected through questionnaire.Results: Three hundred and sixteen of 342 students were recruited. This study showed that the majority (94.6%) of students had good knowledge of self-medication. Additionally, the following characteristics were significantly associated with good knowledge: being female, and Pharmacy students. Overall mean score for the attitudes towards self-medication shows that 58.4% of the total sample had high agreements towards the questions of the attitudes toward self-medication. More than half (63.9%) of the students reported that they practice self- medication in the last 6 months. Pain killers was the most common medication used for self- medication by the majority of the students (88.29%). The majority (77.8%) of respondents reported that they feel confident about the use of self-medication. Conclusions: In conclusion, students' knowledge of self-medication appears to be good and significantly high among pharmacy students in comparison to medical students. Therefor, medical and pharmacy students should be viewed as important contributors to the public health care system, and future health professionals should be properly educated on good pharmacy practice and responsible self-medication.Trial registration: Not applicable


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajon Banik ◽  
Mahmudur Rahman ◽  
Tajuddin Sikder ◽  
Quazi Maksudur Rahman ◽  
Mamun Ur Rashid Pranta

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among young adults in Bangladesh. Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 5th May to 25th May 2020. Young adults aged between 18-35 years were approached via social media to complete an online questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics and KAP towards COVID-19. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple logistic regressions were conducted. Results: Of the 707 survey participants, the majority were male (57.1%), with a mean age of 25.03 (SD: 4.26) years, 60.3% were students, 57% had a bachelor's degree, and 64.4% urban residents. Participants gather information on COVID-19 mostly through Social media (70.4%). Overall, 61.2% had adequate knowledge with 78.9% having a positive attitude towards COVID-19 and only 51.6% had good practices. Most (86.8%) of the participants were confident that COVID-19 will be successfully controlled and Bangladesh was handling the COVID-19 health crisis well (84.20%). Only 75.2% of participants always washed hands with soap or hand-sanitizer and 70.6% wore a mask when going outside the home in recent days. Factors associated with adequate knowledge were being female, having a master's degree and above, and living in an urban area (𝑝 < 0.05). Participants having adequate knowledge of COVID-19 had higher likelihood of positive attitudes (OR: 6.41, 95% CI = 2.34-25.56, 𝑝 = 0.000) and good practices (OR: 8.93, 95% CI = 3.92-38.42, 𝑝 = 0.000). Conclusion: Introducing effective COVID-19 Health campaigns incorporating factors to influence KAP is urgently needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emine Sen Tunc ◽  
Emre Aksoy ◽  
Hatice Nilden Arslan ◽  
Zeynep Kaya

Abstract Background Self-medication refers to taking medicine without consultation with a doctor or dentist, and it is an important health issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no data about parents’ SM practices for their children’s dental problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study aims to evaluate parents’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding self-medication for their children’s dental problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Turkey. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the pediatric dental clinic at Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, immediately after the COVID-19 lockdown ended. A total of 389 parents who agreed to participate in the study completed the questionnaire from July 1 to October 1. A questionnaire with 18 items was designed to collect information on the parents’ knowledge and attitudes regarding when, why, and how to use drugs and on their practices on medicating their children. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (chi-square test). Results The majority of parents (n = 273; 70.2%) practiced self-medication for their children's dental problems. Self-medication with a previously prescribed medications was usually preferred by parents (n = 179; 62.2%). Analgesics (98%) were the most commonly used medicines by parents in their self-medication for their children's dental problems. Conclusion Prevalence of self-medication practices for children's dental problems is high in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, new healthcare services, such as teledentistry, may be useful to overcome problems related to the self-medication of children during times when the ability to reach healthcare providers is limited, such as during pandemics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajon Banik ◽  
Mahmudur Rahman ◽  
Md. Tajuddin Sikder ◽  
Quazi Maksudur Rahman ◽  
Mamun Ur Rashid Pranta

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among young adults in Bangladesh. Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 5th May to 25th May 2020. Young adults aged between 18-35 years were approached via social media to complete an online questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics and KAP towards COVID-19. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple logistic regression were conducted.Results: Of the 707 survey participants, the majority were male (57.1%), with a mean age of 25.03 (SD: 4.26) years, 60.3% were students, 57% had a bachelor's degree, and 64.4% were urban residents. Participants gather information on COVID-19 mostly through Social media (70.4%). Overall, 61.2% had adequate knowledge with 78.9% having a positive attitude towards COVID-19 and only 51.6% had good practices. Most (86.8%) of the participants were confident that COVID-19 will be successfully controlled and Bangladesh was handling the COVID-19 health crisis well (84.20%). Only 75.2% of participants always washed hands with soap or hand-sanitizer and 70.6% wore a mask when going outside the home in recent days. Factors associated with adequate knowledge were being female, having a master's degree and above, and living in an urban area (𝑝 < 0.05). Participants having adequate knowledge of COVID-19 had higher likelihood of positive attitudes (OR: 6.41, 95% CI = 2.34-25.56, 𝑝 = 0.000) and good practices (OR: 8.93, 95% CI = 3.92-38.42, 𝑝 = 0.000).Conclusion: Introducing effective COVID-19 Health campaigns incorporating factors to influence KAP is urgently needed.


Author(s):  
Tshokey Tshokey ◽  
Deepika Adhikari ◽  
Thinley Jamtsho ◽  
Kinley Wangdi

Introduction: Concerns about antibiotic resistances is increasing. Antibiotic misuses mostly result from inadequate knowledge impacting attitudes and practices. The literature on this subject is limited in Bhutan.  It is of immense importance to understand the gap and target interventions. Therefore, we assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) on antibiotics amongst Bhutanese university graduates in 2016. Methods: The survey was conducted through a self-administered online questionnaire after seeking consent. The questionnaire was developed by the investigators using past literature.   Results: Of the 2,229 invited graduates, only 220 (≈10%), 52.3% (115) males, completed the survey. Internet was the commonest source of information on antibiotics. Only 51% (113) showed good knowledge with a mean score of 15.5 (range 2-30). Penicillin, amoxicillin and cotrimoxazole were correctly identified as antibiotics by 63.6%, 78.7% and 21.4% but 11.4%, 35% and 31.8% misidentified atenolol, paracetamol and ibuprofen as antibiotics respectively. Side effects of antibiotics were poorly recognized. Fifty-four percent (119) showed good attitude score. About 39% (85), 35% (76) and 46% (101) misconceived that antibiotics would be required for common cold, all fevers and all small clean-cut wounds respectively. Almost 91% knew that antibiotic courses should be completed, 12% thought that antibiotics can be stopped when patients improve and 31.8% repeated antibiotics for similar illnesses. Although 76% knew that antibiotics shouldn’t be bought without a prescription, 28% were able to get them. About 44.1% revealed that the dispensing pharmacists did not explain adequately about antibiotics. Unfortunately, 43.6% suggested others to take antibiotics during illnesses and 60% used topical antibiotics. Conclusion: KAP on antibiotics amongst Bhutanese graduates was unsatisfactory except few good specific practices. Health authorities should educate public on antibiotics and other medicines.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244350
Author(s):  
Asuka Hatabu ◽  
Xinhua Mao ◽  
Yi Zhou ◽  
Norihito Kawashita ◽  
Zheng Wen ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly altered peoples’ daily lives, and it continues spreading as a crucial concern globally. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 are related to individuals’ adherence to government measures. This study evaluated KAP toward COVID-19 among university students in Japan between May 22 and July 16, 2020, via an online questionnaire, and it further investigated the associated determining KAP factors. Among the eligible respondents (n = 362), 52.8% were female, 79.0% were undergraduate students, 32.9% were students whose major university subjects were biology-related, 35.4% were from the capital region, and 83.7% were Japanese. The overall KAP of university students in Japan was high. All respondents (100%) showed they possessed knowledge on avoiding enclosed spaces, crowded areas, and close situations. Most respondents showed a moderate or higher frequency of washing their hands or wearing masks (both at 96.4%). In addition, 68.5% of respondents showed a positive attitude toward early drug administration. In the logistic regressions, gender, major subjects, education level, nationality, residence, and psychological factors (private self-consciousness and extroversion) were associated with knowledge or attitudes toward COVD-19 (p < 0.05). In the logistic and multiple linear regressions, capital regions, high basic knowledge, high information acquisition, correct information explanations contributed positively to preventative action (p < 0.05). Non-capital regions, male gender, non-bio-backgrounds, high public self-consciousness, high advanced knowledge, incorrect information explanations, and high extroversion contributed negatively to self-restraint (p < 0.05). Moreover, self-restraint was decreasing over time. These findings clarify the Japanese university students’ KAP and the related factors in the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they may help university managers, experts, and policymakers control the future spread of COVID-19 and other emerging infections.


Author(s):  
Talal H Alharazi ◽  
Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi

Abstract Background This cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards schistosomiasis among rural schoolchildren in Taiz governorate, southwestern Yemen. Methods A total of 406 children were screened for urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the children's demographic and socio-economic information and their KAP towards schistosomiasis. Results Overall, 73 children (18%) were found to be infected by Schistosoma mansoni. None of the children were positive for Schistosoma haematobium. The prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis was significantly higher among boys than girls (22.1% vs 12%; p=0.010). Approximately two-thirds (63.3% [257/406]) of the children had heard about schistosomiasis, however, only 38.5%, 53.6%, 28.4% and 38.1% had correct knowledge concerning the causes, symptoms, transmission and prevention, respectively. A significantly higher level of knowledge was observed among boys and Schistosoma-infected children compared with girls and non-infected children (p&lt;0.05). However, a better level of knowledge does not seem to translate directly into the performance of hygienic practices. Multivariate logistic regression showed that sex and infection status were the significant predictors of good knowledge. Conclusions Intestinal schistosomiasis is prevalent among schoolchildren in rural Yemen. The findings reveal that children's knowledge about schistosomiasis is inadequate. Therefore, besides mass drug administration, integrated control programmes should also include health education and the provision of improved drinking water and proper sanitation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-288
Author(s):  
Godwin O. Ovenseri-Ogbomo ◽  
Waleed Alghamdi

Purpose: To address the human resources challenge for the provision of low vision services in Saudi Arabia, this study sought to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of optometrists in Saudi Arabia regarding low vision services. The knowledge and attitudes to low vision services can influence the provision of low vision services by optometrists. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey of optometrists practicing in Saudi Arabia was undertaken using an online questionnaire designed to elicit the opinions of respondents. The online questionnaire was sent out to optometrists on the official mailing list of registered optometrists and those on the mailing list of the Saudi Society of Optometry. Results: Only 26.5% of the respondents correctly indicated the correct designation of low vision in terms of visual acuity. Although 95.8% indicated that optical low vision devices could help people with low vision, 81.6% reported that low vision devices were expensive, and 42.9% felt low vision practice was not profitable. Only 10.4% of respondents provide low vision services in their practice. Insufficient training in low vision care was the main barrier militating against the provision of low vision services. Conclusion: The pertinent finding in this study is that about a quarter of the respondents could correctly designate low vision in terms of visual acuity using the World Health Organization (WHO) definition. The study concluded that there was poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices of optometrists in Saudi Arabia regarding low vision, which has implications for the provision of low vision services by optometrists.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Razan Alduraibi ◽  
Waleed Altowayan

Abstract Background: Self-Medication is common practice worldwide in both developed and developing countries. Self-Medication is referred as self consumption of medication without consulting a physician for either diagnosis or treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices toward self-medication among medical and pharmacy students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical and pharmacy students in Qassim university, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, during the period 2020-2021.Multistage random sampling technique was used to recruit students. The data were collected through questionnaire.Results: Three hundred and sixteen of 316 students were recruited. This study showed that the majority (94.6%) of students had good knowledge of self-medication. Additionally, the following characteristics were significantly associated with good knowledge: being female, and Pharmacy students. Overall mean score for the attitudes towards self-medication shows that 58.4% of the total sample had high agreements towards the questions of the attitudes toward self-medication. More than half (63.9%) of the students reported that they practice self- medication in the last 6 months. Pain killers was the most common medication used for self- medication by the majority of the students (88.29%). Conclusions: In conclusion, students' knowledge of self-medication appears to be good and significantly high among pharmacy students in comparison to medical students. As well self-medication was highly practiced among the students. Therefor, medical and pharmacy students should be viewed as important contributors to the public health care system, and future health professionals should be properly educated on good pharmacy practice and responsible self-medication.Trial registrationNot applicable


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajon Banik ◽  
Mahmudur Rahman ◽  
Md. Tajuddin Sikder ◽  
Quazi Maksudur Rahman ◽  
Mamun Ur Rashid Pranta

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among young adults in Bangladesh. Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 5th May to 25th May 2020. Young adults aged between 18-35 years were approached via social media to complete an online questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics and KAP towards COVID-19. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple logistic regression were conducted.Results: Of the 707 survey participants, the majority were male (57.1%), with a mean age of 25.03 (SD: 4.26) years, 60.3% were students, 57% had a bachelor's degree, and 64.4% were urban residents. Participants gather information on COVID-19 mostly through Social media (70.4%). Overall, 61.2% had adequate knowledge with 78.9% having a positive attitude towards COVID-19 and only 51.6% had good practices. Most (86.8%) of the participants were confident that COVID-19 will be successfully controlled and Bangladesh was handling the COVID-19 health crisis well (84.20%). Only 75.2% of participants always washed hands with soap or hand-sanitizer and 70.6% wore a mask when going outside the home in recent days. Factors associated with adequate knowledge were being female, having a master's degree and above, and living in an urban area (𝑝 < 0.05). Participants having adequate knowledge of COVID-19 had higher likelihood of positive attitudes (OR: 6.41, 95% CI = 2.34-25.56, 𝑝 = 0.000) and good practices (OR: 8.93, 95% CI = 3.92-38.42, 𝑝 = 0.000).Conclusion: Introducing effective COVID-19 Health campaigns incorporating factors to influence KAP is urgently needed.


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