scholarly journals How Does Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Correlate in Relation to COVID-19? A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Tula Ram Sijali ◽  
Ramji Bogati ◽  
Andrew Clarke ◽  
Pratik Adhikary ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health emergency requiring an effective public health response including citizen's roles in preventing spread and controlling the pandemic. Little is known about public knowledge, beliefs and behaviors in-relation to the pandemic in Nepal. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 among the general public and to identify associated factors.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May–June 2020 with a sample of 645, recruited from 26 hospitals across Nepal. We conducted telephone interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire related to KAP regarding COVID-19. T-test and one-way ANOVA was conducted to determine group differences for socio-demographic variables. Linear regression and correlational analysis were performed to identify associated factors and measure strength and direction of relationships.Results: Overall mean scores for knowledge, attitude and practice were 11.6 (SD 4.5), 2.7 (SD 1.8), and 9.9 (SD 1.93) respectively, but differed by socio-demographic characteristics. Positive but weak linear correlations were observed between knowledge-practice (r = 0.19, p < 0.01) and attitude-practice (r = 0.08, p < 0.05). The relationship between knowledge and education was fairly strong (r = 0.34, p < 0.01). Province, place of residence, ecological area, age, gender and caste/ethnicity were also significantly associated with KAP score of participants.Conclusion: The study found varying degrees of correlation between Knowledge, Attitude and Practice that may increase as the pandemic evolves in Nepal. Knowledge and level of education had positive associations with attitude and adherence to precautionary measures. The findings suggest a need for targeted community awareness interventions for the most vulnerable populations, men, those with no school education, the elderly and people living in rural areas.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hridaya Raj Devkota ◽  
Tula Ram Sijali ◽  
Ramji Bogati ◽  
Andrew Clarke ◽  
Pratik Adhikary ◽  
...  

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic has created a global health emergency requiring an effective public health response including citizens' roles in preventing the spread and controlling the pandemic. Little is known about public knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors in relation to the pandemic in Nepal. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) towards COVID 19 among the general public and to identify associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May to June 2020 with a sample of 645, recruited from 26 hospitals across Nepal. We conducted telephone interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire related to KAP regarding COVID 19. T-test and one-way ANOVA was conducted to determine group differences for socio-demographic variables. Linear regression and correlational analysis were performed to identify associated factors and measure the strength and direction of relationships. Results: Overall mean scores for knowledge, attitude and practice were 11.6 (SD 4.5), 2.7 (SD 1.8), and 9.9 (SD 1.93) respectively but differed by socio-demographic characteristics. Positive but weak linear correlations were observed between knowledge-practice (r=0.19, p<0.01) and attitude-practice (r=0.08, p<0.05). The relationship between knowledge and education was fairly strong (r = 0.34, p< 0.01). Province, place of residence, ecological area, age, gender, and caste/ethnicity were also significantly associated with the KAP score of participants. Conclusion: The study found varying degrees of correlation between Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice that may increase as the pandemic evolves in Nepal. Knowledge and level of education had positive associations with attitude and adherence to precautionary measures. The findings suggest a need for targeted community awareness interventions for the most vulnerable populations, men, those with no school education, the elderly, and people living in rural areas. Keywords: COVID-19, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Correlates, Nepal


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Kwuntida Uthaisar Kotepui ◽  
Manas Kotepui ◽  
Chuchard Punsawad

Malaria is a potential medical emergency and should be treated immediately because delays in diagnosis and treatment are the leading causes of death in many countries. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice related to malaria diagnosis for early detection among healthcare workers in the laboratories of hospitals in Thailand. The design of the study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between January 2016 and March 2017 at 11 hospitals in Thailand. The interviewees included any scientists who were currently working in a medical laboratory. Mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice for each healthcare group were calculated and compared between groups. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS version 11.5 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Among a total of 118 healthcare workers, most of the healthcare workers had fair to good knowledge, attitude, and practice related to malaria detection. Among the various positions of healthcare workers, medical technologists possessed a greater knowledge on malaria detection than medical technician assistants or laboratory assistants (X2 = 9.822, d.f. = 2, and P value=0.007). This study infers that knowledge, attitude, and practice related to malaria detection among healthcare workers in laboratories were adequate. However, some points of knowledge and practice must be updated. There is a very urgent need to update knowledge on malaria, especially about the number of Plasmodium species causing relapse in malaria patients. In addition, there is an urgent need to update the practice related to malaria detection, especially about the staining process for early detection of malaria.


2018 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Tripathi ◽  
Hafiz A. Makeen ◽  
Ahmed A. Albarraq ◽  
Abdulkarim M. Meraya ◽  
Pankaj Tripathi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 01-13
Author(s):  
Archana Mavoori ◽  
Sudha Bala ◽  
Rajiv Kumar Bandaru ◽  
Aruna Kumari Yerra

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has imposed upon the entire community norms of social distancing and home quarantine. Follow up consultations in these times can be made through teledermatology through smart phones. Success of this technology in these hours of crisis depends upon the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of patients towards teledermatology. Follow up consultations done through teleconsultations will decrease risk of exposure to COVID-19 among psoriasis patients who need frequent follow ups. Aim: The main objective of this study is to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitude and practice of teledermatology through teledermatology among psoriasis patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey, from Psoriasis Clinic registry maintained in the outpatient department of DVL of a tertiary care teaching hospital in India is conducted. A pre-validated self-administered questionnaire is used for the survey to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of teledermatology. Analysis will be done as per study objectives using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and content analysis for qualitative data. Results: Out of 150 patients, 87(58%) were males and females were 63(42%). Most common age group to participate in the study was 36-45 years- 43(28.7%). Majority of participants were educated up to –graduate 53(35.3%). Males had higher knowledge and attitude scores compared to females. Most of the patients found using teleconsutations easy and convenient. Conclusion: Teledermatology is the need of the hour to be implemented in these hours of COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adedapo Olufemi Bashorun ◽  
Christopher Linda ◽  
Semeeh Omoleke ◽  
Lindsay Kendall ◽  
Simon D. Donkor ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) are the mainstay of global and national TB control efforts. However, the gap between expected and reported cases persists for various reasons attributable to the TB services and care-seeking sides of the TB care cascade. Understanding individual and collective perspectives of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and other social circumstances around TB can inform an evidence-based approach in engaging communities and enhance their participation in TB case detection and treatment. Methods The study was conducted during the Gambian survey of TB prevalence. This was a nationwide cross-sectional multistage cluster survey with 43,100 participants aged ≥15 years in 80 clusters. The study sample, a random selection of 10% of the survey population within each cluster responded to a semi-structured questionnaire administered by trained fieldworkers to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of the participants towards TB. Overall knowledge, attitude and practice scores were dichotomised using the computed mean scores and analysed using descriptive, univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results All targeted participants (4309) were interviewed. Majority were females 2553 (59.2%), married 2614 (60.7%), had some form of education 2457 (57%), and were unemployed 2368 (55%). Although 3617 (83.9%) of the participants had heard about TB, only 2883 (66.9%) were considered to have good knowledge of TB. Overall 3320 (77%) had unfavourable attitudes towards TB, including 1896 (44%) who indicated a preference for staying away from persons with TB rather than helping them. However, 3607(83.7%) appeared to have the appropriate health-seeking behaviours with regard to TB as 4157 (96.5%) of them were willing to go to the health facility if they had symptoms suggestive of TB. Conclusions About 3 in 10 Gambians had poor knowledge on TB, and significant stigma towards TB and persons with TB persists. Interventions to improve TB knowledge and address stigma are required as part of efforts to reduce the burden of undiagnosed TB in the country.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbo Li ◽  
Weihua Fan ◽  
Yueshan Zhou ◽  
Linmei Wu ◽  
Wei Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Dental caries of deciduous teeth (Early Childhood Caries, ECC) has become a crucial oral health problem over the decades in China. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and severity of ECC among preschool children from Guangdong Province, Southern China. In addition, to assess the association of ECC with reported oral health-related behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 2592 participants was carried out in Guangdong Province by means of an equal-sized, stratified, multistage random sampling method during December 2015 and April 2016. The participants were divided into three groups according to their ages (3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds). Half of the participants were derived from urban areas, while the other from rural areas. According to the standard for clinical dentition examination of the WHO 2013 criteria, the presence of ECC was determined by the dmft (decayed-missing-filled tooth) index using a CPI (Community Periodontal Index) probe. A questionnaire about caries-related factors was completed by each of the participants’ parents or grandparents through a face-to-face and one-on-one interview. Then, t-test, Chi2 tests, One-Way ANOVA served for statistical analysis, and logistic regression analysis as well as covariance analysis were executed to identify potential associated factors for ECC. Results The prevalence (% dmft > 0) of ECC was 68.3 (95% CI: 66.5–70.1), the mean dmft was 4.36 (95% CI: 4.17–4.55), and the filled rate was 1.2%. In multivariable modeling, associated factors for both prevalence and mean dmft were older age, rural areas, consumption of sweets before sleep, dental visit history, low household income, and low parental education level. Initiating toothbrushing after 3 years of age and being exclusively/ predominantly breastfed indicated only the prevalence; being female and frequently consuming sweetened milk/powdered milk indicated only the mean dmft. Conclusions Preschool children in Guangdong Province, especially children from rural areas, experienced a significant amount of ECC. Associated factors for ECC included demographics, oral health measures, dietary factors, and socioeconomic factors. More attention should be given to prevention of ECC from early life. The construction of social support for oral health should be strengthened. Oral health education and promotion, especially of rural areas, should be intensified to reduce the inequality between urban and rural areas.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 463-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Ju Seo ◽  
Dong Young Lee ◽  
Mi Ra Sung

ABSTRACTBackground:The highest increase in the prevalence of dementia in the elderly population is expected in South Korea than in any other country in the world. However, there is no assessment of the community-based general populations’ understanding of dementia in South Korea, in spite of the increasing burden of dementia. Thus, this study assessed the public knowledge about dementia.Methods:This is a population-based, cross-sectional study of 2,189 participants, aged 10 years or older, and living in Seoul, South Korea. A 12-item questionnaire with true/false responses was used to assess the knowledge about dementia from June to November 2011. The data obtained were analyzed using quantitative methods.Results:The mean score for the knowledge about dementia was 9.0 ± 2.1 points out of 12 points. More than half of the respondents (52.7%) reported that dementia is not treatable, and one-third of the participants did not know that Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The level of dementia knowledge was negatively associated with increasing age, and positively associated with higher education level.Conclusions:Our results suggest that although laypersons had a fair knowledge about dementia, further educational programs and campaigns are needed to improve knowledge about dementia, more focusing on elderly adults as the target audience and emphasizing the causes and treatments of dementia as educational contents.


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