Knowledge, Attitude and Anxiety about the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic among the Urban Community of Mumbai: A Cross Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 288-292
Author(s):  
Sheetal Aurangabadkar ◽  
Asmita Karajgi

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation. Pandemics can lead to increased level of stress and anxiety. This is especially true for COVID -19 when there is speculation surrounding the mode and rate of transmission, with the disease spreading at such a magnitude all around the globe. This online survey, related to the knowledge, attitude and anxiety about the novel Corona virus, was conducted among the urban population of Mumbai, India. A total of 155 responses were obtained. All the participants were above 18 years and of Indian origin. Among the participants, 74.2% were females and 25.8% were males. A majority of responders were aware of the basic knowledge of the disease COVID 19. About 65.2% participants reported that Corona virus can spread through touching, sneezing, kissing and food. Most of the participants had positive attitude towards the disease and the social practises related to the COVID 19. Majority of the participants complained of high anxiety and stress related to their personal hygiene, keeping a stock of all the essentials in their home and a constant fear of getting infected. Conclusion – There is moderate level of awareness about the knowledge related to the mode and spread of COVID 19 among the study population due to their high level of education and internet access. Though there is a positive attitude towards the practise of COVID protocol like isolation and the need for avoiding crowded places, there is still fear of getting infected among the study population. Key words: Corona virus, Knowledge, Attitude, Anxiety, World Health Organisation.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
K SATHYAMURTHI

World is completely shut for more than a month due to the pandemic health situation of COVID19. World Health Organisation (WHO) declared February 2020 Corona Virus is causing pandemic health condition in the globe. SARS-CoV2 initiating from China, novel Corona moved towards east and then crossed to west showing its tyrannical face in each country. Almost eighty percent of the nation in this globe had been deadly affected and locked down was declared almost ninety percent of the nations by the novel corona. Human beings are striving hard to overcome the strange corona virus. The curative medicines have not produced till now the only way is to preventive measures. India has been locked down for more than three month due to the corona virus. The study aims in understanding the extent of awareness on SARS-CoV-2 among Indian residents through a cross sectional survey. The study instruments is self developed KAP scale consists of 12 statements related to the Corona virus clinical and preventive characteristics and the practice pattern of COVID19. The study covers about 9121 samples residing in India. The study shows that about sixty percent of the participants are highly aware about SARS-CoV-2. The knowledge, attitude and awareness about the spread of the corona virus have less impact on practicing preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2


Author(s):  
Subrata Baidya ◽  
Debosmita Paul ◽  
Purvita Chowdhury

A cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown aetiology was reported from Wuhan, Hubei province of China on 31st December, 2019. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30th January, 2020. Thereafter, it has spread through China and reached the level of a pandemic expanding to 210 countries with 77.9M confirmed cases and 1.71M deaths as per Corona virus Disease (COVID-19) situation report issued by WHO based on data received upto 23rdDecember, 2020. A number of questions remain unanswered regarding pathogen-associated variables for amplification dynamics, host environment and agent interaction. This short communication makes an effort to compile the information gathered from published articles of renowned journals and newsletters to explore the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19. Hereby in this article, authors have tried to assemble the epidemiological lacunae created by the novel characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus-2) which presently pose a rather puzzling transmission dynamics of COVID-19 that still remain unanswered.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Sam Quarm ◽  
Rosemond Sam-Quarm ◽  
Richmond Sam-Quarm

The novel, dreaded, disruptive, and disastrous Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm in January, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana is part of the worldwide coronavirus disease caused by “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)”. On 12th January, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness that affected a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This was reported to the WHO on 31st December, 2019. On 11th March, 2020, WHO declared the novel Covid-19 a global pandemic (Graphic Online, 2020a). It is worthy to note how the Government of Ghana, political parties, citizens, scientists and academia, corporate entities, faith based organisations, traditional rulers, have offered varied forms of interventions to combat the scourge. The Theoretical Framework of this research was underpinned by the Theory of Epidemics, the Agency Theory, the Rational Choice Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. We conducted a cross-sectional research through non-probability and purposive sampling with 250 respondents. We also employed face-to-face interviews, structured closed-ended and open-ended Questionnaires (Braun and Clarke, 2012; Denzin, 2017), which were administered online through email application via Google Forms. One of our major findings was that with the approval of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by the UK’s MHRA on 1st December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020b); and subsequently by the US FDA a week later on 8th December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020c), all governments around the globe in general, but Africa in particular, must make conscious efforts backed by adequate budgetary allocations to secure maximum quantities of the vaccines for their vulnerable teeming population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 1498
Author(s):  
Dhairya P. Nanavaty ◽  
Ankushi A. Sanghvi ◽  
Manav S. Mehta ◽  
Sarbari Gupta ◽  
Gurusharan Dumra

Background: The World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.  The consumption of vitamins, especially C, D, and zinc, hydroxychloroquine, and Arsenicum album 30 (homeopathy), has increased tremendously. However, the clinical trial showing the benefits of these agents is still underway though there have been a lot of discussion about these in print, electronic, and social media.Method: A questionnaire-based observational study was conducted. The participants were inquired about the use of any type of immunity booster by them and the source of information regarding the same. The data was analysed using Excel and Python.Results: Our study included 1147 participants. A dramatic increase of 21.97% in the consumption of immunity-boosting agents after the COVID-19 outbreak was observed, maximally in Ayurveda. The major source of information for immunity-boosters was provided by friends/family/relatives (50.4%). 52.7% of the respondents selected Ayurveda as their preferred choice of immunity booster (prophylaxis). If the respondents were to develop any of the COVID-19 symptoms, the majority (45.1%) decided to contact their family doctor, and 53.7% chose Allopathy as their preferred system for treatment. 91.5% of the respondents agreed to take a vaccine if it develops.Conclusion: There has been a boom in the immunity booster drug market because people are selecting immunity boosters despite no scientific background. It is imperative to educate people regarding the same and also conduct research studies to find benefits, if any.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Sam Quarm ◽  
Rosemond Sam-Quarm ◽  
Richmond Sam-Quarm

The novel, dreaded, disruptive, and disastrous Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm in January, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana is part of the worldwide coronavirus disease caused by “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)”. On 12th January, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness that affected a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This was reported to the WHO on 31st December, 2019. On 11th March, 2020, WHO declared the novel Covid-19 a global pandemic (Graphic Online, 2020a). It is worthy to note how the Government of Ghana, political parties, citizens, scientists and academia, corporate entities, faith based organisations, traditional rulers, have offered varied forms of interventions to combat the scourge. The Theoretical Framework of this research was underpinned by the Theory of Epidemics, the Agency Theory, the Rational Choice Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. We conducted a cross-sectional research through non-probability and purposive sampling with 250 respondents. We also employed face-to-face interviews, structured closed-ended and open-ended Questionnaires (Braun and Clarke, 2012; Denzin, 2017), which were administered online through email application via Google Forms. One of our major findings was that with the approval of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by the UK’s MHRA on 1st December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020b); and subsequently by the US FDA a week later on 8th December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020c), all governments around the globe in general, but Africa in particular, must make conscious efforts backed by adequate budgetary allocations to secure maximum quantities of the vaccines for their vulnerable teeming population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (02) ◽  
pp. 5241-5245
Author(s):  
Mirza Bhuiyan

Background: Based on data from the World Health Organisation, it has been shown that Novel Corona virus pandemic disrupts normal activity in whole world. Lockdowns are known to reduce the transmission of virus and enforced almost in the entire world based on countries recommendations. In South Africa, lockdown measures were imposed from 26th March 2020 and health care services became seriously affected particularly elective surgical operations. Objectives: Main aim of the study is to estimate the effect of lockdown on the general surgery services in Mankweng hospital. Method: This is a retrospective cross sectional observational descriptive study. Data for study include admission, operation & attendance to outpatient clinic collected during a lockdown period of 3 months(April-June 2020) and normal period of 3 months(April-June 2019) from  Mankweng Hospital Information System. Result: During the lockdown period April-June 2020, total 291 patients were seen in Surgical Outpatient Department and 122 in Breast Oncology Clinic. There were 197 patients admitted to the hospital and 120 operations performed in theatres. During April-June in 2019, total 442 patients were seen in Surgical Outpatient Department and 152 in Breast Oncology Clinic. There were 500 patients admitted to the hospital and 166 operations performed in theatres. During lockdown elective general surgery operations were reduced noticeably. Conclusions: Restoration of elective operations should start as soon as Corona virus pandemic slows down and extra elective theatre list should be enrolled during weekends to reduce the backlog at least for few months.         


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richmond Sam Quarm ◽  
◽  
Rosemond Sam-Quarm ◽  
Richmond Sam-Quarm ◽  
◽  
...  

The novel, dreaded, disruptive, and disastrous Covid-19 pandemic took the world by storm in January, 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana is part of the worldwide coronavirus disease caused by “severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2)”. On 12th January, 2020 the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed that the novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness that affected a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. This was reported to the WHO on 31st December, 2019. On 11th March, 2020, WHO declared the novel Covid-19 a global pandemic (Graphic Online, 2020a). It is worthy to note how the Government of Ghana, political parties, citizens, scientists and academia, corporate entities, faith based organisations, traditional rulers, have offered varied forms of interventions to combat the scourge. The Theoretical Framework of this research was underpinned by the Theory of Epidemics, the Agency Theory, the Rational Choice Theory, and the Stakeholder Theory. We conducted a cross-sectional research through non-probability and purposive sampling with 250 respondents. We also employed face-to-face interviews, structured closed-ended and open-ended Questionnaires (Braun and Clarke, 2012; Denzin, 2017), which were administered online through email application via Google Forms. One of our major findings was that with the approval of Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by the UK’s MHRA on 1st December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020b); and subsequently by the US FDA a week later on 8th December, 2020 (Graphic Online, 2020c), all governments around the globe in general, but Africa in particular, must make conscious efforts backed by adequate budgetary allocations to secure maximum quantities of the vaccines for their vulnerable teeming population.


Author(s):  
Syam Sreedharan ◽  
Dhanya Sasidharan Palappallil ◽  
Elza Joy Munjely

Background: Short answer question (SAQ) is an excellent tool for assessment. Objective of this study was to understand the practices adopted in answering SAQ, assessment of reliability and validity of SAQ and faculty feedback on valuing SAQs.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Pharmacology of a Government Medical College in Central Kerala from December 2018-January 2019. The study participants were given 10 minutes to answer the two chosen SAQs after which the response sheets were collected and valued by 2 independent examiners. Feedback on correction of the same questions was sought from Pharmacology faculties of various Medical Colleges through online survey. The data were analysed using SPSS software.Results: 100% participants attempted to answer the SAQ ‘Definition of a drug’ but none of them came out with the World Health Organisation definition of drug. For the second SAQ, ‘Two uses of atropine’ around 25(20.8%) participants had written two uses of the drug correctly. The reliability was 0 for ‘definition of a drug’ and 0. 50 (95% CI 0.082-0.702) for ‘Two uses of atropine’ and both the questions had no validity. The feedback on valuing definition and two use of atropine was variable.Conclusions: None of the students wrote definition of a drug correctly and majority gave multiple responses to uses of atropine instead of two valid responses. The short answer questions we tested were found to have moderate to no reliability and no validity. The faculties had variable perceptions in valuing the two short answer questions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
Michael Abiola Okunlola ◽  
Emmanuel Lamptey ◽  
Ephraim Kumi Senkyire ◽  
Serwaa Dorcas ◽  
Benita Aki Dooshima

The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) which was first reported in Wuhan, China has now spread globally becoming a matter of international concern. The World Health Organization officially changed their classification of the situation from a Public Health Emergency of International Concern to a Pandemic on March 11, 2020. As the corona virus continues to spread rapidly so do the headline news and a host of misconceptions surrounding the outbreak. This paper investigated and highlighted some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the outbreak of the covid-19. Using a cross-sectional survey method, the study collected and analysed data on these misconceptions and examined factors that influence the levels of these misconceptions. The study identified four top misconceptions respondents believe or agree with. These are; the novel corona virus is deadly (83.3%), Hand sanitizers do kill the virus (67.5%), face mask offer protection against the virus (55.8%) and Drying the hands with hand dryer helps to prevent the virus (44.2%). However, respondents were able to disagree, identify correctly and debunked certain statements of misconception. These include coronavirus affect only the elderly (95%), the virus can spread by mosquito bites (87.5%), antibiotics are effective for treatment (60%) and homemade remedies can cure the corona virus (54. 2%). Factors such as employment status and the relatedness of respondent’s occupation to Human Health were found to influence some of these misconceptions. Exploring these misconceptions keep the general public fully educated and informed about the facts of the outbreak as well as avoiding making up these misconceptions to protect themselves.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 4976
Author(s):  
Anca Elena Butaru ◽  
Dan Ionuț Gheonea ◽  
Ion Rogoveanu ◽  
Mircea Diculescu ◽  
Ancuța-Ramona Boicea ◽  
...  

Background: In response to the goal of the World Health Organisation to eliminate hepatitis C virus infections by 2030, Romania is striving for national elimination. An already successful micro-elimination project was expanded to test-and-treat specific populations and at-risk groups. The aim of this project was to identify the individuals with HCV infection in disadvantaged regions who do not have proper medical care access. Materials and Methods: Our two-arm interventional cross-sectional study used rapid anti-HCV antibody testing on two population groups from the Romanian southwestern region of Oltenia, approached between September 2020 and May 2021. The first group consisted of predominantly over 40 years old individuals, recruited through five family doctors from two medium-sized towns (community lot—CL). We approached a second group, aged 18–65, through 11 medical offices of five large factories in the same region (industry lot, IL). A 12-items questionnaire was given to each participant, to determine risk factors and record demographic data. Eligible patients initiated antiviral therapy using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Results: We enrolled 15,383 individuals between all 16 locations. The overall prevalence by antibody testing was 0.77% (119 cases). Of these, 57 subsequently received treatment with DAAs. We identified blood transfusions as a risk factor within the CL. Participants in the IL reported a relatively high risk for the following situations: sharing of personal hygiene belongings with another person, performing previous blood transfusions, dental interventions and previous surgery. Conclusions: In this global context, the use of micro-elimination allows interventions to be faster and more efficient. This is possible by targeting smaller and specific HCV risk groups.


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