tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Public Health
. 2021 Jan 5;21(1):21.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-10083-y.
Knowledge, attitude and perception of Pakistanis towards COVID-19; a large cross-sectional survey
Zoya Fatima Rizwan Ladiwala[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rubaid Azhar Dhillon[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Ibrahim Zahid[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Omar Irfan[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Muhammad Sharjeel Khan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Safia Awan[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Javaid Ahmad Khan[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has created havoc globally as countries worldwide struggle to combat this pandemic. Since prevention and social isolation are known to be the only ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this has created challenges among the lower-middle income countries (LMIC) including Pakistan, as it battles between an under-resourced healthcare, an economic shutdown, and widespread myths and misconceptions. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding COVID-19 as public understanding is vital to help facilitate the control of this outbreak.
Methods: A pre-validated online questionnaire was distributed among the general population of Pakistan from 1st to 12th June 2020. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS v25. Adequate knowledge was assigned as a score of > 4 (range: 0-8) and good perception as a score of > 3 (range: 0-5). Chi-square test was used to determine the significance of difference in knowledge and perception of COVID-19 with socio-demographic characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was run to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge and perception. P < 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: A total of 1200 respondents participated in this study with a wide range of age groups and education. Majority of the respondents had adequate knowledge (93.3%) with a mean score of 6.59 ? 1.35, and good perception (85.6%) with a mean score of 4.29 ? 0.82. Significant differences in knowledge and perception were observed among genders, age groups, education and between students and employees in the healthcare and non-healthcare department. A multivariate analysis revealed a higher educational status and female gender to be significant predictors of adequate knowledge and perception.
Conclusions: Albeit the surge of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan, the participants demonstrated an overall adequate knowledge and good perception towards COVID-19. There is a need to follow the preventive protocols and dissemination of correct information through conducting educational interventions that target safe health practices and provide appropriate information on this infection.
Keywords: Attitude; Coronavirus; Knowledge; Pakistan; Pandemic; Perception.
. 2021 Jan 5;21(1):21.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-10083-y.
Knowledge, attitude and perception of Pakistanis towards COVID-19; a large cross-sectional survey
Zoya Fatima Rizwan Ladiwala[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rubaid Azhar Dhillon[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Ibrahim Zahid[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Omar Irfan[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Muhammad Sharjeel Khan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Safia Awan[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Javaid Ahmad Khan[SUP] 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33402145
- DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-10083-y
Abstract
Background: The Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has created havoc globally as countries worldwide struggle to combat this pandemic. Since prevention and social isolation are known to be the only ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this has created challenges among the lower-middle income countries (LMIC) including Pakistan, as it battles between an under-resourced healthcare, an economic shutdown, and widespread myths and misconceptions. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and perceptions regarding COVID-19 as public understanding is vital to help facilitate the control of this outbreak.
Methods: A pre-validated online questionnaire was distributed among the general population of Pakistan from 1st to 12th June 2020. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS v25. Adequate knowledge was assigned as a score of > 4 (range: 0-8) and good perception as a score of > 3 (range: 0-5). Chi-square test was used to determine the significance of difference in knowledge and perception of COVID-19 with socio-demographic characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was run to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge and perception. P < 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: A total of 1200 respondents participated in this study with a wide range of age groups and education. Majority of the respondents had adequate knowledge (93.3%) with a mean score of 6.59 ? 1.35, and good perception (85.6%) with a mean score of 4.29 ? 0.82. Significant differences in knowledge and perception were observed among genders, age groups, education and between students and employees in the healthcare and non-healthcare department. A multivariate analysis revealed a higher educational status and female gender to be significant predictors of adequate knowledge and perception.
Conclusions: Albeit the surge of COVID-19 cases in Pakistan, the participants demonstrated an overall adequate knowledge and good perception towards COVID-19. There is a need to follow the preventive protocols and dissemination of correct information through conducting educational interventions that target safe health practices and provide appropriate information on this infection.
Keywords: Attitude; Coronavirus; Knowledge; Pakistan; Pandemic; Perception.