RESUMO
@#COVID-19 global pandemic is spreading rapidly between close contacts through respiratory droplets. The most effective measures to combat and reduce infection outbreaks include social distancing, movement restrictions, and health sector capacity building, as well as public health. Scientists emphasize the importance of containing the number of positive cases without exceeding current doctors and hospital resources. They concluded that quarantine, particularly complete lockdown is effective in controlling the risk. </br> Furthermore, the mistakes reported during lockdown enforcement are the only measures to be taken when the infection rate peaks. In the highest infection rate, the intensive care unit needs to increase by 10 percent in only 24 hours if there is no lockdown. In China, complete and partial quarantines in COVID-19 outbreak areas were effective in containing the infection transmission. Mongolia declared a state of emergency and enforced quarantine on November 10, 2020, since the first positive case was reported. Without the quarantine, the number of positive cases is estimated to be 3.2 times higher.
RESUMO
Introduction@#In 11 March, 2020 WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic demands health care systems and decision-makers around the world to take effective preventive measures, policies, and decisions. The pandemic continues to affect individual and social mental health, well-being, lives, relationships, as well as economic stability. Therefore, we measure individual and social responses in this context 1) by measuring unexpected events and actions being taken accordingly, and 2) by the effectiveness of the organized responses to the pandemic. Prevalence of COVID-19 epidemics has a direct relationship with the general population behavior, therefore preventive measures against the spread of COVID is vital. Estimation of practices towards COVID-19 in the population will greatly assist in intensifying the government's efforts to prevent it. Therefore, there is a need to identify the population’s prevention behaviors, attitudes, and information needs about coronavirus infection (COVID-19), to further improve the responses, risk communications, and to ensure public preparedness.@*Materials and Methods@#This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of Mongolia using quantitative and qualitative (II & FGD and observation) cross-sectional survey method. The study was adapted to the specifics of the country, using the research tools and guidelines developed by the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, the COVID-19 readiness and response, and risk information communication planning. </br> Total of 1740 people aged 15-60 years old participated in the study from 3 bordering provinces (Bayan-Ulgii, Selenge and Dornogovi) and 2 districts of Ulaanbaatar (Songinokhairkhan and Chingeltei). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. Deviation values of 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to assess the difference between the measurement of accuracy of the results (distribution rate) and the groups (age, sex, location). @*Results@#According to the results 47.5% (95%CI: 44.9-49.7) participants were from Ulaanbaatar and 56.7% (95%CI: 50.3-55.1) were from rural areas. The participants' average age was 35. Most of the participants were married (72.0%, 1252) and women (60.7%, 1057). As for living conditions 34.8% (95%CI: 32.7-37.1) of the participants live in apartments and 65.2% (95%CI: 62.9-67.3) live in ger areas. Respondents had answered to an average of 9.23 ± 3.2 (95%CI: 9.09-9.38) out of 14 scored questions for required knowledge of COVID-19. Knowledge score was higher among female participants (9.43±3.14) than that among male participants (p=0.0001).The score of participants with incomplete secondary education was 8.13 ± 3.24, however this score has increased to 8.32 ± 3.44 for those with complete secondary education and 10.08 ± 2.71 for those with higher education (p=0.0001). The majority of participants perceived COVID-19 pandemic as very dangerous. 69.8% of the surveyed population has been able to prevent COVID-19 in the last 14 days. This suggests that more than half of the population has a practice of preparedness of COVID-19: wearing a mask, keep distance, and hygiene. 81.6% of the participants said that they use masks when going out, but most of them use them incorrectly, which is reflected in the decrease in the frequency of people wearing masks when shopping, public transportation and public transportation. Half of the respondents said that in places where interpersonal space is regulated, they keeping distance. However, 2 out of 3 people cannot keep distance. According to the survey, 41.6% of the respondents used to wash their hands regularly, 58% cleaned and disinfected, 67.0% avoided touching their eyes, nose and mouth with dirty hands, and 76.6% using napkins and elbows when coughing and sneezing. COVID-19 prevention practices in the population were statistically significant in relation to their knowledge of COVID-19.@*Conclusion@#Despite to 81.4 percent of the surveyed population reported they wear face masks outdoors, quantitative and observational studies have shown that people wear face masks indoors relatively for a long period of time and handle it incorrectly. Two out of three respondents were not following social distancing guidelines at all. According to the survey result, good hygiene practices towards COVID-19 prevention was insufficient such as not washing hands properly (58.4%), not possessing hand sanitizer (42.1%), touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (22.1%), and not covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (23.4%).