ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 a highly contagious virus causing the current global pandemic of COVID -19 is transmitted mainly through close physical contact and airborne transmission of respiratory droplets, and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Objective: The study was carried out aiming to assess knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of university level (medical and nonmedical) students towards COVID-19. Methods: This online cross-sectional KAP study was carried out among university level students. The questionnaire used consisted of two main sections: demographic and knowledge, attitude and practic es (KAP) towards COVID-19 transmission and prevention. Demographic variables included gender, age, religion, marital status, type of education. KAP section consisted of 14 questions for assessment of knowledge regarding clinical symptoms, transmission route, vaccine, prevention and cont rol of COVID-19. The link of the online questionnaire was shared with students of three government and one private medical colleges and 8 universities of which 5 government and 3 private through their faculties with an invitation to participating in the study. Results: A total of 399 students participated in the study, 6 1.9% were non-medical and 38.1% were medical students;males accounted for 62.7% of the respondents. Knowledge and practice scores were significantly higher in females than in males (p< 0.05). KAP scores were significantly higher among medical students compared to non-medical students (p< 0.05). Though about 52.1% of total students had good knowledge, less than 25% had favourable attitude and 48.6% had good practices towards preventive m easures of COVID-19. Conclusion: There is need for more awareness campaign focusing the students to cover their knowledge gaps, motivation for appropriate practices and further improvement of attitude and practices towards preve ntion of COVID-19 transmission. © 2020 Bangladesh Medical Research Council. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: Cornonavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization on the 11th March 2020. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of the population towards the COVID-19, play an integral role in determining community’s readiness to engage themselves in government measures including behavioural change in prevention and control of the disease. Objectives: The study was aimed to determine the knowledge levels, attitudes and practices towards the COVID-19 among the Bangladeshi population. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 1549 adult population across Bangladesh including Dhaka city and rural areas during March-April 2020. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire through online, self-administered and face to face interview. The study instrument consisted of 7 items on socio-demographic characteristics, 12 items on knowledge, 4 items on attitudes and 5 items on practices related to COVID-19. Independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression were performed to assess the attitudes and practices in relation to knowledge. Results: Of the total 1549 study population, 1249 were interviewed online, 194 were self-administered and 106 were through face to face interview. The lowest level of knowledge prevailed among the above 50 years’ age group regarding the disease, which was higher among female (p=0.03), and more among the respondents having education level below graduation (p=0.000;OR=1.6, χ2=17.6). Of the total respondents, 73.5% having negative attitude towards use of face mask, though 69.8% having the appropriate knowledge on mode of transmission of the virus (p=0.000). Though, 51.6% of the study population, having adequate knowledge, but only 52.1% using face mask (p>0.05) and 51.8% practicing hand washing (p>0.05). More than 70.0% respondents having knowledge on social distancing, but only 50.0% was practicing it. Male respondents had 1.5 times more knowledge about the social distancing than the female counterpart (p=0.000). Conclusion: Public awareness campaign should be enhanced critically focusing the target audience covering the knowledge gaps, motivation for appropriate practices and further improvement of attitudes towards prevention and control of COVID-19 in Bangladesh thus suggested. © 2020 Bangladesh Medical Research Council. All rights reserved.