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Inequalities in Knowledge About COVID-19 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alsharqi, Omar Zayyan; Qattan, Ameerah M N; Alshareef, Noor; Chirwa, Gowokani Chijere; Al-Hanawi, Mohammed Khaled.
  • Alsharqi OZ; Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Qattan AMN; Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Alshareef N; Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Chirwa GC; Health Economics Research Group, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Al-Hanawi MK; Department of Health Services and Hospital Administration, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Front Public Health ; 9: 743520, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1497183
ABSTRACT

Background:

As the world is still being ravaged by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the first line of prevention lies in understanding the causative and preventive factors of the disease. However, given varied socioeconomic circumstances, there may be some inequality in the level of proper knowledge of COVID-19. Despite a proliferation of studies on COVID-19, the extent and prevalence of inequalities in knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia are not known. Most related studies have only focused on understanding the determinants of COVID-19 knowledge. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the socioeconomic inequalities in knowledge regarding COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Data were extracted from an online cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire conducted on the knowledge about COVID-19 from 3,388 participants. Frequencies and graphs were used to identify the level and distribution of inequality in knowledge about COVID-19. Concentration curves and concentration indices were further used to assess and quantify the income- and education-related inequality in knowledge about COVID-19.

Results:

The level of COVID-19 knowledge was high among the surveyed sample, although the extent of knowledge varied. The findings further suggest the existence of socioeconomic inequality in obtaining proper knowledge about COVID-19, indicating that inequality in comprehensive knowledge is disproportionately concentrated among the wealthy (concentration index = 0.016; P < 0.001) and highly educated individuals (concentration index = 0.003; P = 0.029) in Saudi Arabia.

Conclusions:

There is inequality in the level of knowledge about COVID-19 among the more socioeconomically privileged population of Saudi Arabia. Given that COVID-19 cases ebb and flow in different waves, it is important that proper policies be put in place that will help in improving knowledge among the lower income and less educated individuals, leading to behavior that can help reduce transmission.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Front Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fpubh.2021.743520

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Front Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Fpubh.2021.743520