Assessing Knowledge and Practices of the Community towards Corona Virus Disease 2019 in Mbale Municipality, Uganda: Across Section Study

Abstract

Background: The Corona virus disease, first identified in Wuhan city, Hubei province of China, is a respiratory illness caused by Novel Corona Virus also known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS Cov.2). The disease is characterised by; dry cough and shortness of breath with difficulty in breathing and at least 2 of the following; fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of test and smell. Uganda in general and Mbale in particular has people of diverse culture, religion and ethnic background as well as diverse socio economic activities with various practices. This multi-cultural environment creates differences in perception of information and practices. Most cultures encourage socialisation through social functions like attending weddings, funerals, work places and gatherings and Muslims who have to go for congregation prayers in the mosques 5 times a day among others. This puts such communities at risk of spreading the disease very fast and slow in adapting to control measures Aim: In this study, we aimed at assessing knowledge and practices of the community towards COVID 19 in Mbale municipality. Methods and Materials: A cross section study was used; Data was obtained using a Questionnaires to a sample of 355 respondents and an observation tool was also used to observe behaviour patterns and practices of 776 participants towards the control measures of COVID-19. Results: There was a total of 355 respondents with 208 /355 (58.59%) male and 147/355 (41.4%) female. 149/355(42%) possessed good knowledge, 131/355(36.9%) had moderate knowledge and 75/355(21%) had a little knowledge on COVID-19. Participants who were single and aged between 21-30 years were found to be more knowledgeable than other groups (P value=.001 and P value=.003 respectively).The source of COVID 19 information was mainly from television and radios 124/248 (50%) and social media 34/248 (21.8%) and the least source of information being 14/248(5.6%) and 9/248(3.6%) from health workers and Religious leaders respectively. 496/776 (64%) of the respondents observed, washed their hands and only124/776 (16%) of the respondents wore face masks. 98/776 (12.6%) were seen shaking hands and 15/776(2%) were seen hugging. Conclusion: Use of appropriate and well-designed Health education materials on radios, televisions and social media platforms like Facebook and twitter among others can be effective means of communication since they can reach the highest number of people. Ministry of Health should design ways for systematically integrating both political and religious leaders in Health Education Campaigns. Government should provide facemasks and enforce their use. A study to assess the ability of both political and religious leaders in health promotion campaigns should be carried out.

Community mask wearing as a COVID-19 preventive measure, its barriers, and motivators among rural households of Uganda: A mixed methods approach

“…This is not surprising as long before COVID-19 rural communities were facing financial constraints as this population is estimated to be living below the poverty line [9]. Naziru et al [33] also identified masks as expensive for community members to afford them. Rural communities in Uganda are home to Our study found out that the use of masks was identified with discomforts such as breathlessness, dizziness which resulted into reduced use of masks.…”

Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception on Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Non-health Workers Attending Selected Health Facilities in Mbale City, Uganda

“…Mbale district was reported to have about 4.21% among the blood donors testing positive for Hepatitis B. [8] this together with other practices in the community including but not limited to the traditional non-medical circumcision also known as "Imbalu" and its strategic location along the high way that connects Kenya to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda with high rates of commercial sex work puts this community at such a high rate spreading diseases like HBV infection [15]. Protecting such a community requires that 90% of such a community be vaccinated this includes both the health workers and nonhealth workers.…”

“…Mbale district is located in the eastern region of Uganda In east Africa, approximately 225km (140 miles) northeast of the capital Kampala [15,17] According to the Uganda Bureau of statics, its population in 2019 is estimated to be 568,000 people, with 270,400 males and 298400 females. [15,17] the main economic activity is agriculture, farming in coffee, beans, Matooke, onions among others. Mbale is also a commercial and administrative city situated along a highway that joins Kenya to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan through Uganda.…”

“…[8] Mbale district is one of the districts in Eastern Uganda with people of many Ethnic, cultural social religious, and economic backgrounds with their famous cultural and traditional Circumcision known as Imbalu that does employ safe medical practices which puts members of the community at risk of acquiring blood-borne diseases including HBV infection. [9] Hepatitis B vaccination remains the main way of prevention and protection against HBV, many studies have documented efforts that have been put in place to immunize health workers, medical and nursing students as well as other risk groups like intravenous drug users, with no documented studies of the same among non-health workers.…”

Public Perception and Preparedness to Fight Against the Third Wave of COVID-19 in Kabul, Afghanistan

“…However, in a study conducted in Mbale Uganda, knowledge of the community toward COVID-19 was moderate and good which had a positive impact on the pandemic response. 16 Similarly, in a study conducted in Zimbabwe, the spread of myth and untrusted information related to COVID-19 had an undesirable impact on the people. 17 …”