Basic COVID-19 knowledge according to education level and country of residence: Analysis of twelve countries in Latin America

Abstract

IntroductionKnowing a disease is crucial for being able to fight it, especially in a region in which COVID-19 caused so many deaths, such as Latin America.ObjectiveTo determine the association between basic knowledge of COVID-19 and education level according to country of residence in Latin America.MethodologyThis is an analytical cross-sectional study. Basic level of knowledge was measured through nine close-ended questions (scale validated in Peru). The score obtained was analyzed through performing a crosstab vs. gender, age, education level, and country of residence.ResultsOf a total of 9,222 respondents, almost all of them knew the common symptoms (99%), modes of transmission (93%), and knew how to recognize which was not a specific symptom (93%). Through the multivariate model, we found that there was no association with gender (p = 0.716) or age (p = 0.059), in comparison with those who had primary or a lower education level. All the other higher education levels had statistically significant scores (all p-values p < 0.001). When comparing knowledge according to countries, and using Peru as reference for comparison, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Bolivia, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Colombia had a better level of knowledge (all p-values < 0.001); however, only El Salvador had a lower level (p < 0.001).DiscussionThere was lack of knowledge of some topics, difference according to academic degree and country. As Peru was one of countries that obtained the lowest level of knowledge, it could have influenced the fact that it was the most affected country in the world.

Communication transforms the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on children with cancer and their families

“…Clinicians also perceived education level and cultural context as impacting the beliefs held by patients and families and their responses to the COVID‐19 pandemic and its effects. Previous studies investigated the role of education level in knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID‐19 and found a higher education level was associated with increased knowledge of COVID‐19 and higher attitude scores, or a more positive attitude, as compared to those with a lower educational level 34,35 . The perceptions of the participants in our focus groups support the previous findings' conclusions that educational interventions are needed and should be sensitized to factors like the population's education level 34,35 …”

“… 34 , 35 The perceptions of the participants in our focus groups support the previous findings' conclusions that educational interventions are needed and should be sensitized to factors like the population's education level. 34 , 35 …”

“…Previous studies investigated the role of education level in knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID-19 and found a higher education level was associated with increased knowledge of COVID-19 and higher attitude scores, or a more positive attitude, as compared to those with a lower educational level. 34,35 The perceptions of the participants in our focus groups support the previous findings' conclusions that educational interventions are needed and should be sensitized to factors like the population's education level. 34,35 This global analysis shows how the COVID-19 pandemic similarly impacted the care of children with cancer in countries across World Bank income classifications, 27 adding to previous literature describing regional, country, and single institution studies.…”

“…34,35 The perceptions of the participants in our focus groups support the previous findings' conclusions that educational interventions are needed and should be sensitized to factors like the population's education level. 34,35 This global analysis shows how the COVID-19 pandemic similarly impacted the care of children with cancer in countries across World Bank income classifications, 27 adding to previous literature describing regional, country, and single institution studies. 4,13,14,36 The three domainscontributing factors, patient-related impacts, central transformer-were consistently identified across all country income classifications, with the central transformer, communication, mentioned less often by participants in low-income countries.…”

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice in a Sample of the Lebanese Population Regarding Cholera

“…Additionally, university education and being married were linked to good cholera knowledge in multivariate analysis. A higher educational level was linked to better levels of knowledge regarding various infectious disease including COVID-19 [ 67 ]; thus, this result appeared as an expected outcome and might point to the importance of focusing the improvement of cholera knowledge among less educated groups.…”