Knowledge, attitude, and perceptions towards the 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic: A bi-national survey in Africa

Abstract

The current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted and changed lives on a global scale since its emergence and spread from China in late 2019. It has caused millions of infections, and thousands of deaths worldwide. However, the control of this pandemic still remains unachievable in many African countries including Egypt and Nigeria, despite the application of some strict preventive and control measures. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of Egyptians and Nigerians towards the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed as a cross-sectional community-based questionnaire survey in both countries. Participants' demography, knowledge, attitude, and perceptions towards the COVID-19 outbreak were obtained using a convenience sampling technique. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. A total of 1437 respondents were included in this preliminary report. The mean knowledge score was 14.7±2.3. The majority of the respondents (61.6%) had a satisfactory knowledge of the disease. Age (18-39 years), education (College/bachelors), and background of respondents were factors influencing knowledge levels. The attitude of most respondents (68.9%) towards instituted preventive measures was satisfactory with an average attitude score of 6.9 ± 1.2. The majority of the respondents (96%) practiced self-isolation and socialdistancing but only 36% follow all health recommendations. The perception of most respondents (62.1%) on the global efforts at controlling the virus and preventing further spread was satisfactory with an average score of 10.9 ± 2.7. Only 22% of the respondents were satisfied with their country's handling of the pandemic. An apprehensive understanding of the current status in Africa through studies like KAP is crucial to avoid Africa being the next epicenter of the pandemic. For the populace to follow standard infection prevention and control

Community-based interventions for preventing COVID-19 transmission in low- and middle-income countries:  A systematic review

“…The level of education, background, and nationality greatly affected the perception of global and community response to curbing the spread of COVID-19 and preventing the occurrence of any future pandemic. Furthermore, female participants were 1.59 times (95% CI: 1.27-1.99; p < 0.001), more likely to have a positive attitude towards COVID-19 than males, and Nigerians were 11times (95% CI: 7.57-13.47; p <0.001) more likely to have a positive attitude than Egyptians (19). In a study conducted by Yanti et al, (2020) (18) in Indonesia, found that the respondents' educational and occupational attainment, such as bachelor graduate or civil servant, in uenced their positive attitudes towards social distancing.…”

“…Six studies (4,7,16,(18)(19)(20) met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. All the included studies were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and published between the months of April and August, 2020.…”

“…All the included studies were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and published between the months of April and August, 2020. Of these, one study was conducted in Indonesia (18), one study was conducted in Nigeria and Egypt (19), one study was conducted in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and South Korea(21), one study was conducted in Nigeria (20), and two studies were conducted in Uganda (4,7). See table 2.…”

“…The level of knowledge ranged from 62% in a study conducted in Egypt and Nigeria (19) to 99% in a study conducted in Indonesia (18). Age (18-39 years), education (college/bachelors), and background of respondents were factors in uencing knowledge levels (19). While in a study conducted by (20) in Nigeria, the knowledge of the outbreak of COVID-19 was in uenced by the age (p < 0.05), gender (p < 0.05), level of education (p < 0.05), marital status (p < 0.05) and employment status (p < 0.05).…”

“…Hager et al (2020) (19) found that participants within the 18-29 years age range were 1.4 times (95%CI: 0.55-0.89; p = 0.004) more likely to be knowledgeable than other age groups. Respondents with a high school education were at least 4.7 times (95% CI: 0.15-144.7; p = 0.73) more likely to have satisfactory knowledge about COVID-19 than those with no formal education (19). In the same study, Hager et al (2020) (19), found that Egyptians were 1.8 times (95%CI: 0.43-0.74; p < 0.001) more likely to have more satisfactory knowledge than Nigerians.…”