Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Patients on COVID-19 Epidemic Attending a Primary Health Care Setting Durban, South Africa

Abstract

There is no proven specific treatment or adequate vaccination roll out against COVID-19 infection in South Africa. Optimal infection control measures encompass primary intervention to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Public knowledge, attitude, and practices of dealing with this highly infectious respiratory disease play a vital role in limiting the spread of the infection. Aim was to identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices gaps on COVID-19 pandemic for possible health education intervention. The objectives were to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of out-patients attending a primary health care facility. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted. The Student’s t-test and ANOVA test were carried out to determine the different mean scores for knowledge, attitudes and practices. Pearson’s correlation test was conducted to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices scores. Binary logistic regression was undertaken to determine the predictor of good knowledge, positive attitude, and preventive practices. A total of 345 out-patient attendees participated of which 51% were male. Over half (52%) of respondents were evaluated as having good knowledge, 59% as having positive attitudes and almost all (95%) were practicing prevention of COVID-19. The knowledge of the respondent was correlated with preventive practices (r=.173, p<0.05). Multiple regression showed that respondents in the age groups 35-44 years and 45-54 years were 2.8 times and 5.7 times more likely to have good knowledge respectively. Non-smokers were 79% less likely to have good knowledge (OR=.219, p<0.05). Respondents with no comorbidity were 50% less likely to have good knowledge (OR=.503, p <0.05), when compared to those having co-morbidities. Respondents with the highest level of education was found to be positive predictor of positive attitudes (OR =7.3, p <0.05). Primary Health Care users have poor knowledge, negative attitudes but practiced properly for the prevention of the transmission of COVID-19. Mass education is required to educate communities to improve knowledge and attitudes on COVID-19 epidemic in SA.