Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19: A cross-sectional study during normal management of the epidemic in China

Abstract

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is striking the world with serious public health and economic losses. Complying with precautionary measures is affected by knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 among the general public, so it is urgent to know the public's awareness of COVID-19 as to promote the epidemic management of COVID-19 in China.MethodsAn online sample of Chinese residents was recruited. We administered a self-developed online KAP survey comprising 39 questions regarding awareness of COVID-19, transmission mode, symptoms, preventive measures, and respondents' attitudes and practices with respect to COVID-19. The total score of each item (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) adopts the ten points system, score of KAP is 30 points. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and binomial logistic regression were used in the statistical analysis.ResultsAmong respondents, average scores for COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and practice were 8.94 ± 0.79, 5.97 ± 1.58, and 7.03 ± 3.14, respectively. 91.2% were aware that COVID-19 is an acute viral infection and 99.95% knew that wearing a mask is one way to prevent COVID-19 infection. Participants correctly identified the symptoms of COVID-19 with a high accuracy rate of over 85%.ConclusionMany adults in the present study had adequate knowledge, a positive attitude and engaged in correct practices against COVID-19. People in China have a high awareness of epidemic prevention and control. However, conducting KAP surveys among people with different demographic characteristics at different stages of the epidemic is important to improve public health education and implement proper COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Disposable Face-Mask Waste Management and Assessment Through Willingness to Pay and SWOT Framework in Post COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Age and education, occupation, and even income background have no effect and do not correlate with WTP in waste management. This is in line with research [50] which finds that the level of education is negatively related to the amount of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of a person in his concern for masks. In contrast to the respondent's knowledge of waste services, approval for mask waste to be managed, and knowledge of the negative impact of waste, there is a significant positive correlation.…”

Nationalism, conspiracy theories and vaccine mandates: Exploring the statism determinants for attitudes to COVID-19 control in China

“…Although full vaccination coverage (two doses) has reached 90% so far, China may need a new round of booster vaccination to square up to the huge impact of the pandemic after its recent abandoning of zero-COVID policies [47] . Besides, conspiracy theories ranging from the foreign origins of COVID-19 and US entities’ synthesis of the virus remained popular on Chinese social media when this paper was written [48] .…”

Conspiracy Beliefs and Vaccine Mandates: Exploring the Politicized determinants for Attitudes to COVID-19 Control in China

“…An online survey was a primary research method used in public health management, health communication, medical sociology, and other fields, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic [34][35][36]. The questionnaire was done anonymously and stressed the protection of privacy.…”

“…Although the pandemic changed quickly worldwide, China's strict quarantine policy has never been loosened. Although full vaccination coverage (two doses) has reached 90% so far, the country faces a new round of booster vaccination if it wants to open up eventually [35]. Conspiracy theories ranging from the foreign origins of COVID-19 and US entities' synthesis of the virus remained popular on Chinese social media when this paper was written [37].…”