Open AccessCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices (KAP) and Misconceptions in the General Population of Katsina State, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Murtala Bindawa Isah,
AUTHOR_ID,
M Abdulsalam,
Abubakar Bello,
Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim,
Abdulmumini Usman,
Aamsir,
Bashi̇r Abdulkadi̇r,
Ahmed Usman,
Khan M Ibrahim,
Andi Sani,
Momodu Mohammed Aliu,
Showkat Kabir,
Abdulmalik Bello Shuaibu,
Shafique Sani Nass
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
umyu journal of microbiology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2616-0668
DOI - 10.47430/ujmr.2161.004
Subject(s) - quarter (canadian coin) , covid-19 , cross sectional study , bachelor , population , medicine , bachelor degree , family medicine , health care , public health , knowledge level , disease , demography , psychology , environmental health , nursing , geography , infectious disease (medical specialty) , political science , sociology , mathematics education , archaeology , pathology , law
Over six million cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported globally by the second quarter of 2020. This study assessed the COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes, practices and misconceptions in Katsina state, Nigeria. The study is across-sectional survey of 722 respondents using an electronic questionnaire through the WhatsApp media platform. One thousand five hundred questionnaires were sent to the general public with a response rate of 48%. Among the respondents, 60% were men, and 56% held bachelor’s degree and above. The respondents have good knowledge of COVID-19 (80% correct rate on questions related to knowledge). Being more educated is associated with both higher average COVID-19 knowledge score and positive COVID-19 related practices. Overall, >70% of the respondents have a positive attitude towards successful COVID-19 control. Male were more likely than female (Fisher’s exact test P value < 0.05) to have recently attended a crowded place. Among the respondents, 83% held at least one misconception related to COVID-19. Respondents at all levels of education frequently chose to trust health unit and health care workers for relevant COVID-19 information. In conclusion, although there is high COVID-19 related knowledge among the respondents, misconceptions are widespread among them. These misconceptions have consequences on the short- and long-term control efforts against the disease and hence should be incorporated in targeted campaigns. Healthcare-related personnel should be at the forefront of the campaign. Keywords: COVID-19; knowledge; attitude; practices; misconceptions; Nigeria