Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: April-June | Volume: 8 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 157-165
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20230219
Assessing the Public's Understanding of Covid-19 in Varanasi District
Priya Srivastava1, Shweta Jaiswal2, Dr. Manushi Srivastava3
1,2,3Department of Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Corresponding Author: Shweta Jaiswal
ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 has become a worldwide pandemic. Despite global efforts to control the disease spread, the outbreak is still on the rise. The only way of prevention is to know about it and act accordingly.
Aims: The present paper aims to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of the community on causation, prevention and treatment of Covid-19 and assess the factors associated with it.
Methods: A cross-sectional community based survey was carried out among 98 study subjects. The questionnaire was designed to assess the KAP regarding COVID-19. The common residents of Sundarpur locality of Varanasi district who were present in their houses during the data collection period and gave their consent to respond to the survey were included in the study.
Statistical analysis used: Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and bivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the data
Results: 71.4% of respondents had accurate knowledge regarding causation, transmission and prevention of COVID-19, 71.4% of respondents presented positive attitudes towards the preventive measures for controlling the spread of COVID-19 and 41.8% of respondents followed correct practices. Significant positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude score and attitude and practice score.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 is comparatively better among the respondents, but unfortunately, they lack behind in practices. COVID-19 reporting is still deficient among the respondents.
Keywords: Attitude, COVID-19, India, Knowledge, Pandemic, Practice.