Abstract
BackgroundEffective COVID-19 pandemic management requires adequate understanding of factors that influence behavioral changes. This study aims to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among Syrians in a post-conflict context.MethodA cross sectional web-based survey was conducted on the Syrian residents of 16 years and above. It contains questions on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) with respect to COVID-19. Participants’ demographic characteristics are recorded and analyzed. The study is conducted during the global outbreak of COVID-19.ResultsA total of 706 participants (female, 444; male, 262) were enrolled. This study included 405 participants aged between 16 and 29, 204 aged between 30 and 49, and 97 aged above 60 years. There were 642 who have a university degree and 61 who have high school degree. Among the participants 253 were students, 316 were employed, 75 work as freelancers, and 62 were unemployed. Results showed that overall knowledge score towards the disease was about 60% (mean score 3.54 ± 1.20; range 0–6). Knowledge scores significantly differed across age groups (P < 0.05), education levels (P = 0.001), and occupations (P < 0.05). Attitude and practice scores were 2.45 ± 0.81 (range 0–4), 5.90 ± 1.52 (range 0–8), respectively. Attitude scores were significantly different between males and females (P < 0.05), whereas practice scores varied significantly across gender (P < 0.05), age groups (P = 0.01), education levels (P = 0.015), occupations (P < 0.05), and according to knowledge score (P = 0.000). Results from multiple linear regression indicated that lower knowledge scores were significantly associated with lower education level (P < 0.05), whereas poor preventive practices were common among male, young and unemployed participants with significance levels of P < 0.01, P = .000, P < 0.01, respectively.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that the Syrian residents demonstrate modest knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 at the time of its global outbreak. Efforts should be directed towards raising the awareness of the disease to improve their practices in the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for future epidemics.
Highlights
Effective COVID-19 pandemic management requires adequate understanding of factors that influence behavioral changes
The findings of this study suggest that the Syrian residents demonstrate modest knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 at the time of its global outbreak
Efforts should be directed towards raising the awareness of the disease to improve their practices in the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for future epidemics
Summary
Effective COVID-19 pandemic management requires adequate understanding of factors that influence behavioral changes. Since the discovery of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (abbreviated as COVID-19) in China in December 2019, the disease has spread quickly across the globe. Despite its strong foothold in the region, in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iran, the spread of COVID-19 in Syria was late. The first COVID-19 laboratory-confirmed case was reported on 22 March [1], with the first fatality reported a week later [2]. The disease has spread quickly, and by July 03, 2020, there were 328 laboratoryconfirmed cases and 10 deaths as reported by the Syrian Ministry of Health. There were some concerns on the accurateness of these figures, partially due to limited testing capacity of COVID-19 owing to limited resources and sanctions imposed on Syria [3]. COVID-19 is expected to be of a great challenge to the Syrian war-torn health system because of its fragile health system aggravated by the lack of sufficient equipment [6] and the loss of around 70% health workers [7]
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