Abstract
Background: Market vendors occupy a strategic position in the fight against the spread of SARS CoV-2 in rural Uganda. To successfully contain the spread of the virus, special attention needs to be given to this set of people by assessing the type of information, source of information, and practices they inculcate as regards adherence to WHO guidelines in the fight against COVID-19 in Uganda. The study aimed to assess the role of information sources, education level, and phone internet connectivity in influencing COVID-19 knowledge among the rural market vendors; and the relationship existing between knowledge, attitude, and practices among them.Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study among rural market vendors (n = 248) in southwestern Uganda. Information was collected using a questionnaire and descriptively presented as frequency and percentages.Results: The study showed that the majority of the rural market vendors had sufficient information regarding COVID-19 with the majority being female individuals and have attained a secondary level of education, The general percentage score for knowledge, attitude, and practices were (75.57, 82.6, and 76.50% respectively). There was a positive correlation between attitude and practices (r = 0.17, p = 0.007), as well as their knowledge with practices (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). The majority of the people in the population did not have their phones connected to the internet (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.16–3.31, P = 0.01). The majority of people received their information regarding COVID-19 from one source (radio) (OR = 1.55).Conclusion: Where and how the rural market vendors get their information and education level are vital in breaking COVID 19 infection circle in line with WHO guidelines. Therefore, sources of information and education level played a key role in molding their knowledge and practices. However, the level of knowledge on COVID 19 among our respondents was not linked with phone internet connectivity.
Highlights
The COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan was traced to seafood markets in Wuhan in December 2019 suggesting that the virus jumped from sea animals to humans [1]
The study aimed to assess the role of information sources, education level, and phone internet connectivity in influencing COVID-19 knowledge among the rural market vendors; and the relationship existing between knowledge, attitude, and practices among them
Inclusion Criteria The study population is market vendors in the Ishaka-Bushenyi municipality in south-western Uganda. They include sellers of fruits, vegetables, and food store owners who were allowed to continue their businesses during the lockdown order by the Ugandan government; this was because they were considered as sellers of essential commodities
Summary
The COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan was traced to seafood markets in Wuhan in December 2019 suggesting that the virus jumped from sea animals to humans [1]. The Uganda government established regulations in line with the WHO and Ugandan Ministry of Health guidelines, to protect market vendors and the general public from the virus. Special attention is needed to regulate and monitor market vendors to ensure they follow guidelines to prevent the spread of outbreaks [8] such as COVID-19. The need to identify factors that could influence the adequate implementation of the Ugandan Ministry of Health and WHO guidelines [11, 12] among rural market vendors in Uganda. To successfully contain the spread of the virus, special attention needs to be given to this set of people by assessing the type of information, source of information, and practices they inculcate as regards adherence to WHO guidelines in the fight against COVID-19 in Uganda. The study aimed to assess the role of information sources, education level, and phone internet connectivity in influencing COVID-19 knowledge among the rural market vendors; and the relationship existing between knowledge, attitude, and practices among them
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