Findings of a Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices about COVID-19 in Uganda: Implications for Public Health Prevention and Control Measures.

Allan Kakinda,Steven Teguzirigwa,Wenkai Jiang,Gerald Okello,Guido Van Hal,Jonathan Izudi

doi:10.1155/2020/5917378

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) morbidity is rising in Uganda. However, data are limited about people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Objective To determine knowledge about COVID-19, attitudes towards presidential directives and Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines, and adherence to practicing public health preventive measures (KAP) in Uganda. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 28 and May 19, 2020. Data were collected using online social media platforms, websites, and popular media outlets. We descriptively summarized data and categorized KAP scores as knowledgeable about COVID-19, positive attitude towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines, and adherent to public health preventive measures, respectively. We tested sex differences in KAP using tests of significance and established independently associated factors using modified Poisson regression analysis, reported using adjusted prevalence risk ratio (aPR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results We studied 362 participants with the following sociodemographic characteristics: 86 (23.8%) aged 25-29 years, 212 (58.6%) males, 270 (74.6%) with tertiary or university levels of education, and 268 (74.0%) urban residents. Of the 362 participants, 264 (93.9%) were knowledgeable about COVID-19 (94.1% males and 93.8% females), 51.3% had positive attitudes towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines (51.0% male and 51.8% female), and 175 (48.3%) were adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (42.9% males and 56.0% females). Compared to males, our data shows that females were more adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (aPR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.01-1.53), knowledgeable about COVID-19 (aPR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.95-1.07), and had positive attitudes towards directives and guidelines (aPR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82-1.25). Conclusions This study shows that public health prevention efforts should be directed to closing the identified gaps in KAP among Ugandans in order to halt the spread of COVD-19 in Uganda as well as the East African region.

Highlights

The world is experiencing the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (n-SARSCoV-2) pandemic, commonly known as COVID-19, which was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019, as a viral pneumonia outbreak of unknown aetiology in the Hubei Province of China [1]
Our study shows that participants have trust in the presidential directives and Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines, with most reporting that the directives and guidelines are adequate and necessary to halt the spread of COVID-19
Our data show a high proportion of knowledge about COVID-19 and relatively low positive attitudes towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines as well as low adherence to practices of public health preventive measures

Summary

Introduction

The world is experiencing the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2019 (n-SARSCoV-2) pandemic, commonly known as COVID-19, which was first reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019, as a viral pneumonia outbreak of unknown aetiology in the Hubei Province of China [1]. To determine knowledge about COVID-19, attitudes towards presidential directives and Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines, and adherence to practicing public health preventive measures (KAP) in Uganda. We descriptively summarized data and categorized KAP scores as knowledgeable about COVID-19, positive attitude towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines, and adherent to public health preventive measures, respectively. Of the 362 participants, 264 (93.9%) were knowledgeable about COVID-19 (94.1% males and 93.8% females), 51.3% had positive attitudes towards presidential directives and MoH guidelines (51.0% male and 51.8% female), and 175 (48.3%) were adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (42.9% males and 56.0% females). Our data shows that females were more adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (aPR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.011.53), knowledgeable about COVID-19 (aPR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.95-1.07), and had positive attitudes towards directives and guidelines (aPR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.82-1.25). This study shows that public health prevention efforts should be directed to closing the identified gaps in KAP among Ugandans in order to halt the spread of COVD-19 in Uganda as well as the East African region

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion