IJCM_274A: “Knowledge, attitude, practice regarding preventive measures; stigma and risk perception of covid 19 among the residents in the rural field practice area of a teaching hospital in Mangaluru”

Abstract

Background: The success of battle against COVID 19 depends on public adherence towards infection control measures, which is greatly affected by their knowledge, attitude, and practices towards the COVID 19 pandemic. Objectives: Among the residents in the rural field practice area of a teaching hospital in Mangaluru:- 1) To assess knowledge, attitude, practice regarding preventive measures of COVID 19. 2) To assess stigma and risk perception of COVID 19. Methodology: A community based cross sectional study, by house-to-house visit was conducted among 323 participants residing in the rural field practice area of A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Mangaluru. Multistage sampling was adopted. Details regarding socio-demographic characteristics; knowledge, attitude, practice regarding preventive measures of COVID 19; risk perception and stigmatizing behavior was collected. Analysis was done using SPSS trial version 28. Results: 61% of participants were male; 27% had primary education and 33.1% were unemployed. Mass media was the most common source of COVID 19 related information. The knowledge of preventive measures of COVID 19 was good in 97.5% of the participants. 98.1% had positive attitude towards the preventive measures of COVID 19. The practice of preventive measures of COVID 19 good in 63.5%. 87.6% had taken two dose of COVID 19 vaccine. Low risk perception was seen in 96% and 83.6% had low stigmatizing behavior towards COVID 19. Gender was significant predictor of attitude scores. Age, gender, educational status, occupation status, type of family was the significant predictor of practices scores. Conclusion: Majority of the participants had good knowledge, positive attitude and good practice of preventive measures of COVID 19. As a result of effective IEC effort by different authorities is reaching rural part of India, people are aware of the preventive measures, has positive attitude about it and are practicing them.