Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding COVID-19 among frontline workers attending selected vaccination center of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Corona virus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 11th March; the WHO announced this disease as a global pandemic. Individuals’ knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) towards preventive and precautionary measures of COVID-19 are essential to control the spread of the disease. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of frontline workers towards the pandemic.Methods: Descriptive survey research design was used. Sample comprised of 100 frontline workers who are working in different government sector during this pandemic situation and involved in election duty. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. Demographic data sheet, semi structured knowledge questionnaire, attitude scale, practice questionnaire was used to collect data. Tool was pretested before final data collection. Institutional Ethics committee approval was taken for the study.Results: Study findings show that 56% participants had good knowledge and 44% had poor knowledge regarding COVID-19. 70% participants had positive attitude and 30% had negative attitude regarding COVID-19. 85% participants followed good practice and 15% followed poor practice regarding COVID-19. There was a positive correlation between knowledge and attitude score (r=0.54) and positive correlation between knowledge and practice score (r=0.73). There was also a positive correlation between practice and attitude score (r=0.48).Conclusions: This study also found a significant association between knowledge score and demographic variables like education level and job status and also an association between practice score and job status. So, the study results can be used for enhancing KAP to combat this pandemic situation.