Knowledge, attitudes and practices of rural population towards COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in pandemic situation: a cross-sectional study in central India

Abstract

Background: India is facing a third wave of infection of coronavirus. For controlling the pandemic, it’s very crucial that everyone should follow the control measures which is ultimately depended upon the factors like knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of people towards coronavirus according to KAP theory. At such a critical moment to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in India arises an urgency for understanding people's awareness of COVID-19. So, we plan to present a study in view of investigating the KAP for COVID-19 in rural populations during the outbreak of COVID-19 disease.Methods: A cross-sectional design with a cluster sampling method from the field practice area of a rural medical college was selected. Participants were above 18 years. Data collection was done after taking informed consent. Data were analysed with R studio software with appropriate statistical tests.Result: A good knowledge of COVID-19 was found in rural population. Majority of population has good knowledge about COVID-19 epidemiology, signs, and symptoms. Good knowledge corresponds to appropriate behaviour and proper practices in population. Overall participants were confident that India will win war against COVID-19.Conclusions: Our study findings suggested that the rural population of India with a comparatively high level of education, specifically Health care services people, had proper knowledge, cheerful way of attitude, and appropriately practicing measures towards COVID-19 during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 cases. Whereas age, gender, and socioeconomic status didn’t show any significant association with the knowledge score. We conclude that KAP towards COVID-19 by vulnerable populations warrants special attention for research.