Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of/towards Covid-19 among Cameroonians in the Bamenda Health District: A Cross-Sectional Study during the Second Wave of the Pandemic

Abstract

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has and is greatly affecting the global community. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards Covid-19 among a convenient sample of the general public in the Bamenda Health District (BHD) of Cameroon. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the BHD, from 1st March to 30th April 2021. Participants were sampled from three Health Areas in Bamenda. Data collection was performed using a self-administered questionnaire. The Pearson Chi square (χ2) and regression analysis were used to determine associations between KAP and demographic characteristics. We studied 404 participants with the following demographic characteristics: 237 (58.7%) aged 25 – 49 years, 233 (57.7%) females, and 197 (48.8%) with tertiary level of education. Of the 404 participants, 182 (45.0%) were knowledgeable about Covid-19 (79 males and 103 females), 42.5% had positive attitudes towards Covid-19 (63 males and 109 females), and 122 (30.2%) were adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (48 males and 74 females). Compared to females, males were more adherent to practicing public health preventive measures (OR, 1. 3; 95% CI, 0.8 – 2.1), and had positive attitudes towards directives and guidelines (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 – 2.8). This study shows that public health prevention efforts should be directed to closing the identified gaps in KAP among residents to halt the spread of Covid-19 in the health district as well as the Region.