Knowledge, attitudes, and fear of COVID-19 during the Rapid Rise Period in Bangladesh

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Knowledge, attitudes, and fear of COVID-19 during the Rapid Rise Period in Bangladesh

24, September 2020 | Bangladesh

Authors:

Mohammad Anwar Hossain Md. Iqbal Kabir Jahid K. M Amran Hossain Lori Maria Walton Zakir Uddin Md. Obaidul Haque Md. Feroz Kabir S. M. Yasir Arafat Mohamed Sakel Rafey Faruqui Zahid Hossain

Abstract


The study aims to determine the level of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) related to COVID-19 preventive health habits and perception of fear towards COVID-19 in subjects liv- ing in Bangladesh. Design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey of (n = 2157) male and female subjects, 13–88 years of age, living in Bangladesh. Methods: Ethical approval and trial registration were obtained before the commencement of the study. Subjects who volun- teered to participate and signed the informed consent were enrolled in the study and com- pleted the structured questionnaire on KAP and Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S). Results: Twenty-eight percent (28.69%) of subjects reported one or more COVID-19 symp- toms, and 21.4% of subjects reported one or more co-morbidities. Knowledge scores were slightly higher in males (8.75± 1.58) than females (8.66± 1.70). Knowledge was significantly correlated with age (p < .005), an education level (p < .001), attitude (p < .001), and urban location (p < .001). Knowledge scores showed an inverse correlation with fear scores (p < .001). Eighty-three percent (83.7%) of subjects with COVID-19 symptoms reported wearing a mask in public, and 75.4% of subjects reported staying away from crowded places. Sub- jects with one or more symptoms reported higher fear compared to subjects without (18.73± 4.6; 18.45± 5.1). Conclusion: Bangladeshis reported a high prevalence of self-isolation, pos- itive preventive health behaviors related to COVID-19, and moderate to high fear levels. Higher knowledge and Practice were found in males, higher education levels, older age, and urban location. Fear of COVID-19 was more prevalent in female and elderly subjects. A positive attitude was reported for the majority of subjects, reflecting the belief that COVID- 19 was controllable and containable.