Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare (Mar 2023)
Public Perception Toward COVID-19 Disease Nature, Susceptibility to Complication, and Relationship to Influenza: A Cross-Sectional Study from Yemen
Abstract
Abdulsalam M Halboup,1,2 Karem H Alzoubi,3,4 Omar F Khabour,5 Mahmoud A Alomari,6 Moath Refat,7 Abdulrazzaq Y Al-Khazzan,1 Ammar Ali Saleh Jaber,8 Usman Abubakar9 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen; 2Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia; 3Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 4Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 6Department of Rehabilitation, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan; 7Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xi’an Jiaotong, University, Xi’an, China; 8Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacotherapeutics, Dubai Pharmacy College for Girls, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 9Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCorrespondence: Abdulsalam M Halboup, Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, University of Science and Technology, Sana’a, Yemen, Tel +967774960247, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) declaration as a pandemic, Yemen has started applying preventive measures to prevent its spread. This study aims to identify the perception regarding the nature of the COVID-19 disease, susceptibility to severe forms of the disease, and its relationship to seasonal influenza among the population of Yemen.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of the public in Yemen. The relationship between participants’ sociodemographic factors and their responses was assessed by the chi-square test.Results: A total of 748 participants agreed to participate in the study. Regarding the nature of the diseases, nearly half of the participants (48.8%, n=352) believed that COVID-19 is a naturally occurring human virus that is a serious and fatal disease (61.2%, n=448). The majority (74.9%; n=518) did not agree that bacteria cause COVID-19. More than half of the participants (57.5%, n=423) believed this disease is transmitted to humans through a host animal. Regarding the vulnerable groups to develop severe COVID-19 infection, most of the participants pointed out that the elderly (94.3%, n=705), people with chronic diseases (89.9%, n=669), and pregnant women (53%, n=365) were more susceptible to severe diseases. Regarding symptoms, the majority (61.9%, n=458) of the participants agreed that the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of seasonal influenza. Additionally, the majority (81.9%, n=579) agreed that some individuals develop more severe symptoms than seasonal influenza, particularly those with chronic illness. Gender, age, and education were found to be associated with participants’ perceptions regarding the nature of the virus and susceptibility to severe disease.Conclusion: Participants demonstrate a good understanding of the nature and susceptibility to complications associated with COVID-19 disease and its relationship to influenza. However, the respondents with a lower level of education might require additional educational campaigns to improve their awareness of the disease.Keywords: public perception, COVID-19, susceptibility, complications, Yemen
