The COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in a central of Iran

Abstract

Aims: There is a rapid increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19 throughout the world. The present study aimed to determine people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding COVID-19 in an Iranian sample. Instruments & Methods: This was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted on people over 18 years of age in Saveh city, of Iran, in 2020. A multiple-stage sampling method was used. Participants (N=471) completed an anonymous and self-report questionnaire assessing socio-demographic variables and KAP. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and independent t-tests by SPSS 21. The significance level was considered to be ≤0.05. Findings: Of participants, 74.5% did not have accurate knowledge of how the coronavirus is spread. In terms of attitudes, more than 63.2% considered COVID-19 to be a dangerous disease. About 59.6% of participants reported regular use of a mask in the past week. As compared to men, women reported attitudes and practices more aligned with recommended safety standards. Higher education level was significantly related to the mean KAP score (p<0.05). Conclusion: Although the sample evidenced appropriate attitudes and some safety practices in general, a significant percentage of individuals did not engage in protective behaviors.

Keywords

• covid-19
• knowledge
• attitude
• general practice
• behavior