Knowledge, Perception, and Practice toward Personal Protective Measures during COVID-19 Pandemic in the Primary Health Care Attendees in Eastern Province, KSA, 2020-2021
Author(s): Kawther Mohammed Alismail, Bayan Ibrahim Almahfowz, Khadija Abdurazzaq Almaa and Nada Al Bunaian*
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging viral pathogen that causes corona virus illness 2019. COVID-19 virus transmission can happen by touch, droplet, airborne, or contaminated surfaces. In order to successfully contain the COVID-19 epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) have encouraged the public to take precautionary measures to prevent virus transmission and infection. Hand cleaning, wearing masks and gloves, and avoiding contacting the face with dirty hands are among the precautions. The current study sought to assess the Saudi population's understanding and adherence to these precautionary measures during the epidemic. The current study is a cross-sectional design and targeted 400 participants. The study included 400 participants. Among them, there were 291 females (72.8%) and 109 males (27.3%). The most prevalent age group was 35-45 years (N=151, 37.8%). Vast majority of study participants were Saudi (n=394, 98.5%) and the rest 6 participants were non-Saudi. The majority of study participants were married (n=317, 79.3%). Among study participants, 78 participants suffered from chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or hypertension (19.5%). The source of information with regard to COVID-19 pandemic varied among study participants. The most common source of information was from social media only (n=84, 21%), while in the second place was World Health Organization (WHO) (n=54, 13.5%) followed by social media and television (n=53, 13.3%). Of the 400 participants 74.2% had good level of knowledge with regard to COVID-19 pandemic. In regards to perception an 78% of the Participants had good level of COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore a 77% declared that they practice Safety measures in regards to COVID-19.