Knowledge and Practice among Public with Reference to COVID–19 in Nepal

Nanda Kumar Tharu

Abstract

AIM: To identify the status of Knowledge and Practice of public about transmission and preventive measure in the control of spread-ness of COVID 19 in Nepal.METHOD: The cross-sectional online survey was conducted from May 16 to 25, the week after the lockdown of about 2 months in Nepal using proportionate stratified sampling. Sample participants were 1429, univariate and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were conducted using SPSS 20 v.RESULT: There were 873 (61.1%) male and 556 (38.9%) female participants. The majority of those interviewed were university-educated urbanites between the ages of 15 and 29. Only 51.3% and 69.1% had good knowledge and good practice respectively. The knowledge were not associated significantly with sex but statistically significantly associated with their age, education and residential area. Male had about 19.3 % less knowledge than female. The age group 15-29 and 30-49 years had 32.7% and 13.6% less knowledge than 50 & above respectively. Those schooling education persons had 17.1% less knowledge but university and post-graduate had 1.780 times and 2.228 times more knowledge with reference to illiterate people. Rural had 7.7% less knowledge as compared to urban. The mean score of practice between male and female were not statistically significant; though, significantly differ by age group, education and residence. Male had about 10.4 % less practice than female. The age group 15-29 years had 1.7% less practice but 30-49 years had 1.181 times more practice with reference to 50 years and above. Schooling education, university level, and post-graduate level had 2.264 times, 3.148 times and 2.248 times more practice than illiterate respectively and rural had 31.6 % less practice than urban.CONCLUSION: It is strongly advised to reassure individuals to maintain their awareness of and use of preventative measures, particularly among males, those with lower levels of education, the elderly, and disadvantaged populations.

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