article · PLoS ONE
This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions (KAP) of people in Egypt and Nigeria regarding the 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic. Using a cross-sectional community-based questionnaire survey with 1437 respondents, the research found that most participants (61.6%) had satisfactory knowledge, influenced by age, education, and background. A majority (68.9%) also showed a satisfactory attitude towards preventive measures. While 96% practised self-isolation and social distancing, only 36% followed all health recommendations. Most respondents (62.1%) were satisfied with global efforts to control the virus, but only 22% were satisfied with their own country's handling of the pandemic. The study highlights the importance of understanding public KAP to prevent Africa from becoming a pandemic epicentre.
Understanding public knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions is crucial for effective public health responses during a pandemic. This research provides insights into how populations in Egypt and Nigeria perceived COVID-19, which can inform strategies to strengthen health systems and improve public trust in government health initiatives, particularly in African contexts.
The abstract does not indicate a direct commercialisation pathway for this research. The findings are primarily relevant for informing public health policy and government communication strategies. They could be used by public health organisations and governmental bodies to design more effective health campaigns and strengthen health systems, rather than leading to a commercial product or service.
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The current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted and changed lives on a global scale since its emergence and spread from China in late 2019. It has caused millions of infections, and thousands of deaths worldwide. However, the control of this pandemic still remains unachievable in many African countries including Egypt and Nigeria, despite the application of some strict preventive and control measures. Therefore, this study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and perceptions of Egyptians and Nigerians towards the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was designed as a cross-sectional community-based questionnaire survey in both countries. Participants' demography, knowledge, attitude, and perceptions towards the COVID-19 outbreak were obtained using a convenience sampling technique. Data collected were subjected to descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. A total of 1437 respondents were included in this preliminary report. The mean knowledge score was 14.7±2.3. The majority of the respondents (61.6%) had a satisfactory knowledge of the disease. Age (18-39 years), education (College/bachelors), and background of respondents were factors influencing knowledge levels. The attitude of most respondents (68.9%) towards instituted preventive measures was satisfactory with an average attitude score of 6.9 ± 1.2. The majority of the respondents (96%) practiced self-isolation and social-distancing but only 36% follow all health recommendations. The perception of most respondents (62.1%) on the global efforts at controlling the virus and preventing further spread was satisfactory with an average score of 10.9 ± 2.7. Only 22% of the respondents were satisfied with their country's handling of the pandemic. An apprehensive understanding of the current status in Africa through studies like KAP is crucial to avoid Africa being the next epicenter of the pandemic. For the populace to follow standard infection prevention and control measures adequately, governments need to gain the trust of citizens by strengthening the health systems and improving surveillance activities in detecting cases, to offer the optimum health services to their communities.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236918
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