Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey
Objectives To assess the public’s knowledge, attitudes and practices about the novel coronavirus in Sierra Leone to inform an evidence-based communication strategy around COVID-19.Design Nationwide, cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey.Setting 56 randomly selected communities in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2020-09-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e040328.full |
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| author | Maike Winters Helena Nordenstedt Mohammad B Jalloh Paul Sengeh Nance Webber Ibrahim Ngobeh Thomas Samba Harold Thomas |
| author_facet | Maike Winters Helena Nordenstedt Mohammad B Jalloh Paul Sengeh Nance Webber Ibrahim Ngobeh Thomas Samba Harold Thomas |
| author_sort | Maike Winters |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives To assess the public’s knowledge, attitudes and practices about the novel coronavirus in Sierra Leone to inform an evidence-based communication strategy around COVID-19.Design Nationwide, cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey.Setting 56 randomly selected communities in all 14 districts in Sierra Leone.Participants 1253 adults aged 18 years and older of which 52% were men.Main outcome measures We calculated proportions of core indicators (awareness, knowledge, risk perception, practices). A composite variable for knowledge (based on seven variables) was created, and categorised into low (0–2 correct), medium (3–4) and high (5–7). Predictors of knowledge were analysed with multilevel ordinal regression models. Associations between information sources, knowledge and two practices (washing hands with soap and avoiding crowds) were analysed using multilevel logistic regression models.Results We found that 75% of the respondents felt at moderate or great risk of contracting coronavirus. A majority (70%) of women did not know you can survive COVID-19, compared with 61% of men. 60% of men and 54% of women had already taken action to avoid infection with the coronavirus, mostly washing hands with soap and water (87%). Radio (73%) was the most used source for COVID-19 information, followed by social media (39%). Having a medium or high level of knowledge was associated with higher odds of washing hands with soap (medium knowledge: adjusted OR (AOR) 2.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.4; high knowledge: AOR 4.6, 95% CI 2.1 to 10.2) and avoiding crowds (medium knowledge: AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6; high knowledge: AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.3).Conclusions This study shows that in the context of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, there is a strong association between knowledge and practices. Because the knowledge gap differs between genders, regions, educational levels and age, it is important that messages are specifically targeted to these core audiences. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd4ec026606f46b7a2f192ceeb8643f5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd4ec026606f46b7a2f192ceeb8643f52025-01-09T03:05:12ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-09-0110910.1136/bmjopen-2020-040328Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional surveyMaike Winters0Helena Nordenstedt1Mohammad B Jalloh2Paul Sengeh3Nance Webber4Ibrahim Ngobeh5Thomas Samba6Harold Thomas7Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SwedenOffice of the Chief Executive Officer, FOCUS 1000, Freetown, Sierra LeoneFOCUS1000, Freetown, Sierra LeoneFOCUS1000, Freetown, Sierra LeoneResearch and Evaluation, FOCUS1000, Freetown, Sierra LeoneSierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Western Area, Sierra LeoneSierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Western Area, Sierra LeoneObjectives To assess the public’s knowledge, attitudes and practices about the novel coronavirus in Sierra Leone to inform an evidence-based communication strategy around COVID-19.Design Nationwide, cross-sectional Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices survey.Setting 56 randomly selected communities in all 14 districts in Sierra Leone.Participants 1253 adults aged 18 years and older of which 52% were men.Main outcome measures We calculated proportions of core indicators (awareness, knowledge, risk perception, practices). A composite variable for knowledge (based on seven variables) was created, and categorised into low (0–2 correct), medium (3–4) and high (5–7). Predictors of knowledge were analysed with multilevel ordinal regression models. Associations between information sources, knowledge and two practices (washing hands with soap and avoiding crowds) were analysed using multilevel logistic regression models.Results We found that 75% of the respondents felt at moderate or great risk of contracting coronavirus. A majority (70%) of women did not know you can survive COVID-19, compared with 61% of men. 60% of men and 54% of women had already taken action to avoid infection with the coronavirus, mostly washing hands with soap and water (87%). Radio (73%) was the most used source for COVID-19 information, followed by social media (39%). Having a medium or high level of knowledge was associated with higher odds of washing hands with soap (medium knowledge: adjusted OR (AOR) 2.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.4; high knowledge: AOR 4.6, 95% CI 2.1 to 10.2) and avoiding crowds (medium knowledge: AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6; high knowledge: AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 4.3).Conclusions This study shows that in the context of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone, there is a strong association between knowledge and practices. Because the knowledge gap differs between genders, regions, educational levels and age, it is important that messages are specifically targeted to these core audiences.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e040328.full |
| spellingShingle | Maike Winters Helena Nordenstedt Mohammad B Jalloh Paul Sengeh Nance Webber Ibrahim Ngobeh Thomas Samba Harold Thomas Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey BMJ Open |
| title | Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey |
| title_full | Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey |
| title_fullStr | Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey |
| title_short | Community knowledge, perceptions and practices around COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: a nationwide, cross-sectional survey |
| title_sort | community knowledge perceptions and practices around covid 19 in sierra leone a nationwide cross sectional survey |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/9/e040328.full |
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