Public knowledge, attitudes, and practice about COVID-19 pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented a significant global health challenge, necessitating an understanding of public knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) for effective containment.
• Assessing KAP in Jordan was crucial to inform public health strategies during the ongoing pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices concerning COVID-19 among the Jordanian population.
• To identify demographic and belief-related factors associated with higher KAP levels regarding COVID-19 in Jordan.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing an online questionnaire distributed via social media networks in Jordan.
• Data were collected in May 2020 from 2470 participants, assessing their knowledge, attitude, and practices related to COVID-19.
• Linear regression analysis was used to determine factors influencing knowledge and practice levels.

Main Results:

• The study found generally good levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding COVID-19 among the Jordanian public.
• Higher knowledge scores were associated with being female, older (≥40 years), married, having a bachelor's degree or higher, being employed, and believing in Jordan's ability to control the pandemic.
• Higher practice scores were linked to being female, residing in Amman, possessing high COVID-19 knowledge, and believing in Jordan's pandemic control capacity.

Conclusions:

• The Jordanian population exhibited high levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices concerning COVID-19 during the pandemic.
• Continued and enhanced educational programs are recommended by health authorities to sustain and improve public awareness, particularly for demographics identified as having lower KAP levels.
• Sustained public health interventions are vital to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and manage future infectious disease outbreaks effectively.