Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladeshi people: An online-based cross-sectional study

Ferdous, M. Z.; Saiful Islam, M.; Sikder, M. T.; Mosaddek, A. S. M.; Zegarra-Valdivia, J. A.

Objectives: In Bangladesh, remarkable measures have been adopted to control the rapid spread of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. Adherence to control measures in general populations significantly influences on their perception, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate KAP towards COVID-19 immediately after the locked down and during the rapid rise period of the outbreak. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This online-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 29 to April 19, 2020, involving 2017 Bangladeshi residents aged (12-64) years. The sample was successfully recruited via the social media. After consenting, participants completed an online survey assessing socio-demographic variables, perception, and KAP towards COVD-19. Results: Of the 2017 survey participants, 59.8% and 40.2% were male and female, respectively. A majority of the participants were students (71.2%), aged 21-30 years (57.9%), having a bachelor's degree (61.0%), having family income >30000 in BDT (50.0%), and living urban area (69.8). The findings revealed that 48.3% of participants had more accurate knowledge, 62.3% had more positive attitudes, and 55.1% had more frequent practices for COVID-19 prevention. Majority (96.7%) of the participants agreed COVID-19 is a dangerous disease and almost all (98.7%) of the participants wore a face mask in the crowded place, (98.8%) agreed to report a suspected case to health authorities, and (93.8%) good practicing of washing hands with soap and water. In multiple logistic regression analyses, the COVID-19 more accurate knowledge was associated with age, and residence. Whereas, the results reported that sociodemographic factors such as being older, having higher education, being unemployment, having a joint family, having monthly family income >30,000 BDT, and having more frequent prevention practices were the more positive attitudes factors; and the more frequent prevention practices factors were associated to being female, being older, having higher education, having monthly family income more than 30,000 BDT, urban area and having more positive attitudes. Conclusion: To improve the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of general populations are crucial during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, an effective health education program must be initiated.