COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice towards Social Distancing and its Impact on the Population and the Healthcare System in Saudi Arabia

Aljuhni, A.; Almahmoud, K.; Alzahrani, S.; Al-Thakfan, N.; Alswayed, K.; Kashkary, A.; Mahmoud, M.

Aims: To determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Saudi population towards social distancing and COVID-19. Study Design: Cross-sectional. Place and Duration of Study: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh city, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the national lockdown, between July 2020 and December 2020. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire composed of a total of 40 questions, which include socio-demographic, knowledge, attitude, and practice questions. According to the responses, a scale has been established in order to categorize the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards social distancing and COVID-19 into three categories;good, fair, and poor. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Independent t-test were used to determine the differences between categories. Multivariable linear regression analysis and Pearson's correlation were performed in order to identify factors related to KAP. Results: This study included 407 participants;more than half of them (54%) were females, while (46%) were males. All participants were 18 years and above. The participants showed a fair level of knowledge, a positive attitude, and good practices toward COVID-19. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that Riyadh residents, especially females, have a fair level of knowledge, a positive attitude, and good practices toward COVID-19 and social distancing. More emphasis should be targeted on less educated population and men. This study may help policymakers to identify the target less knowledgeable groups for COVID-19 prevention and health education.