Nationwide Survey on the Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions among the Indian Adult Population regarding COVID-19.

Hakeem, Abdul Rahman; Baskaran, Kavin; Chandrasekaran, Sruti; Menon, Jagadeesh; Reddy, Mettu Srinivas; Rela, Mohamed

Background and Objectives Nearly three months after its first recorded case, the progression of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been slow in India so far, with relatively low number of cases and deaths. The behavior of the general public will probably have the most important bearing on the course of the disease over the next few months in India. We aim to study the awareness, attitudes and perceptions of COVID-19 among the adult Indian population. Methods A cross-sectional online survey was conducted using the 'Google Survey Forms' between 29th March and 14th April 2020 and distributed through email and various social media groups. Results There were 1502 respondents, majority were male (56.7%), between 30-49 years (47.7%). 90% of the respondents had either an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, with a third of them being in the healthcare sector (34.6%). Most of the respondents were aware of the common symptoms of COVID-19, but worryingly only a third (31%) were aware of the risk of spread from infected asymptomatic individuals, which is a major concern in India. Majority were aware of the modes of virus transmission, but only two-thirds (68.6%) were aware of the safe physical distance (6 feet) for maintain social distancing. A majority of respondents were appreciative of the government interventions in containing the virus spread and would support further extension of lockdown if necessary. Conclusion Despite limitations of generalizability, this survey has identified areas which the public health authorities need to target in future information campaigns.