Muhammad Salman1, Zia Ul Mustafa2, Noman Asif3, Naureen Shehzadi3, Tahir Mehmood Khan4, Tauqeer Hussain Mallhi5, Yusra Habib Khan5, Muhammad Hammad Butt6, Muhammad Junaid Farrukh7, Fahad Saleem8, Khalid Hussain3. 1. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Lahore, 1-Km Defense Road, Lahore, Pakistan. 2. District Headquarter Hospital Pakpattan, Pakpttan, Pakistan. 3. Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. 4. Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. 5. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al-Jouf, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 6. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Central Punjab, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan. 7. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, USCI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 8. Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: COVIID-19 outbreak has been accompanied by a massive infodemic. However, many vulnerable individuals such as illiterate or low-literate, older adults, and rural populations have limited access to health information. In this context, these individuals are more likely to have poor knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices related to COVID-19. The current study was aimed to investigate COVID-19's awareness of the illiterate population of Pakistanis. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among illiterate Pakistanis having age ≥ 18 years through a convenient sampling approach. The study participants were interviewed, face to face, by respecting the defined precautionary measures. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants' (N = 394) was 37.2±9.60 years, with the majority of males (80.7%). All participants were aware of the COVID-19 outbreak and television news channels (75.1%) were the primary source of information. The mean knowledge score was 5.33±1.88. About 27% of participants had good knowledge score (score ≥ 7) followed by moderate (score 4-6) and poor (score ≤ 3) knowledge in 41.6%, and 31.5% respondents, respectively. The attitude score was 4.42±1.22 with good (score ≥ 6), average (score 4-5), and poor attitude (score ≤ 3) in 19%, 66%, and 15% participants, respectively. The average practices-related score was 12.80±3.34, with the majority of participants having inadequate practices. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices of the illiterate population in Pakistan are unsatisfactory. This study highlights the gaps in specific aspects of knowledge and practice that should be addressed through awareness campaigns targeting this specific population.
BACKGROUND: COVIID-19 outbreak has been accompanied by a massive infodemic. However, many vulnerable individuals such as illiterate or low-literate, older adults, and rural populations have limited access to health information. In this context, these individuals are more likely to have poor knowledge, attitudes, and preventive practices related to COVID-19. The current study was aimed to investigate COVID-19's awareness of the illiterate population of Pakistanis. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among illiterate Pakistanis having age ≥ 18 years through a convenient sampling approach. The study participants were interviewed, face to face, by respecting the defined precautionary measures. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: The mean age of the study participants' (N = 394) was 37.2±9.60 years, with the majority of males (80.7%). All participants were aware of the COVID-19 outbreak and television news channels (75.1%) were the primary source of information. The mean knowledge score was 5.33±1.88. About 27% of participants had good knowledge score (score ≥ 7) followed by moderate (score 4-6) and poor (score ≤ 3) knowledge in 41.6%, and 31.5% respondents, respectively. The attitude score was 4.42±1.22 with good (score ≥ 6), average (score 4-5), and poor attitude (score ≤ 3) in 19%, 66%, and 15% participants, respectively. The average practices-related score was 12.80±3.34, with the majority of participants having inadequate practices. CONCLUSION:COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices of the illiterate population in Pakistan are unsatisfactory. This study highlights the gaps in specific aspects of knowledge and practice that should be addressed through awareness campaigns targeting this specific population.
Authors: Maria Ishaq Khattak; Saad Ishaq Khattak; Muslim Khan; Zohaib Khan; Lisa Dikomitis; Zia Ul-Haq; Norkhafizah Saddki Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-12 Impact factor: 4.614
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