Exploring public awareness and spreading pattern analysis of COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh

Authors

  • Md Jamal Hossain Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh and Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, 77 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh
  • Foyez Ahmmed Department of Statistics, Comilla University, Kotbari, Cumilla-3506, Bangladesh
  • Md Ruhul Kuddus Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
  • Safaet Alam Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh and Department of Pharmacy, State University of Bangladesh, 77 Satmasjid Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh
  • SM Abdur Rahman Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v20i5.55403

Keywords:

Knowledge; Attitudes; Behavioral responses; COVID-19; Bangladesh.

Abstract

Background: The highly transmissible coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has plagued the worldwide population with a continuous upward thrust of the death toll, which might be related to insufficient knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral (KAB) score, and public awareness.

Objective: The current research sought to explore public awareness in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral responses toward COVID-19 and analyze its spreading pattern during the embryonic phase in Bangladesh.

Methods: From March 19 to April 15 of 2020, seventeen planned questions were answered by the Bangladeshi respondents recruited through a simple snowball sampling technique. Informed consent from each participant was taken in the survey.

Results: Out of the total participants (n = 1861), 34.65% were female, and 40.83% had an education level up to Junior School Certificate (JSC). Among all the demographic variables, the highest average knowledge, attitudes and behaviors scores (mean ± SD) were reported for 18- 30 years age group (4.07 ± 1.01 out of 5; 95% confidence interval, [CI] = 4.01-4.13; p< 0.001), above 50 years age group (1.70 ± 0.64 out of 3; 95% CI = 1.59-1.80; p< 0.001), and bachelor or higher degree group (2.64 ± 0.83 out of 4; 95% CI = 2.57-2.70, p< 0.001), respectively. It was clearly depicted that the obtained knowledge score was associated with poor attitudes and behaviors.

Conclusion: Education on basic health sciences as well as overwhelming campaign and publicity must be pointed at enhancing KAB scores towards COVID-19 in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(5) 2021 p.108-117

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Published

2021-09-05

How to Cite

Hossain, M. J. ., Ahmmed, F. ., Kuddus, M. R. ., Alam, S., & Rahman, S. A. . (2021). Exploring public awareness and spreading pattern analysis of COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 20(5), 108–117. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v20i5.55403

Issue

Vol 20: 'Special issue on Covid 19' 2021

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 Md Jamal Hossain, Foyez Ahmmed, Md Ruhul Kuddus, Safaet Alam, SM Abdur Rahman

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