TY - JOUR AU - Rahman, Shah Md. Mahfuzur AU - Akter, Aysha AU - Mostary, Kazi Fardana AU - Ferdousi, Shahnila AU - Ummon, Israt Jahan AU - Naafi, Shah Mubdi -Un- AU - Rahman, Md. Mahbubar AU - Uddin, Mir Gazi Md. Nazim AU - Tasmin, Sinthia AU - Uddin, Mohammad Ahsan AU - Lopa, Syeda Amina Khaier AU - Amin, SM Sayadat AU - Miah, Md. Abu Rayhan AU - Saha, Tarit Kumar AU - Rahim, Mohammad Abdur AU - Hossain, Shah Monir PY - 2020/08/01 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among Bangladeshi population JF - Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin JA - Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull VL - 46 IS - 2 SE - Research Papers DO - 10.3329/bmrcb.v46i2.49015 UR - https://banglajol.info/index.php/BMRCB/article/view/49015 SP - 73-82 AB - <p><em>Background:</em> Cornonavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization on the 11<sup>th</sup> March 2020. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of the population towards the COVID-19, play an integral role in determining community’s readiness to engage themselves in government measures including behavioural change in prevention and control of the disease.</p><p><em>Objectives:</em> The study was aimed to determine the knowledge levels, attitudes and practices towards the COVID-19 among the Bangladeshi population.</p><p><em>Methods:</em> A cross sectional study was conducted among 1549 adult population across Bangladesh including Dhaka city and rural areas during March-April 2020. Data were collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire through online, self-administered and face to face interview. The study instrument consisted of 7 items on socio-demographic characteristics, 12 items on knowledge, 4 items on attitudes and 5 items on practices related to COVID-19. Independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and binary logistic regression were performed to assess the attitudes and practices in relation to knowledge.</p><p><em>Results:</em> Of the total 1549 study population, 1249 were interviewed online, 194 were self-administered and 106 were through face to face interview. The lowest level of knowledge prevailed among the above 50 years’ age group regarding the disease, which was higher among female (<em>p</em>=0.03), and more among the respondents having education level below graduation (<em>p</em>=0.000; OR=1.6, χ<sup>2</sup>=17.6). Of the total respondents, 73.5% having negative attitude towards use of face mask, though 69.8% having the appropriate knowledge on mode of transmission of the virus (<em>p</em>=0.000). Though, 51.6% of the study population, having adequate knowledge, but only 52.1% using face mask (<em>p</em>&gt;0.05) and 51.8% practicing hand washing (<em>p</em>&gt;0.05). More than 70.0% respondents having knowledge on social distancing, but only 50.0% was practicing it. Male respondents had 1.5 times more knowledge about the social distancing than the female counterpart (<em>p</em>=0.000).</p><p><em>Conclusion:</em> Public awareness campaign should be enhanced critically focusing the target audience covering the knowledge gaps, motivation for appropriate practices and further improvement of attitudes towards prevention and control of COVID-19 in Bangladesh thus suggested.</p><p>Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2020; 46(2): 73-82</p> ER -