Publication: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning COVID-19 in Nepal
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Health Research Council
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) severely affects patients with chronic diseases. Adequate knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to COVID-19 is associated with decrease morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward COVID-19 disease among chronic diseases patients visiting tertiary hospitals in Kathmandu.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients who visited Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center, Kathmandu. Structured questionnaire was used to collect patients’ socio-demographic data and perspectives on COVID-19.
Results: Four hundred chronic disease patients participated in the study, with 53.2% female and 46.8% male, and 56.8% of age ?50 years. Overall, 55.5% of the participants had good knowledge, 56.2% had good practice, and 30.7% had positive attitude towards COVID-19. Younger patients, 18-34 years, were found to have higher odds of having good knowledge compared to other age groups (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-6.0). The patients with less than average family income and those unable to read and write had lower odds of having positive attitude towards COVID-19 (aOR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9 and aOR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.9, respectively). A statistically significant correlation was found between the patients’ knowledge and practice, knowledge and attitude, and attitude and practice (p <0.001).
Conclusions: Nearly half of the chronic disease patients in Nepal had poor knowledge and practice whereas more than two-third had negative attitude towards COVID-19 disease. Older age of the patient was significantly associated with poor knowledge and practice.
Keywords: Attitudes; chronic diseases; COVID-19; knowledge; practice
Description
Anil Bhattarai
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Kamal Ranabhat
Ministry of Health and Population, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bhuvan Saud
Janamaitri Foundation Institute of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal
Suraj Bhattarai
Global Health Research and Medical Interventions for Development, Kathmandu, Nepal
Kiran Paudel
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Devaka Kumari Acharya
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sangita Tripathi
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sangam Shah
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Nikita Bhatta
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Santa Kumar Das
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal