Knowledge and practices during the COVID-19 outbreak in the Middle East: a cross-sectional study

Abdallah Y. Naser, Eman Zmaily Dahmash, Zahra Khalil Alsairafi, Hassan Alwafi, Hamad Alyami, Zahraa Jalal, Ahmed M. Al Rajeh, Vibhu Paudyal, Yosra J. Alhartani, Fawaz Mohammad Turkistani, Fadi Fouad Hassanin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
177 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of the general public in the Middle Eastern countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted between the 19th of March and the 6th of April 2020 in three Middle Eastern countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait) to explore the knowledge and practices of the Middle Eastern population regarding COVID-19. A previously developed questionnaire was adapted and used for this study. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 knowledge. Results: A total of 1208 participants (members of the public) participated from the three countries (Jordan = 389, Saudi Arabia = 433, and Kuwait = 386). The majority of participants (n = 810, 67.2%) were females aged 30 to 49 years (n = 501, 41.5%). Participants had moderate overall COVID-19 knowledge, with a mean (SD) score of 7.93 (±1.72) out of 12 (66.1%). Participants had better knowledge about disease prevention and control (83.0%), whereas the lowest sub-scale scores were for questions about disease transmission routes (43.3%). High education level was an important predictor of greater COVID-19 knowledge scores (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Further public education is needed to address the relatively low level of education regarding the transmission of COVID-19 in the Middle Eastern countries. Policymakers are recommended to develop informative COVID-19 related campaigns that specifically target young people (university students), unemployed individuals, and those with lower levels of education.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4699
Number of pages12
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume18
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Apr 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: This study was supported by Isra University (Amman, Jordan).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Jordan
  • Knowledge
  • Kuwait
  • Practices
  • Saudi Arabia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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