•  
  •  
 

ORCID ID

Maha Sanat Alreshidi : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4284-6675

Nojoud Abdullah Daaya Alreshidi : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4729-7481

Ebaa Felemban : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7232-6566

Ferdinand Gonzales : https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5006-7682

Abstract

Background: Although policies and guidelines may not always be optimal in all settings, a tailor-fitted guideline is appropriate. This study aims to determine the differences in the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Saudi citizens toward Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A quantitative-comparative-correlational approach was carried out from March 21 to May 22, 2020. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and t-test were used to determine the differences in knowledge and demographic characteristics. Linear regression was used to determine relationships among KAP.

Results: The participants’ knowledge yielded 82.83%, positive attitudes (M = 2.10; SD = 1.15) and good practices (M = 2.10; SD = 1.15). Significant differences in knowledge were found for gender (t = −6.79; p < 0.001), marital status (F = 10.59; p < 0.001), education (F = 32.46; p < 0.001), occupation (F = 6.79; p < 0.001), and area of residence (F = 7.53; p <.001). Knowledge and practices showed a significant relationship (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Gender, marital status, education, occupation, and area of residence are all causal factors that differ regarding knowledge. Moreover, a significant relationship between knowledge and practice is established, which is necessary to improve. These study results can serve as a basis for creating effective health education programs toward COVID-19.

References

  1. Ministry of Health. MOH reports first case of coronavirus infection. Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Health, 2020.
  2. Arab News. Saudi Arabia sees a significant increase in active, critical COVID-19 cases. Saudi Arabia: Arab News, 2021.
  3. Nuertey BD, Ekremet K, Haidallah AR, Mumuni K, Addai J, Attibu RIE, et al. Performance of COVID-19 associated symptoms and temperature checking as a screening tool for SARS-CoV-2 infection. PLoS One. 2021;16:e0257450.
  4. World Health Organization-China Joint Mission. Report of the WHO-China joint mission on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2020.
  5. Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L, Tong Y, et al. Early transmission dynamics in Wuhan, China, of novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1199–207.
  6. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report–46. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2020.
  7. Ministry of Health. Novel Corona Virus (2019-nCoV) Infection Guidelines. Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Health, 2020.
  8. Arab News. Saudi Arabia suspends international flights starting Sunday to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Saudi Arabia: Arab News, 2020.
  9. Saudi Press Agency. Kingdom’s government decides to suspend attendance at workplaces in all government agencies for a period of (16) days except for health, security, military, and electronic security. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Press Agency, 2020.
  10. Alhazmi A, Ali MHM, Mohieldin A, Aziz F, Osman OB, Ahmed WA. Knowledge, attitudes and practices among people in Saudi Arabia regarding COVID-19: A cross-sectional study. J Pub Health Res. 2020;9:1867.
  11. John Hopkins University & Medicine. COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). United States: John Hopkins University & Medicine, 2021.
  12. Albaqawi HM, Pasay-An E, Mostoles R Jr, Villareal S. Risk assessment and management among frontline nurses in the context of the COVID-19 virus in the northern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Appl Nurs Res. 2021;58:151410.
  13. Singh A, Purohit BM, Bhambal A, Saxena S, Singh A, Gupta A. Knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding infection control measures among dental students in Central India. J Dent Educ. 2011;75:421–7.
  14. Alnasser AHA, Al-Tawfiq JA, Al-Kalif MSH, Shahadah RFB, Almuqati KSA, Al-Sulaiman BSA, et al. Public knowledge, attitudes, and practice towards COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A web-based cross-sectional survey. Med Sci. 2021;9:11.
  15. Pasay-an E, Magwilang JOG, Pangket PP. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescents regarding sexuality and reproductive issues in the Cordillera administrative region of the Philippines. Makara J Health Res. 2020;24:163–72.
  16. Zhong BL, Luo W, Li HM, Zhang QQ, Liu XG, Li WT, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: A quick online cross-sectional survey. Int J Biol Sci. 2020;16:1745–52.
  17. Al-Hanawi MK, Angawi K, Alshareef N, Qattan AMN, Helmy HZ, Abudawood Y, et al. Knowledge, attitude and practice toward COVID-19 among the public in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Front Pub Health. 2020;8:217.
  18. Olapegba PO, Ayandele O, Kolawole SO, Oguntayo R, Gandi JC, Dangiwa AL, et al. A preliminary assessment of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) knowledge and perceptions in Nigeria [Preprint]. medRxiv; 2020.
  19. Pasay-an E, Gonzales F, Alreshidi MS, Cajigal J, Dator WL, Pangket P. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 among medical and allied health students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Nurs Midwifery Sci. 2021;8:114–9.
  20. Ali M, Uddin Z, Banik PC, Hegazy FA, Zaman S, Ambia ASM, et al. Knowledge, attitude, practice, and fear of COVID-19: An online-based cross-cultural study. Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021:1–16.
  21. Hossain MA, Jahid MIK, Hossain KMA, Walton LM, Uddin Z, Haque MO, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and fear of COVID-19 during the Rapid Rise Period in Bangladesh. PLoS One. 2020;15:e0239646.
  22. Alshammari F, Mostoles R, Pasay-an E, Alshammari S. A convergent parallel study on knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of mainstream workers during COVID-19. Makara J Health Res. 2021;25:136–45.
  23. Ferdous MZ, Islam MS, Sikder MT, Mosaddek ASM, Zegarra-Valdivia JA, Gozal D. Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh: An online-based cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2020;15:e0239254.
  24. Lee M, Kang BA, You M. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in South Korea. BMC Pub Health. 2021;21:295.
  25. Papagiannis D, Malli F, Raptis DG, Papathanasiou IV, Fradelos EC, Daniil Z, et al. Assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards new coronavirus (sars-cov-2) of health care professionals in Greece before the outbreak period. Int J Environ Res Pub Health. 2020;17:4925.
  26. Ajilore K, Atakiti I, Onyenankeya K. College students’ knowledge, attitudes and adherence to public service announcements on Ebola in Nigeria: Suggestions for improving future Ebola prevention education programmes. Health Educ J. 2017;76:648–60.
  27. Feleke BT, Wale MZ, Yirsaw MT. Knowledge, attitude and preventive practice towards COVID-19 and associated factors among outpatient service visitors at Debre Markos compressive specialized hospital, north-west Ethiopia, 2020. PLoS One. 2021;16:e0251708.
  28. Almoayad FA, Bin-Amer LA, Mahboub S, Alrabiah AM, Alhashem AM. Preventive practices against COVID-19 among residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2021;15:780–6.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.

Download

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.