Community Preventive Measures Related to Coronavirus Disease-19 among Iraqi Population

Authors

  • Taqi Mohammed Jwad Taher Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Wasit University, Kut, Iraq
  • Shaymaa Abdul Lateef Al-Fadhul Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
  • Zainab Abbas Hassooni Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Wasit University, Kut, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.5199

Keywords:

Coronavirus disease-19, Preventive measures, Severe acute respiratory syndrome- coronavirus 2, Iraq

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus (CoV) disease (COVID)-19 outbreak is considering as a health disaster which threatens the world right now because of its higher infectivity and unavailability of definite vaccine or treatment. The only effective strategies are a commitment to prevention and quarantine of the diseased people to decrease the transmission and spreading.

AIM: The objective of the study was to assess the preventive measures adopted by the Iraqi population to protect themselves from acquiring severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2 infection in correlation with their age, sex, educational level, and occupation.

METHODS: A total of 619 volunteers were involved in this online cross-sectional study, all of them answered a semi-structured questionnaire including 14 questions regarding the preventive practices. The questionnaire was distributed into three general and mixed Facebook groups during the period from April 18 to 28. Data analyzed by SPSS version 23 using frequency tables and descriptive statistics for numerical continuous age variable, t-test, and ANOVA were used for mean differences in the preventive scores.

RESULTS: The sociodemographic features of participants were showed that 81.3% were women and 91.9% had college or higher education. The majority (75.6%) were <30 years old and 42.5% governmentally employed.

The mean preventive practice score mentioned by them was 2.60 ± 0.28 with the highest three scores was for stay away from infected and sick people, avoid crowded places, and avoid travel and commuting. A significant difference was found in the practice score according to age, gender, and occupation (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Iraqi people mentioned that they always adhere to the health instructions related to COVID-19 prevention as suggested by the government, health workers, and organizations. Male, students, and people younger than 30 years are less frequently followed the main preventive measures.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block

References

WHO. COVID-19 Strategy Update. Geneva: WHO; 2020. p. 8. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/covid-19-strategy-update---14-april-2020. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 14].

World Health Organization. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19): Situation Report-91. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/ coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200420-sitrep-91-covid-19. pdf?sfvrsn=fcf0670b_4. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 15].

World Health Organization. Report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/who-chinajoint-mission-on-COVID-19-final-report.pdf. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 25]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.disamonth.2020.101068

Chen N, Zhou M, Dong X, Qu J, Gong F, Han Y, et al. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 99 cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan, China: A descriptive study. Lancet. 2020;395(10223):507- 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30211-7 PMid:32007143

World Health Organization. Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/covid. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 30].

Wu Z, McGoogan JM. Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: Summary of a report of 72 314 cases from the Chinese center for disease control and prevention. JAMA. 2020;323(13):1239-42. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2648 PMid:32091533

World Health Organization. WHO Director-general’s Opening Remarks at the Media Briefing on COVID-19. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020. [Last accessed on 2020 Mar 11]. https://doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u23682

Heymann DL, Shindo N. COVID-19: What is next for public health? Lancet. 2020;395(10224):542 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30374-3 PMid:32061313

World Health Organization. Rational Use of Personal Protective Equipment for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Considerations During Severe Shortages: Interim Guidance. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Available from: https://www.apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331215/WHO-2019-nCov-IPCPPE_use-2020.1-eng.Pdf. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 6]. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.19.249417

World Health Organization. Advice on the Use of Masks in the Community, During Home Care and in Health Care Settings in the Context of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Outbreak: Interim Guidance. Available from: https://www.apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331215/WHO-2019-nCov-IPCPPE_use-2020.1-eng.pdf. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 07].

World Health Organization. Coronavirus Disease (COVID- 19) Advice for the Public. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public. [Last accessed on 2020 Apr 30].

Communicable Diseases Network Australia. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities; 2020. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-COVID-19-guidelines-foroutbreaks-in-residential-care-facilities.pdf. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 11].

World Health Organization. COVID 19 Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) Global Research and Innovation Forum: Towards a Research Roadmap. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. p. 1-7.

Sullivan GM, Artino AR. Analyzing and interpreting data from likert-type scales. J Grad Med Educ. 2013;5(4):541-2. https://doi.org/10.4300/jgme-5-4-18 PMid:24454995

WHO EMRO. Questions and Answers COVID-19 Health Topics; 2020 Available from: http://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/ corona-virus/questions-and-answers.html. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 04].

Huang Y, Wu Q, Wang P, Xu Y, Wang L, Zhao Y, et al. Measures undertaken in China to avoid COVID-19 infection: Internet-based, cross-sectional survey study. J Med Intern Res. 2020;22(5):e18718. https://doi.org/10.2196/18718 PMid:32396516

Harun HN, Yusof TA, Solhi F. Demand for Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers Soars/New Straits Times. NST Online; 2020. Available from: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/561250/demand-face-masks-hand-sanitisers-soars. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 04].

WHO. Shortage of Personal Protective Equipment Endangering Health Workers Worldwide; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 04]. https://doi.org/10.26616/nioshpub2009106

Geldsetzer P. Use of rapid online surveys to assess people’s perceptions during infectious disease outbreaks: A cross-sectional survey on COVID-19. J Med Intern Res. 2020;22(4):e18790. https://doi.org/10.2196/18790 PMid:32240094

Zhong B, Luo W, Li H, Zhang Q, Liu X, Li W, 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(10):1745-52. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.45221 PMid:32226294

Cobey KD, Stulp G, Laan F, Buunk AP, Pollet TV. Sex differences in risk taking behavior among Dutchcyclists. Evol Psychol. 2013;11(2):350-64. https://doi.org/10.1177/147470491301100206 PMid:23674522

Duell N, Steinberg L, Icenogle G, Chein J, Chaudhary N, Di Giunta L, et al. Age patterns in risk taking across the world. J Youth Adolesc. 2018;47(5):1052-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-017-0752-y PMid:29047004

Worldometer. Iraq Demographics 2020 (Population, Age, Sex, Trends); 2020. Available from: https://www.worldometers.info/ demographics/iraq-demographics. [Last accessed on 2020 Jun 07].

Sahlqvist S, Song Y, Bull F, Adams E, Preston J, Ogilvie D. Effect of questionnaire length, personalisation and reminder type on response rate to a complex postal survey: Randomised controlled trial. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2011;11(1):62. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-11-62 PMid:21548947

Downloads

Published

2020-10-28

How to Cite

1.
Taher TMJ, Al-Fadhul SAL, Hassooni ZA. Community Preventive Measures Related to Coronavirus Disease-19 among Iraqi Population. Open Access Maced J Med Sci [Internet]. 2020 Oct. 28 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];8(T1):325-9. Available from: https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/5199

Most read articles by the same author(s)