Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19 in Trinidad and Tobago

Azad Mohammeda; Vrijesh   Tripathib; Delezia                                                                                                                                                                        S. Singh; Lauren  Ali; Ruth  Mohana; Sedique  Grahama; Saraswatie   Sankara; Naresh   Nandramc

doi:10.18502/jsbch.v5i2.7848

Azad Mohammeda Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Vrijesh Tripathib Department of Mathematics, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Delezia S. Singh Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Lauren Ali Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Ruth Mohana Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Sedique Grahama Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Saraswatie Sankara Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago.
Naresh Nandramc Ministry of Health, Trinidad and Tobago.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jsbch.v5i2.7848

Keywords: COVID-19, KAP survey, Trinidad and Tobago, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices

Abstract

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) has affected over 250 million people globally and resulted in over 5 million deaths since it was first reported in November 2019.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted online from July to September 2020 among nationals and permanent residents of Trinidad and Tobago (N = 812). The related questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, 11 items on knowledge, 11 items on attitude and 7 items on practice and experience. Domain scores were derived for each component (K, A and P) and independent t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to compare differences in scores within demographic categories.

Results: The population possessed a high level of knowledge about COVID-19(0.85 ± 0.09). Attitude scores (0.54 ± 0.07) were influenced by factors such as sex, age, occupation, level of education and area of residence. Significant relationships (P<0.05) were found between demographic categories of sex, age, profession, education, geographical region and the mean domain scores.

Conclusion: There was overall high level of knowledge and good practices in response to COVID-19 which suggests that the government's management approach was effective in providing information about COVID-19 and the safe practice needed to reduce spread of the virus.