RESULTS
The first three columns of Table 2 depict frequency distributions of the participants’ demographic characteristics. Similar to the country’s demographic pattern, 67 percent of participants were between the ages of 26 and 45. Due to the nationwide home quarantine, the majority of respondents were male and also married (about 56 and 69 percent, respectively). A large proportion of participants had degrees of bachelor or master, and about 26 percent of university-educated respondents studied in health sciences. Less than 10 % work in healthcare systems and about 37% of the participants were employees. Only 3.8% of the participants live in villages.
Table 2 also shows the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice and their standard deviation for different demographics groups of participants. The mean, minimum, and maximum knowledge scores of total participants were 87.7, 15, and 100, respectively. Based on the P-values obtained from ANOVAs and T-tests, the mean scores of knowledge among all demographic groups were significantly different except for the urban and rural residents (Table 2). Married and females participants, respondents who work in healthcare systems, participants in the age group of 36 to 45 years with a higher level of education, and those who studied in the fields related to health gained significantly higher knowledge scores.
The mean, minimum, and maximum attitude scores of all participants were 59.3, 13, and 100, respectively. Based on statistical analysis, there was no significant difference between the mean scores of participants’ attitudes in gender, education levels, and place of residence groups. Married participants, aged between 46 and 55, and those who worked and studied in the health field received the highest attitude scores (Table 2). The mean, minimum, and maximum practice scores of all participants were 89.6, 38, and 100, respectively. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the mean practice scores of respondents in different groups of the three demographic variables of marital status, level of education, and place of residence. In general, females and participants over the age of 46 and those who worked and studied in the health field had higher practice scores than others. Surprisingly, the 18- to 25-year-olds had the lowest scores in all three sections. Although married participants showed a slightly higher level of knowledge and practice than singles, their attitude was significantly more positive. Moreover, the higher the level of education, the higher the scores of knowledge and practice and the lower the attitude score.
Table 2- Demographic characteristics of respondents and KAP scores by demographic variable
The participants’ knowledge of COVID-19 was assessed in terms of preventive measures, disease control, treatment, clinical symptoms, and transmission routes. The main categories of knowledge questions and the average response status are presented in Table 3.
Table 3- Main categories of knowledge questions and average responses to each option
Besides, Figure 1 shows the responses of participants to knowledge questions regarding preventive measures. Except for the using masks in all places, the respondents’ knowledge about preventive measures was pretty near perfect. These findings show that public knowledge regarding preventive measures was promoted to an optimal level because of the proper public education provided by health authorities.
Figure 1- Knowledge level of participants regarding preventive measures questions
Table 4 indicates how people answer different questions in the attitude section. Most respondents (63.7%) had a negative attitude towards the observance of appointed prevention principles by others, while the majority believed in their own knowledge about the prevention measures.
Table 4 -Attitude of respondents toward prevention and control of COVID-19
The participants’ responses to the questions of the practice section are also shown in Table 5. According to the results, most people have behaved well during COVID-19 outbreak. Although this is a very common and important event during the New Year holidays in Iran, more than 80% of the respondents had never visited their relatives.
Table 5 - Practice of respondents regarding COVID-19 control and prevention
The correlation between participants’ scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice was examined by Pearson correlation test. The results showed a statistically significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude, attitude and practice, and also knowledge and practice. Table 4 indicates the correlation coefficients and P values.
Table 6 -The results of Pearson correlation test