The emergence of COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Kinshasa.

Akilimali, PZ; Mashinda, DK; Lulebo, AM; Mafuta, EM; Onyamboko, MA; Tran, NT

The emergence of COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Kinshasa.

Akilimali, PZ Mashinda, DK Lulebo, AM Mafuta, EM Onyamboko, MA Tran, NT

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Publisher:: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PLoS One, 2022, 17, (6), pp. e0265538
Issue Date:: 2022

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Akilimali, PZ
dc.contributor.author	Mashinda, DK
dc.contributor.author	Lulebo, AM
dc.contributor.author	Mafuta, EM
dc.contributor.author	Onyamboko, MA
dc.contributor.author	Tran, NT
dc.contributor.editor	Mukherjee, A
dc.date.accessioned	2023-07-10T20:27:28Z
dc.date.available	2022-03-03
dc.date.available	2023-07-10T20:27:28Z
dc.date.issued	2022
dc.identifier.citation	PLoS One, 2022, 17, (6), pp. e0265538
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171419
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: The first COVID-19 case in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was reported on 10 March 2020 in Kinshasa, prompting the government to promote internationally agreed non-pharmacological interventions for infection prevention and control. Public compliance to these measures is critical and depends on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of communities regarding COVID-19, for which there was no data. This study aimed to bridge that gap. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kinshasa in June 2020, during the emergency state, following a four-stage sampling process. Master's students from the Kinshasa School of Public Health conducted the survey. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The study enrolled 726 women and 600 men (mean age: 43; SD 16-85). Nearly everyone heard about COVID-19 (mainly through television, radio, and street reports), but only 17% were highly knowledgeable about its transmission modes, signs and symptoms, and preventive measures. More than 80% of participants believed in the disease's seriousness; however, only 21% found the total lockdown acceptable. Nonetheless, 86% reported regular hand cleaning and mask-wearing followed by physical distancing (72%). Poorer, younger, and non-Catholic participants were overall markedly less knowledgeable and had comparatively lower levels of health-protective attitudes, acceptance, and practices. The education level and household size did not matter. Female participants tended to show fewer enabling attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 prevention measures compared to men. CONCLUSION: Adequate public health information to improve the population's KAP related to COVID-19 is critical and must be designed with and delivered to the community-considering the specific needs of diverse sub-groups and contexts. Studies in Kinshasa and similar settings are necessary to understand the barriers to and enablers of acquiring, applying, and maintaining the optimal population's KAP for COVID-19 prevention and control.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
dc.relation.ispartof	PLoS One
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0265538
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Communicable Disease Control
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Democratic Republic of the Congo
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
dc.subject.mesh	Communicable Disease Control
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Democratic Republic of the Congo
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Communicable Disease Control
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Democratic Republic of the Congo
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.title	The emergence of COVID-19 in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Kinshasa.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	17
utslib.location.activity	United States
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-07-10T20:27:26Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	17
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The first COVID-19 case in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was reported on 10 March 2020 in Kinshasa, prompting the government to promote internationally agreed non-pharmacological interventions for infection prevention and control. Public compliance to these measures is critical and depends on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of communities regarding COVID-19, for which there was no data. This study aimed to bridge that gap. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kinshasa in June 2020, during the emergency state, following a four-stage sampling process. Master's students from the Kinshasa School of Public Health conducted the survey. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The study enrolled 726 women and 600 men (mean age: 43; SD 16-85). Nearly everyone heard about COVID-19 (mainly through television, radio, and street reports), but only 17% were highly knowledgeable about its transmission modes, signs and symptoms, and preventive measures. More than 80% of participants believed in the disease's seriousness; however, only 21% found the total lockdown acceptable. Nonetheless, 86% reported regular hand cleaning and mask-wearing followed by physical distancing (72%). Poorer, younger, and non-Catholic participants were overall markedly less knowledgeable and had comparatively lower levels of health-protective attitudes, acceptance, and practices. The education level and household size did not matter. Female participants tended to show fewer enabling attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 prevention measures compared to men. CONCLUSION: Adequate public health information to improve the population's KAP related to COVID-19 is critical and must be designed with and delivered to the community-considering the specific needs of diverse sub-groups and contexts. Studies in Kinshasa and similar settings are necessary to understand the barriers to and enablers of acquiring, applying, and maintaining the optimal population's KAP for COVID-19 prevention and control.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171419