Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: doi:10.22028/D291-35180
Title: Knowledge into the Practice against COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ghana
Author(s): Yeboah, Prince
Daliri, Dennis Bomansang
Abdin, Ahmad Yaman
Appiah-Brempong, Emmanuel
Pitsch, Werner
Panyin, Anto Berko
Adusei, Emmanuel Bentil Asare
Razouk, Afraa
Nasim, Muhammad Jawad
Jacob, Claus
Language: English
Title: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume: 18
Issue: 24
Publisher/Platform: MDPI
Year of Publication: 2021
Free key words: attitudes
COVID-19
Ghana
knowledge of COVID-19
linear multiple regression analysis
practices against COVID-19
preventive measures
public health
socio-demographics
vaccination
DDC notations: 500 Science
796 Sports
Publikation type: Journal Article
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected populations globally, including Ghana. Knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, and the application of preventive public health interventions are pivotal to its control. Besides a lockdown, measures taken against the spread of the virus include the wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular hand washing with soap and, more recently, vaccination against the virus. In order to establish a possible link between the knowledge of the disease and compliance with preventive measures, including vaccination, a cross-sectional study employing an interview-structured questionnaire was conducted in six regions of Ghana (n = 1560). An adequate level of knowledge of COVID-19 (69.9%) was reported. The linear multiple regression analysis further explicated the differences in the knowledge of COVID-19 among the respondents by their knowledge of cholera and influenza (adjusted R-Square = 0.643). Despite this profound knowledge of the illness, two thirds of the respondents were unwilling to follow basic preventive measures and only 35.3% were willing to be vaccinated. Amazingly, neither knowledge of COVID-19 nor the socio demographic characteristics had any meaningful influence on the practice of preventive measures. Personal attitude leading to efficient public compliance with preventive measures, therefore, is a critical issue demanding special attention and effective interventions by the government and locals with authority to curb the spread of the pandemic which surpasses the traditional channels of public health communication. This includes a roll-out of persuasion, possibly including public figures and influencers, and in any case, a balanced and open discussion addressing the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to avoid new variants and comparable problems currently facing many countries of Western Europe. Indeed, a profound hesitancy against vaccination may turn African countries such as Ghana for many years into hotspots of new viral variants.
DOI of the first publication: 10.3390/ijerph182412902
Link to this record: urn:nbn:de:bsz:291--ds-351807
hdl:20.500.11880/32162
http://dx.doi.org/10.22028/D291-35180
ISSN: 1660-4601
Date of registration: 10-Jan-2022
Description of the related object: Supplementary Material
Related object: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/24/12902/s1
Faculty: HW - Fakultät für Empirische Humanwissenschaften und Wirtschaftswissenschaft
NT - Naturwissenschaftlich- Technische Fakultät
Department: HW - Sportwissenschaft
NT - Pharmazie
Professorship: HW - Prof. Dr. Eike Emrich
NT - Prof. Dr. Claus Jacob
Collections:SciDok - Der Wissenschaftsserver der Universität des Saarlandes

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