Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards COVID-19 among Adults in a Rural area of Sonepat: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a major global health challenge. India has taken unprecedented and
stringent preventive and precautionary measures against COVID-19 to control its spread. Public adherence to
preventive measures is influenced by their knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19. This study was aimed to
access the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 among Indian adults
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 576 participants from August 2021 to July 2022 in three
villages under CHC Juan, Sonepat, Haryana using multistage random sampling. A pretested semi structured
proforma comprising questions regarding knowledge attitudes and practices with respect to COVID-19 was used.
Data were analysed using R statistical software.
Results: Participants were male (61.8%) & married (89.6%) & the mean (SD) age was 43.11 (15.66) years.
Participants had overall good knowledge of COVID-19 as 82.6% knew that the disease was contagious. The most
common symptoms of this disease reported by participants were cough, fever, body ache, difficulty in breathing in
sequence. Almost 90% had positive attitude about receiving vaccine against COVID-19. Most participants washed
their hands (92.4%) and used a facemask (92%), avoided crowded places (88.9%) to safeguard self from COVID-19
infection.
Conclusion: The knowledge on COVID-19 preventive measures was good and majority held positive attitude and
practices.