Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Associated with COVID-19 Among School Students in Bharatpur, Chitwan District of Nepal

Authors

  • Deepak Subedi Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi; New Hope Agrobusiness Nepal Private Limited, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal.
  • Suman Bhandari Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi, Nepal
  • Asmita Gaire Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi, Nepal.
  • Milan Kandel Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Chitwan, Nepal.
  • Sanju Subedi Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Chitwan, Nepal.
  • Surendra Karki Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Himalayan College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.669

Keywords:

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, School students, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Students

Abstract

Background: The virus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has reached pandemic proportions. Understanding people’s perceptions of the disease will provide tools to improve strategies to limit its transmission. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) associated with the disease among high school students.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted among secondary level students (grade 8th and 9th) in an urban high-school at Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal to assess KAP using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Epi Info 7.2.3.1.

Results: We collected 101 surveys (response rate 100%). Most of the students were found to be knowledgeable about the timeline of the first outbreak (92.08%), and nearly three-fourths of participants knew about hand-washing for 20 seconds (73.27%). Information about the presence of the disease in Nepal (50.50%), its causative agent (65.53%), and symptoms (57.43%) showed that there is a knowledge gap among participants. Most of the participants were found to have a positive attitude towards the prevention and control of the disease. The majority of the respondents reported using face mask (77.23%) and adopting hand-washing measures (79.21%) as preventive strategies. The majority of the students were highly concerned about the disease.

Conclusion: Secondary level students of Chitwan, Nepal were found to have fair knowledge and understanding of the disease, showed a moderately positive attitude towards preventive measures, and reported appropriate preventive practices against the disease. It is recommended that a similar study with a wider population be conducted to assess KAP of Nepalese people towards SARS-CoV-2.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Deepak Subedi, Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi; New Hope Agrobusiness Nepal Private Limited, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal.

Deepak Subedi is a recent graduate of Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSC & AH) from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi, Nepal. He is a registered veterinarian (NVC Reg No. 1301) under Nepal Veterinary Council and currently working in New Hope Agrobusiness Nepal Private Limited, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal as a poultry technical executive. He is the founder president of Creative Veterinary Student Association, Nepal, and the recipient of the most inspirational Tunza Eco Generation Ambassador of the 21st Eco-generation Regional Ambassadors.

Suman Bhandari, Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi, Nepal

Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH).

Asmita Gaire, Paklihawa Campus, Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Tribhuvan University, Rupandehi, Nepal.

Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH).

Milan Kandel, Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Chitwan, Nepal.

Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH).

Sanju Subedi, Chitwan Medical College, Tribhuvan University, Chitwan, Nepal.

Bachelor of Public Health (BPH).

Surendra Karki, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Himalayan College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.

PhD, Epidemiology.

References

World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report -1. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200121-sitrep-1-2019-ncov.pdf?sfvrsn=20a99c10_4. Last updated January 21, 2020; cited Mar 28, 2020.

Poudel U, Subedi D, Pantha S, Dhakal S. Animal coronaviruses and coronavirus disease 2019: Lesson for one health approach. Open Vet J. 2020 Jan 1;10(3):239-251.

World Health Organization (WHO). Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus2019/technical-guidance/naming-the-coronavirus-disease-(COVID-2019)-and-thevirus-that-causes-it. Last updated January 21, 2020; cited Mar 28, 2020.

World Health Organization (WHO). Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-NCoV). Last updated January 21, 2020; cited Mar 28, 2020.

World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – 11. Available from: https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020. Last updated January 21, 2020; cited Mar 28, 2020.

World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report -67. [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 March 28] Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200327-sitrep-67-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=b65f68eb_4. Last updated January 21, 2020; cited Mar 28, 2020.

Dhakal S, Karki S. Early Epidemiological Features of COVID-19 in Nepal and Public Health Response. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020 Aug 11;7:524.

Dhakal S. Nepal ill-prepared for coronavirus outbreak. The Himalayan Times. Available from: https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/nepal-ill-prepared-for-coronavirus-outbreak/. Last updated February 26, 2020; cited June 6, 2020.

Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal Government. 2020. Health Sector Response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), Site Report 47. Available from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lBhdc2EEcbVJ3pyTxhVuazbl7rSCSjOn/view. Last updated February 26, 2020; cited March 28, 2020.

Bastola A, Sah R, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Lal BK, Jha R, Ojha HC, Shrestha B, Chu DKW, Poon LLM, Costello A, Morita K, Pandey BD. The first 2019 novel coronavirus case in Nepal. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 Mar;20(3):279-280.

Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Nepal Government. 2020. Press Release. 2020. Available from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18d0wCs_xC4J4mOqLIFIo4TcT6DHorWUc/view. Last updated March 25, 2020; cited March 28, 2020.

World Health Organization (WHO). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019. Last updated September 22, 2020; cited September 20, 2020.

Balkhy HH, Abolfotouh MA, Al-Hathlool RH, Al-Jumah MA. Awareness, attitudes, and practices related to the swine influenza pandemic among the Saudi public. BMC Infect Dis. 2010 Feb 28;10:42.

Sah JK, Chiluwal S, Yadav SK, Jha D. A study on knowledge and preventive practices related to Avian Influenza among Higher Secondary School Students of Rajbiraj Municipality, Nepal. Al Ameen J Med Sci. 2017;10(4):276-280.

Mubeen SM, Kamal S, Kamal S, Balkhi F. Knowledge and awareness regarding spread and prevention of COVID-19 amog the young adults of Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 May 1;70(5): S169-74.

Zhong BL, Luo W, Li HM, Zhang QQ, Liu XG, Li WT, Li Y. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. Int J Biol Sci. 2020 Mar 15;16(10):1745-52.

Singh DR, Sunuwar DR, Karki K, Ghimire S, Shrestha N. Knowledge and Perception Towards Universal Safety Precautions During Early Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Nepal. J Community Health. 2020 May;45(6), 1116–1122.

Gallè F, Sabella EA, Da Molin G, De Giglio O, Caggiano G, Di Onofrio V, Ferracuti S, Montagna MT, Liguori G, Orsi GB, Napoli C. Understanding Knowledge and Behaviors Related to CoViD-19 Epidemic in Italian Undergraduate Students: The EPICO Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 16;17(10):3481.

Poudel RK, Dengue cases exceed 1,000 in Chitwan. The Kathmandu Post. Available from: https://kathmandupost.com/health/2019/09/08/dengue-cases-exceed-1-000-in-chitwan. Last updated September 8, 2019; cited April 9, 2020.

Dkhar SA, Quansar R, Saleem SM, Khan SM. Knowledge, attitude, and practices related to COVID-19 pandemic among social media users in J&K, India. Indian J Public Health. 2020 Jun 1;64(6):205.

Taghrir MH, Borazjani R, Shiraly R. COVID-19 and Iranian Medical Students; A Survey on Their Related-Knowledge, Preventive Behaviors and Risk Perception. Arch Iran Med. 2020 Apr 1;23(4):249-254.

Azlan AA, Hamzah MR, Sern TJ, Ayub SH, Mohamad E. Public knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Malaysia. PLoS One. 2020 May 21;15(5):e0233668.

Published

2020-12-09

How to Cite

Subedi, D., Bhandari, S. ., Gaire, A. ., Kandel, M., Subedi, S., & Karki, S. (2020). Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Associated with COVID-19 Among School Students in Bharatpur, Chitwan District of Nepal. International Journal of Medical Students, 8(3), 231–237. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.669

Issue

Section

Original Article

Categories

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.