TITLE:
Barrier Gestures Regarding Covid-19: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of the Population of the Bobozo Health District in Kananga in the Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Pascal Pambi Mukanga, Théophile Mukonkole Yalumami, Dominique Ilunga Masumbuku, Célestin Ngalamulume wa mpesa, Jean Paul Sangunu Samapangu, Thierry Nshimbi Lubaba, Mucail Mucail Teddy, Célestin Kamoyi Kamoyi, Éric Ngoy Wa Muamba, Emmanuel Tshilembi Bowa, Erick Banza Lubaba Nkulu, Irène Ngoy Katombyo, Johon Mwanza Lukusa, Hendrick Mbutshu Lukuke, Bienfait Mwarabu Much’apa, Simon Ilunga Kandolo
KEYWORDS:
Covid-19, Barrier Measures, Attitudes, Knowledge and Practices, Kananga
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.11 No.12,
December
30,
2024
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Covid-19 is an epidemic that has changed the global economic and health system. The objective of this work was to evaluate both the level of knowledge of the population about Covid-19 and the application of barrier gestures in the Health District of Bobozo in Kananga in the Kasaï Central Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out and covered a period of one year, i.e., from January 1 to December 31, 2022. The data were first entered and encoded in Excel and then analyzed using Épi Info version 7.2.5.0. Results: In the majority of cases, radio was the channel used for information, i.e., 76% compared to 3.3% of respondents informed by the Community. Nearly half of the population cited coughing as a sign of Covid-19. In the selected sample, 64% of respondents blamed hand greetings as the main mode of contamination. In 52% of cases, the mask was the most used barrier measure. On the other hand, more than a third of cases (i.e., 36.5% of the population surveyed) did not use barrier measures under the pretext that Covid-19 was a disease of rich people. Conclusion: The level of knowledge of Covid-19 was found to be acceptable in Kananga. However, the population has not shown a good perception of the origin of Covid-19 and the application of barrier gestures against said disease. It is therefore important to amplify health education in the different socio-political-cultural layers to fight against resistance to barrier gestures not only for Covid-19 but also for other epidemics.