MERS-CoV infection: Mind the public knowledge gap

Amen Bawazir, Eman Al-Mazroo, Hoda Jradi, Anwar Ahmed, Motasim Badri, Amen Bawazir, Eman Al-Mazroo, Hoda Jradi, Anwar Ahmed, Motasim Badri

Abstract

In August 2015, the Corona outbreak caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was the 9th episode since June 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Little is known about the public awareness toward the nature or prevention of the disease. The aim of this work was to assess the knowledge of the adult population in Riyadh toward the MERS-CoV. In this cross-sectional survey, a self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected participants visiting malls in Riyadh. The questionnaire contained measurable epidemiological and clinical MERS-CoV knowledge level variables and relevant source of information. The study included 676 participants. Mean age was 32.5 (±SD 8.6) years and 353 (47.8%) were males. Almost all participants heard about the corona disease and causative agent. The study showed a fair overall knowledge (66.0%), less knowledge on epidemiological features of the disease (58.3%), and good knowledge (90.7%) on the clinical manifestation of the MERS-CoV. Internet was the major (89.0%) source of disease information, and other sources including health care providers, SMS, television, magazines and books were low rated (all <25%). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis age ≤30 years (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.647, 95%CI 1.048-2.584, P=0.030), male gender (OR=1.536, 95%CI 1.105-2.134, P=0.01), and no tertiary education (OR=1.957, 95%CI 1.264-3.030, P=0.003) were independent significant predictors of poor epidemiological knowledge. This study concludes that there was inadequate epidemiological knowledge received by the public and the reliance mostly on the clinical manifestations to recognizing the MERS-CoV disease. Comprehensive public health education programs is important to increase awareness of simple epidemiological determinants of the disease is warranted.

Keywords: Attitude; Corona virus; MERS-CoV; Riyadh; Saudi Arabia.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

References

    1. Assiri A., Al-Tawfiq J.A., Al-Rabeeah A.A., Al-Rabiah F.A., Al-Hajjar S., Al-Barrak A. Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 47 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease from Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013;13(9):752–761.
    1. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) [].
    1. Mailles A., Blanckaert K., Chaud P., van der Werf S., Lina B., Caro V. First cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections in France, investigations and implications for the prevention of human-to-human transmission, France, May 2013. Euro Surveill. 2013;18(24)
    1. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Summary of Current Situation: Literature Update and Risk Assessment [].
    1. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome [].
    1. Askarian M., Danaei M., Vakili V. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pandemic H1N1 influenza among medical and dental residents and fellowships in Shiraz, Iran. Int J Prev Med. 2013;4(4)
    1. Alsolamy S., Arabi Y.M. Infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Can J Resp Therapy. 2015;51(4):102.
    1. Bermingham A., Chand M., Brown C., Aarons E., Tong C., Langrish C. Severe respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, in a patient transferred to the United Kingdom from the Middle East, September 2012. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(40)
    1. Ki M. 2015 MERS outbreak in Korea: hospital-to-hospital transmission. Epidemiol Health. 2015;37:1–4.
    1. Infection prevention/control and management guidelines for patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection [].
    1. Infection prevention and control of epidemic-and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care: WHO interim guidelines [].
    1. Reusken C.B., Haagmans B.L., Muller M.A., Gutierrez C., Godeke G.J., Meyer B. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2013;13(10):859–866.
    1. Gautret P., Benkouiten S., Salaheddine I., Belhouchat K., Drali T., Parola P. Hajj pilgrims knowledge about Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, August to September 2013. Euro Surveill. 2013;18(41):20604.
    1. Memish Z., Al-Tawfiq J., Makhdoom H., Al-Rabeeah A., Assiri A., Alhakeem R. Screening for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in hospital patients and their healthcare worker and family contacts: a prospective descriptive study. Clin Microbiol infec. 2014;20(5):469–474.
    1. Khan M.U., Shah S., Ahmad A., Fatokun O. Knowledge and attitude of healthcare workers about middle east respiratory syndrome in multispecialty hospitals of Qassim, Saudi Arabia. BMC Public Health. 2014;14(1):1.
    1. Nour M.O., Babilghith A.O., Natto H.A., Al-Amin F.O., Alawneh S.M. Knowledge, attitude and practices of healthcare providers towards MERS-CoV infection at Makkah hospitals, KSA. Int Res J Med Med Sci. 2015;3(4):103–112.
    1. Almutairi K.M., Al Helih E.M., Moussa M., Boshaiqah A.E., Alajilan A.S., Vinluan J.M. Awareness, attitudes, and practices related to coronavirus pandemic among public in Saudi Arabia. Fam Community Health. 2015;38(4):332–340.
    1. Al-Mohrej O.A., Al-Shirian S.D., Al-Otaibi S.K., Tamim H.M., Masuadi E.M., Fakhoury H.M. Is the Saudi public aware of Middle East respiratory syndrome? J Infect Public Health. 2016;9(3):259–266.
    1. WHO's high-level mission to Saudi Arabia on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)-updates [].
    1. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome: Risk assessment [].
    1. Di Giuseppe G., Abbate R., Albano L., Marinelli P., Angelillo I.F. A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards avian influenza in an adult population of Italy. BMC Infect Dis. 2008;8(1):1.
    1. Seale H., McLaws M.-L., Heywood A.E., Ward K.F., Lowbridge C.P., MacIntyre C. The community's attitude towards swine flu and pandemic influenza. Med J Aust. 2009;191(5):267–269.
    1. De Zwart O., Veldhuijzen I.K., Elam G., Aro A.R., Abraham T., Bishop G.D. Avian influenza risk perception, Europe and Asia. Emerg Infect Diseases. 2007;13(2):290.
    1. Hoda J. Identification of information types and sources by the public for promoting awareness of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia. Health Educ Res. 2016;31(1):12–23.

Source: PubMed

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

3
Sottoscrivi