Original Research Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of chronic disease patients in Bojanala towards COVID-19

Beya Mpinda, Cila Dominique Kabongo, Jean Louis Mata Yoko, John Tumbo

South African Family Practice | Vol 65, No 1 : Part 4| a5763 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v65i1.5763 | © 2023 Beya Mpinda, Cila Dominique Kabogo, Jean Louis Mata Yoko, John Tumbo | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 18 April 2023 | Published: 30 October 2023

About the author(s) Beya Mpinda, Department of Family Medicine, Sefako Magkatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Cila Dominique Kabongo, Department of Family Medicine, Sefako Magkatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
Jean Louis Mata Yoko, Department of Family Medicine, Sefako Magkatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa
John Tumbo, Department of Family Medicine, Sefako Magkatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease. Its morbidity and mortality in patients with comorbidities have been established. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding COVID-19 of patients with comorbidities attending primary health care services.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, with data collected from patients using a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude and practice scores were calculated. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used, and the level of significance was set at 5%.

Results: This study enrolled 469 participants aged 18–84 years, and the majority were women. The mean knowledge score was 7.09 ± 1.73 out of 9, the mean attitude score was 2.33 ± 0.86 out of 3, and the mean practices score was 3.79 ± 0.56 out of 4. There was a positive linear relationship between knowledge and attitude scores and between attitude and practices scores; as one score increased, the other also increased significantly.

Conclusion: The level of knowledge was good in general, with optimistic attitudes and good practices by the patients. Those aged 70 years and above need special attention because older persons have poorer knowledge of and practices towards COVID-19, which could lead to higher hospitalisation and mortality rates.

Contribution: This study found that patients with chronic diseases had good COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes and practices, while interventions targeting patients aged 70 years and above are needed to improve their COVID-19 awareness and practices.

Keywords

COVID-19; chronic diseases; knowledge; attitude; practices; primary health care

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