Knowledge and attitude toward the measures to prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in Dhi qar governorate: A governorate online cross-sectional survey

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first revealed in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and then it spread extensively around the world . All individuals of all age groups are at risk of COVID-19. As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented human health consequences, worldwide health authorities have been focused on controlling the disease by mitigating actions to limit fast-spreading. Statistics of infection with COVID-19 in Iraq, specifically in September, August, and July of 2020, Iraq saw a troubling rise in the number of cases. According to data from the world meter, there were over 387,121 confirmed cases in Iraq. The study aims to assess knowledge and attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among patients in primary health centers in Dhi Qar Governorate and to find out the relationship between patient demographic data and their knowledge and attitudes towards the measures to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19. In this study, a descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. The research was conducted in the healthcare centers of Thi Qar Governorate. The total number of patients in these centers is 134,803 patients. The sample size was determined as 384 patients according to the 95% confidence interval and the 50% response. The questionnaire was divided into four sections: A sociodemographic data form, responses to the questionnaire on COVID-19 knowledge, Practices related to COVID-19, and Responses to attitudinal statements regarding COVID-19 questionnaires were used as data collection tools. According to ages 47.1% of participants with a range 21–30 years old, 53.1% were female, 43.2% had 6 or more people in their family, 63.5% were married, 50.8% of participants regarding their working status answered no, 50.5% of participants had no experience in the work, 32% were undergraduates according to Educational status, 50% of them were somehow satisfied, 86.5% answered yes in COVID-19 status, and 58.3% of participants answered no in smoking status. on another side, this results showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the COVID-19 knowledge scale scores of the participants according to the number of people in the family (p<0.05), with 6 or more people in the family, to the work experience of the participants (p<0.05), to the educational status of the participants (p<0.05), to the income levels of the participants (p<0.05). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between the scores of the participants' practices of COVID-19 with gender (p<0.05), the number of people in the family (p<0.05), working status (p<0.05), and with the educational status of the participants (p<0.05). Also, the findings showed a statistically significant difference between the scores of the participants' attitudes towards COVID-19 according to their working status (p<0.05), work experience (p<0.05), educational status (p<0.05), and their COVID-19 status (p<0.05). Due to the impact of COVID-19, combined with the volatile political and security climate, there has been a significant influence on public awareness and disposition. Consequently, it is imperative for the government to implement customized health education initiatives aimed at enhancing understanding, attitudes, and behaviors related to preventive measures.