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METCHUM ^1,2 TALOM Béatrice ; TAMUEDJOUN¹ TALOM Alaric ; MOMO^1,2  Aimé Cesaire; DEUTOU¹  WONDEU A. Laure; MEDJEUMOU¹ Huges Bertrand ; NJOKO¹ NGANTCHOM Becky; DJOGO¹ MBENDE Joyce Vanelle ; FONKOUA¹ SAMEKONG Cedric; EBOUE¹ Odillon Belamain; Adrien Geny DOLOKO¹ GAKEN; Arsene Parfait DOLOKO¹ Boway; NKOUE¹ PENDA Jide Jordhan, KUIATE^1,2  Jules-Roger

a. Citation:

Metchum TB, Tamuedjoun TA, Momo AC, Deutou WAL, Medjeumou HB, Njoko NB, Djogo MJV, Fonkoua SC, Eboue OB, Gaken AGD, Doloko APB, Nkoue PJJ, Kuiate JR. COVID-19 Knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the community of the Evangelical University of Cameroon. Special Journal of Public Heatlh, Nutrition, and Dietetics. 2022, 2(2): 1-12

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61915/pnd.552146

b. Highpoints

• Students, teachers and staff of the Evangelical University of Cameroon were the subjects of a KAP survey relating to COVID-19 and its prevention.
• This study follows the increase in COVID-19 contamination rates after the reopening of school and university campuses, observed in Cameroon.
• Although having an acceptable level of knowledge, the members of this community did not sufficiently apply preventive measures against COVID-19.

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c. Affiliations: ¹Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Evangelical University of Cameroon. Bandjoun, Cameroon. ² The University of Dschang, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Dschang, Cameroun

d. Article History: Received: October 4, 2021, Accepted January 10 2022: Published: January 25, 2022

e. Correspondence: METCHUM TALOM Béatrice  E-mail: beatricemetchum@gmail.com

f. Distribution and usage license: This open-access article is distributed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License seen in this link (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). You are free to use, distribute, and reproduce this article in any medium, provided you give correct credit to the original author(s) and the source, including the provision of a link to the Creative Commons license website. Pls show any modification’s

Background:

COVID-19 was thought to have made its global debut in the Chinese city of Wuhan. In Cameroon central Africa, close to 11,000 cases of the disease have been identified, with a high rate of progression. The Evangelical University of Cameroon (UEC), like many other academic institutions, has made significant investments in equipping the campus with anti-pandemic measures.

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of UEC students, faculty, and administrative staff regarding COVID-19 and its preventive measures.

Materials and Methods:

A questionnaire was used to collect data on respondents’ sociodemographic profile, knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding COVID-19. The Google Forms application was used to mount and distribute the questionnaire, and the results were organized in tables and graphs. Additional analyses were carried out with the help of Excel and SPSS software.

Results:

A total of 214 people took part in the study. More than half of participants (79.4 percent) believed that COVID-19 is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus that affects everyone. While 11.2 percent thought it was a biological weapon used to control or reduce the population. Participants identified the market, bars, and hospitals as the most vulnerable places to contract the coronavirus, with percentages ranging from 37.4 percent, 17.8 percent, and 14.0 percent, respectively.

Respondents were aware of COVID-19 prevention: hand washing (95.32 percent), social distancing (95.32 percent), and consumption of some medicinal plants with antiviral or immunoregulatory properties, such as ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Artemisia annua (54.20 percent). The majority of participants did not follow barrier measures such as hand washing (64.43 percent), social distancing (66.67 percent), and face mask use (66.49 percent). In comparison to other levels, first-year students observed prevention measures (P=0.01).

Conclusion:

This study showed acceptable knowledge but limited compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures, which could explain the high rate of contamination in the country.

Keywords:

Knowledge, Attitude, Practice; COVID-19; Evangelical University of Cameroun.

Introduction 

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a virus from the Coronaviridae family, with SARS-CoV-2 potentially fatal in elderly or chronically ill patients. A coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak was reported in Wuhan City, People’s Republic of China, in December 2019. (1). It gradually spread to Asia, Europe, and Africa over time, resulting in the deaths or quarantining of several people.

A few months later, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that COVID-19 had progressed from epidemic to pandemic, with over 5,304,772 people infected in 214 countries and a fatality rate of 6.4 percent, or 342,029 deaths (2). Direct contact with respiratory droplets produced by an infected person while coughing or sneezing transmits the virus. It is also possible to become infected by touching virus-infected surfaces or contaminated skin, eyes, nose, or mouth.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, a dry cough, and fatigue. Other symptoms such as soreness, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste or smell, and rash may also occur in some patients. These symptoms are typically mild and manifest gradually (3). Some people, despite being infected, have no symptoms, while others may have a mild illness and recover on their own (4). Compliance with barrier measures, as with other respiratory infectious diseases such as the flu or a cold, is required for disease control.

These measures are preventive actions that are carried out on a daily basis and include: Staying at home when experiencing symptoms; covering your mouth and nose with your elbow when coughing or sneezing; washing hands with soap and water on a regular basis, wearing a face mask if social distance cannot be observed, and disinfection of neighbouring inert surfaces (5, 6). The vast majority of people who contract COVID-19 recover and eliminate the virus on their own, with no medical intervention (7).

Some believe COVID-19 is a biological weapon created by the Chinese government, while others believe it is caused by sin and a lack of faith in God (2). These beliefs are a significant impediment to the implementation of disease-prevention measures. COVID-19 has a massive economic and societal impact, and it calls for a global strategy that involves every segment of society and every individual to solve the problem (8). Individuals must share their knowledge of COVID-19’s modes of transmission, symptoms, and clinical signs in order for this to happen.

Cameroon, like many other countries around the world, has been hit hard by the pandemic. The government has implemented a prevention and response plan to combat the spread of COVID-19 since its first appearance. To combat the spread of this disease, the government has ordered the temporary closure of all public and private schools and universities (March 17, 2020). Nearly 11,000 cases of contamination have been detected in the country, with an unfortunate high rate of progression. Although these governmental measures are limiting the spread of this disease, the irresponsible attitude of a large number of people who do not follow the rules is deplorable.

The Evangelical University of Cameroon (UEC), like many other institutions, has invested heavily in providing protective devices at the reopening of university campuses across the country. Disinfection of classrooms and offices, fabrication and distribution of hydroalcoholic gels to students, teachers, and permanent staff, provision of hand-washing equipment in front of classrooms and administrative buildings, and posting of posters with awareness messages throughout the university campus were all carried out.

Objective:

Given the increasing contamination rate of COVID-19 in Cameroon following the reopening of schools and campuses, this study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of UEC students, faculty, and administrative staff regarding COVID-19 and its preventive measures.

Material and Methods

Study design

It consisted of a cross-sectional and observational study that was conducted from July 9 to July 12, 2020 on the main campus of the Evangelical University of Cameroon (UEC), which is located in Bandjoun, in the West Region of the country. Part of the study involved conducting observations in and around the school, in some students’ homes, and in some other places.

Population and selection criteria

The study involved all students, administrative and teaching staff of the UEC. Students under 18 years old were not considered.

Data collection

We created a questionnaire with the help of the Google Forms tool, and we disseminated a soft version to students, professors, and administrative staff through private WhatsApp groups. Participants’ sociodemographic profile (age, gender, marital status, level of education and function) as well as faculty, were also gathered, along with their knowledge of the pathology (definition, signs and symptoms, mode of transmission, preventive measures).

To conduct the observational component of the study, participants were observed in campus rooms, buildings, and offices over a certain. This component investigated participants’ attitudes and practices toward preventive measures. Aside from that, specific students’ residences in and around the institution were visited in order to establish whether or not they were in conformity with COVID-19 prevention policies (regular hand washing, the systematic wearing of masks, social distancing, use of hydro-alcoholic gels; disinfection).

Ethics

The research proposal obtained authorizations of the West Regional Delegate of Public Health and the Vice-Chancellor of the Evangelical University of Cameroon before starting the data collection. All participants freely agreed to participate in the study and the confidentiality of personal information was strictly respected.

Data analysis

The data collected was transposed into the Google Forms application. Additional analyses were carried out using Excel and SPSS version 22.0 software. We used logistic regression and tables to analyse and present our results. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Identification of respondents

214 participants were registered for the current study, with 186 students and 28 members of the teaching and administrative staff participating. Among them were people ranging in age from 18 to 66 years old, with an average age of 29±2 years. Males constituted the vast majority of respondents (122, or 57 percent). Participants came from every faculty at UEC; however, the Faculty of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences had the biggest number of respondents (38.7 percent). Level One students were the most represented group (50%) and 189 participants (88.3%) were from the West Region of Cameroun.

Table 1: Socio-Demographic characteristics of participants

Knowledge on COVID-19

170 respondents (79.4 percent) believed that COVID-19 is a deadly respiratory sickness that may affect anybody and is caused by a virus, while only 11.2 percent believed that it was a biological weapon designed to control the population. Participant affirmation that COVID-19 is conveyed through airborne droplets caused by breathing, sneezing, or coughing was obtained from 165 (77.1 percent) individuals. COVID-19 contamination was found in the most dangerous places, including the market, clubs, and hospitals, with percentages of 80 (37.3 percent), 38 (17.8 percent), and 30 (14 percent) for each area.

People can die from COVID-19, according to 93.9 percent of those who took part in the survey. Just as 198 (92.5 percent) of those surveyed were aware that people can recover from COVID-19. COVID-19 was related with a number of symptoms, including fever (86.4 percent), dry cough (194 percent), headache 150 percent (70.5 percent), sore throat 141 percent (65.8 percent), and unexplained fatigue 115 percent (53.9 percent). COVID-19 prevention, hand washing (95.3 percent), social distance (95.3 percent), disinfection of public spaces (91.1 percent), disinfection of contaminated surfaces (90.2 percent) and herb use such as Artemisia and ginger (54.2 percent) were all known to respondents (Table 2).

 Compliance with Covid-19 Prevention Measures

A total of 194 participants were observed in 15 rooms/campus buildings as part of the study’s observational component. The front of 8 rooms/buildings (53.3 percent) has a clearly visible handwashing device. The vast majority of those who were observed (125 people, or 64.4 percent) did not wash their hands before entering the room, according to the results. One of the most often cited reasons for not washing hands before entering a room was a lack of a handwashing equipment (57 percent), followed by the usage of hydro-alcoholic gel (34 percent).

There were 129 (66.5 percent) guests who did not respect social distancing and 142 (73.2 percent) who did not have hydro-alcoholic gel on them when they entered the rooms/buildings. A total of 129 (66.5 percent) individuals were monitored in rooms or buildings where they were not wearing a face mask. Only 18 (9.3 percent) of the 65 (33.5 percent) people who used a face mask did so in an appropriate manner. Among individuals who did not wear the face mask, 28 (41.7 percent) stated that they were experiencing respiratory pain, while 22 (33.4 percent) stated that they were engaging in social isolation (Table 3) 

Hand washing, social distancing,

Hand washing, social distancing, using a hydro-alcoholic gel, and wearing a mask were all deemed to indicate a high level of compliance with preventive measures by the study participants. In our study, we discovered that 131 (67.5%) of individuals who were watched did not adhere to COVID-19 preventative measures whereas 63 (32.5% ) adhered.

Table 2: Knowledge of respondents regarding COVID-19

Table 3: Compliance with Covid-19 Prevention Measures

Table 4: Bivariate logistic regression of socio-demography

Socio-demographic variables in a logistic regression model

When using socio-demographic characteristic variables in a logistic regression model, it was discovered that function (P=0.02) and level of education (P=0.02) were both substantially associated with COVID-19 barrier measures compliance. In terms of student level, first-year students were more likely than other levels to observe preventive measures (odds ratio: 2.29; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.56-2.78; P=0.01). In terms of the function, administrative personnel noticed preventative actions at a higher rate than other functions (odds ratio: 1.22; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.10-16.66; P=0.02) (Table 4).

Discussion

In more than 200 countries around the world, there has been an outbreak of a pandemic since December 2019. (9). The public’s awareness of Covid-19, as well as commitment to prophylactic measures, can aid in the prevention of this pandemic. The purpose of this study was to analyze the understanding, attitudes, and behaviors of University of Eastern California students, faculty, and administrative personnel regarding COVID-19 and its preventive measures.

Following the completion of this study, it was discovered that all respondents were aware of the presence of COVID-19 in Cameroon; a large portion of respondents were aware about the sources of COVID-19, the modes by which it is transmitted, its clinical signs, and the methods by which it can be prevented. However, more than half of those who answered the survey did not use barrier measures such as hand washing, social distancing, or wearing a face mask to prevent infection.

The COVID-19 virus, according to a large number of respondents, causes a dangerous respiratory infection that can affect anyone and is spread by contact with contaminated air. These findings contrast with those of a Nigerian survey, which revealed that a high number of Nigerians believe that COVID-19 is a biological weapon manufactured by the Chinese government, according to the findings (2). The outcome of our investigation may have been influenced by a public relations strategy that promoted the presence of students on campus prior to their incarceration by university authorities.

COVID-19 is believed to be transferred through airborne droplets, which are released during breathing, sneezing, or coughing, according to the majority of participants. This finding is consistent with those of previous studies, such as (2, 10). According to individuals who participated in the poll, the home is the least likely site to catch the coronavirus, with a proportion of 96.3 percent.

While the market, pubs, and hospitals are the most common areas where the coronavirus can be contracted, there are other places where it can be contracted. This is described by the sensitization to stay at home and only go out when absolutely required, to respect the social separation from, and to respect the social distancing from by awareness efforts carried out through various traditional and non-traditional media.

The vast majority of those who answered the survey were aware that patients can die or recover with covid-19. This finding is consistent with the findings of a research conducted in Nigeria (2) and demonstrates that the UEC community is aware of the pandemic’s devastation. COVID-19 was related with a number of symptoms, including fever (86.4 percent), dry cough (85.9 percent), headache (70.5 percent), sore throat (65.8 percent), and inexplicable lethargy, according to several responses (53.9 percent).

This finding is consistent with those of previous studies, such as (2) and (10). While this is contrary to the Indian study, which found that only 18.2 percent of participants recognized fever to be a symptom of COVID-19, despite the fact that fever is known to be a key symptom (8). This gap could be explained by the fact that our study was done in an academic atmosphere, meaning that the respondents had a high level of education, in contrast to the Indian study, which questioned people from various levels of education and experience.

Participants identified handwashing, social distance, cleaning of public locations and contaminated surfaces, and the use of medicinal herbs as effective methods of preventing COVID-19 transmission and transmission of the virus. These findings are consistent with those of a study conducted by (8), which found that the majority of participants (97 percent) believed that washing hands often can help prevent the transmission of disease.

Furthermore, several researches have demonstrated that preventive measures like as masks, hand hygiene practices, avoidance of public contact, case detection, contact tracking, and quarantines can help to minimize COVID-19 transmission and its spread (11). The overall high level of knowledge about COVID-19 definition, mode of transmission, and preventive approaches among students at UEC could be attributed in part to the fact that students from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology were the most well-represented category, with a disproportionately large number of Biomedical Sciences students among them.

As for compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures, the majority of participants did not adhere to the prohibitions imposed by the convention. This finding is at odds with the findings of other studies, which have found that responders have excellent preventive behaviors (2, 10, 12). The results of the study are in contrast to those of a Chinese study in which around 98.0 percent of participants used masks on their outings (13).

This disparity in the results of the two research could be explained in part by the different methodologies used in each study. Indeed, in contrast to prior research that questioned participants on COVID-19 barrier measures, we noticed participants who were in compliance with COVID-19 preventative measures in our study.

Similarly, the absence of handwashing stations in front of certain rooms/buildings, as well as the usage of hydro-alcoholic gels by some participants, may account for the low rate of people washing their hands before entering the rooms before entering the rooms. The results of our study demonstrate that the respondents at the Evangelical University of Cameroon were not sufficiently involved in the development of methods to combat the epidemic.

The most often cited reasons for not using a face mask were respiratory pain (41.7 percent) and social isolation (33.5 percent ). According to the recommendations in the United Kingdom and Germany, there is little evidence that facial masks can give effective protection against respiratory infections in the general public. Patients with respiratory illnesses are frequently treated using face masks, which are utilized as part of droplet precautions by medical workers.

It would be appropriate to recommend that persons who are vulnerable avoid overcrowded situations and that people who are exposed to high-risk areas use surgical masks in a prudent manner. Because data suggests that COVID-19 can be transferred before symptoms develop, community-based transmission could be decreased if everyone, including those who are infected but not symptomatic and contagious patients, donned a face mask when in public (14).

We discovered that 131 (67.5 percent) of individuals who were observed did not adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures as recommended. Prevention measures were observed by first-year students at a higher rate than at other levels (P=0.01). These findings differ from those of the Dschang study, in which 67.28 percent of participants had a good level of knowledge of COVID-19 and a high school diploma was highly associated with having a good degree of knowledge on COVID-19 (15).

Conclusion

The Covid-19 pandemic is a reality all throughout the world, but it is most prevalent in Cameroon. The knowledge and application of barrier measures are essential in the fight against this disease. Our research helped us realize that the students, as well as the administrative and academic staff at the Evangelic University of Cameroon, were aware of COVID-19, its mechanism of transmission, clinical indicators, and prevention strategies.

Efforts should be made, however, to bring preventive measures up to the COVID-19 standard. These findings may help to explain the high rate of transmission of the pandemic in our society, but a community-based study may be able to provide more certain conclusions. At the conclusion of our study, we recommend that the general public wear a mask (covering the mouth and nose), practice systematic hand washing, and observe social distancing practices. To the president of the Evangelical University of Cameroon, please prepare seminars and distribute posters on campus relevant to compliance with COVID-19 barrier-breaking procedures.

Acknowledgment:

The authors address their thanks to all the participants to this study, as well as to all the administrative authorities for their collaboration in the success of the present work. Without forgetting the General Secretary of the Evangelical University of Cameroon for the administrative facilities during and after the data collection.

Funding: No funding was provided for this work.

Conflict of Interest: The authors do not declare any conflict of interest in relation to this article.

List of abbreviations:

BTS : Brevet des Techniciens Supérieurs (Higher National Diploma).

COVID: Coronavirus Disease 2019.

FASE : Faculté d’Agronomie et des Sciences de l’Environnement (Faculty of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences).

FSE : Faculté des Sciences de l’Education (Faculty of Educational Sciences).

FST : Faculté des Sciences et Technologie (Faculty of Science and Technology).

Sars-Cov-2 : Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

UEC: Université Evangelique du Cameroun (Evangelical University of Cameroon).

WHO : World Health Organisation

Authors contributions to the study

Conception and design of the survey: MTB, TTA.

Data collection; MTB, TTA, NNB, DMJV, FSC, EOB, GAGD, DAPB, NPJJ.

Data analysis: MTB, TTA.

Interpretation of results: MTB, MAC.

Drafting of the manuscript: MTB, TTA, MAC, DWAL, MHB, KJR.

All authors were involved in revising content, and all authors approved the final version to be published.

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