74pc believe Covid-19 is a grave disease: Study

Despite having knowledge about Covid-19, 74 percent of people believe it is a grave disease – a misconception which leads to a stigma towards coronavirus patients in the country. 

The data came from a study titled "Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards Prevention of Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Among Bangladeshi Population".

Between March and August, the Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducted three studies, including the abovementioned one, on Covid-19.  

The findings of the studies were unveiled on Thursday.

The aforementioned study was conducted among 1,549 people across the country between March and April.

Dr Shah Mahfuzur Rahman, assistant professor at the Institute of Public Health and the researcher of the study, said the study found that students and the young group of people had lower knowledge on social distancing. 

Furthermore, 50 percent of them did not practice social distancing. 

These two factors might be the reason for the large number of young being infected with coronavirus in the country. 

Inadequate knowledge regarding the symptoms of the disease may mislead people in undergoing Covid-19 tests or to avail services by health facilities. 

"A public awareness campaign should be enhanced critically focusing on the target audience to cover the knowledge gap, and for the motivation of appropriate practices," said Dr Shah Mahfuzur Rahman.

A second study by the CDC has revealed that 8.3 percent of medical and university students in the country believe that smoking can control Covid-19.

The data came from a research titled "Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Covid-19 Prevention Among Medical and Non-medical University Students of Bangladesh."

The research was conducted in 152 medical and 247 university students in and outside Dhaka from July to August 2020.

The study said about 47 percent respondents did not know that three feet or one-metre distance means at least two arm lengths. 

Some 55.4 percent respondents assume that the N-95 mask is an appropriate measure against Covid-19 infection, while 39.8 percent keep trust in surgical masks. 

And 4.8 percent of them have no idea about the types of masks to be used. 

The study revealed that 72 percent respondents (medical and non-medical) had appropriate knowledge on the disease.

A third study titled "Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Covid-19 Among Supporting Staff of Different Health Facilities in Dhaka City" was conducted between May and July. 

A total of 604 supporting staff from different health facilities in the capital city participated in this study. 

Researcher Professor Dr Shahnila Ferdoushi, director at the CDC, said, "We found that support staff of health facilities of Dhaka city had good knowledge, positive attitudes and reasonable practice regarding Covid-19."