Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Surahalli J Naresh 1
- . Mahendra M Reddy 2
- . Ravishankar Suryanarayana 1
- . Ananta Bhattacharyya 3
- . Prasanna B T Kamath 1
1 Department of Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, Karnataka, India
2 Indian Council of Medical Research - Regional Medical Research Centre, Gorakhpur
3 Department of Community Medicine, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, Karnataka, India Media and Communication Centre, Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research, Kolar, Karnataka, India *Both authors contributed equally
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Capturing the baseline information on awareness, practices, and prevailing
myths related to the ongoing coronavirus disease‑19 (COVID‑19) pandemic in rural India will help
in planning interventions to improve the health literacy on COVID‑19. The aim of the study was to
assess the level of awareness, practices, and myths regarding COVID‑19 among rural population
of Kolar district in South India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A concurrent mixed‑methods study with a quantitative
community‑based cross‑sectional analytical design and a qualitative phenomenological design
was conducted in five randomly selected villages during June 2020. A prevalidated and pretested
semi‑structured questionnaire was administered to one adult in the households selected using
systematic random sampling to capture the sociodemographic details and their awareness, practices,
and myths related to COVID‑19. The supervisors additionally and concurrently used a nonparticipant
observation technique to record the real‑time behaviors and preventive practices adopted by the
villagers. Quantitative analysis was done using STATA and included multivariable regression
analysis, and the association was reported using prevalence rates along with their 95% confidence
intervals (CIs). Qualitative analysis was done manually as per discussion and concordance among
supervisors and reported as categories along with supporting statements.
RESULTS: Among the 298 respondents, “poor awareness” was seen in 128 (43.0%, 95%
CI: 37.5%–48.6%). Among the responders, 89 (29.9%) believed in the myth that “Corona disease is due
to God’s wrath or curse.” The field observations were categorized under three categories – “avoidance
of masks,” “nonexistent social distancing,” and “rampant spitting.”
CONCLUSION: About two in five villagers were found to have “poor awareness” to COVID, and
practices related to COVID were found to be largely unsatisfactory. Lower level of education and
belonging to nuclear family were associated with “poor awareness.” Various myths were identified
that has to be debunked on priority basis by the government, especially targeting the people having low level of education in rural India.
Keywords
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