Alotaibi Meshaal S, Alsubaie Abdulaziz M, Almohaimede Khaled A, Alotaibi Turki A, Alharbi Omar A, Aljadoa Abdulrahman F, Alhamad Abdulaziz H, Barry Mazin
Department of internal Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
J Family Community Med. 2017 May-Aug;24(2):91-96. doi: 10.4103/2230-8229.205119.
Approximately, 80% of the many cases of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) confirmed worldwide were diagnosed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The risk of the disease spreading internationally is especially worrying given the role of KSA as the home of the most important Islamic pilgrimage sites. This means the need to assess Arab pilgrims' awareness of MERS-CoV is of paramount importance.
A cross-sectional study was carried out during Ramadan 2015 in the Holy Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 417 Arab participants at King Fahad Extension, King Abdullah Prayer Extension and, King Abdullah Piazza Extension after Taraweeh and Fajr prayers.
The mean MERS-CoV knowledge score was 52.56. Majority of the respondents (91.3%) were familiar with MERS-CoV. Saudis had significantly higher knowledge of MERS-CoV than non-Saudis (56.92 ± 18.55 vs. 44.91 ± 25.46, = 0.001). Females had significantly more knowledge about consanguineous MERS-CoV than males (55.82 ± 19.35 vs. 49.93 ± 23.66, = 0.006). The average knowledge was significantly higher in respondents who had received health advice on MERS-CoV (56.08 ± 20.86 vs. 50.65 ± 22.51, = 0.024). With respect to stepwise linear regression, knowledge of MERS-CoV tended to increase by 14.23 (B = 14.23%, = 0.001) in participants who were familiar with MERS-CoV, and by 8.50 (B = 8.50, = 0.001) in those who perceived MERS-CoV as a very serious disease.
There is a great need for educational programs to increase awareness about MERS-CoV.
全球确诊的中东呼吸综合征冠状病毒（MERS-CoV）病例中，约80%在沙特阿拉伯王国（KSA）被诊断出来。鉴于沙特阿拉伯是最重要的伊斯兰朝圣地所在国，该病在国际上传播的风险尤其令人担忧。这意味着评估阿拉伯朝圣者对MERS-CoV的认知至关重要。
2015年斋月期间，在沙特阿拉伯麦加的圣寺进行了一项横断面研究。在塔拉威祈祷和晨礼之后，在法赫德国王扩建区、阿卜杜拉国王祈祷扩建区和阿卜杜拉国王广场扩建区，向417名阿拉伯参与者发放了自填式问卷。
MERS-CoV知识的平均得分为52.56分。大多数受访者（91.3%）对MERS-CoV有所了解。沙特人对MERS-CoV的了解明显高于非沙特人（56.92±18.55对44.91±25.46，P = 0.001）。女性对MERS-CoV近亲传播的了解明显多于男性（55.82±19.35对49.93±23.66，P = 0.006）。接受过MERS-CoV健康建议的受访者的平均知识水平明显更高（56.08±20.86对50.65±22.51，P = 0.024）。关于逐步线性回归，熟悉MERS-CoV的参与者中，MERS-CoV知识得分往往会提高14.23（B = 14.23%，P = 0.001），而认为MERS-CoV是一种非常严重疾病的参与者中，得分会提高8.50（B = 8.50，P = 0.001）。
迫切需要开展教育项目以提高对MERS-CoV的认知。
