Grewal Vikram S, Sharma Punita A, Rani Rekha, Jain Ashish, Kotwal Atul
Col Health, HQ SWC, Medical Branch, India.
Brig MNS, HQ SWC, Medical Branch, India.
Med J Armed Forces India. 2020 Oct 14;77(Suppl 2):S443-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2020.09.002.
There is a deluge of information available and circulated about COVID-19, during the ongoing course of the pandemic. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behavior regarding COVID-19 among serving soldiers.
A quick cross-sectional online survey was conducted using a web portal and social media platform, wherein a pretested questionnaire was uploaded. Responses were collected for 3 days. Data were analyzed using Epi Info software.
A total of 1231 serving personnel participated in the survey, 133 (10.80%) officers, 144 (11.69%) Junior Commissioned Officers, and 954 (77.49%) Other Ranks. The prevalence of correct knowledge was more than 80% (range 81.47-88.13) except 29.97% regarding transmission by food and water. A statistically significant association (all P values < 0.05) was found with increasing age and education. Social distancing was an effective method as per 93.54%, and 81.38% thought that the response measures were adequate. Handwashing was the only practice which demonstrated a statistically significant association across change in all 3, i.e. age (P = 0.001), education (P = 0.005) and rank (P = 0.022). In the affective domain, increased perception of anxiousness, worriedness, and not feeling relaxed was found in the responses.
Levels of knowledge, positive attitude, and practice are high among serving soldiers, however feeling of anxiousness and worry prevail. Aggressive, continuous, relevant target population-oriented Information Education and Communication is the need of the hour, with structured and programmed interventions for positive mental health during course of the pandemic and this has been implemented in our area.
在新冠疫情持续期间，关于新冠病毒的信息海量且广泛传播。本研究旨在评估现役军人对新冠病毒的知识、态度、行为和实践情况。
通过网络平台和社交媒体平台进行了一项快速横断面在线调查，上传了一份经过预测试的问卷。调查持续3天收集回复。使用Epi Info软件进行数据分析。
共有1231名现役人员参与了调查，其中133人（10.80%）为军官，144人（11.69%）为初级委任军官，954人（77.49%）为其他军衔人员。除了关于经食物和水传播的知识知晓率为29.97%外，正确知识的知晓率超过80%（范围为81.47%-88.13%）。发现随着年龄和教育程度的增加存在统计学显著关联（所有P值<0.05）。93.54%的人认为社交距离是一种有效方法，81.
