Department of Geography & Resource Development, College of Humanities, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 59, Ghana.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Mar 3;20(5):4529. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054529.
Since its outbreak, health authorities have launched vigorous COVID-19 health promotion campaigns. This study assesses ride-hailing operators' COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Ghana, with the aim of engendering precautionary behaviour among the populace. A complementary mixed methods approach was adopted. This involved a cross-sectional survey of 1014 participants who were also allowed to share their COVID-19-related lived experiences qualitatively after successfully completing the survey. The aggregate correct knowledge score was 84%. Most respondents were frightful of the virus (96%), but the majority had faith in the COVID-19 protocols (87%). Thus, most participants reported high use of face masks (95%) and practise personal hygiene (92%). However, social media misinformation and the subsequent complacency have dissuaded some participants from complying with the safety protocols. The qualitative data also show evidence of high susceptibility to COVID-19. The perceived benefits of safe behaviour, including masking up, were equally high among drivers surveyed, albeit barriers to preventative behaviours remain rife. Therefore, this study emphasises the importance of sustaining and improving public awareness by highlighting the susceptibility of all demographic groups to the virus and the need to counteract misinformation on social media.
自疫情爆发以来，卫生部门开展了大力的 COVID-19 健康宣传活动。本研究评估了加纳打车运营商对 COVID-19 的知识、态度和实践，旨在引起公众的预防行为。采用了补充的混合方法。这包括对 1014 名参与者进行横断面调查，在成功完成调查后，这些参与者还被允许定性地分享他们与 COVID-19 相关的生活经历。综合正确知识得分 84%。大多数受访者对病毒感到恐惧（96%），但大多数人对 COVID-19 协议有信心（87%）。因此，大多数参与者报告了高频率使用口罩（95%）和个人卫生（92%）。然而，社交媒体上的错误信息和随之而来的自满情绪，使一些参与者不愿遵守安全协议。定性数据也显示出对 COVID-19 的高度易感性。尽管预防行为的障碍仍然普遍存在，但接受调查的司机同样认为安全行为（包括戴口罩）的好处很高。因此，本研究强调了通过强调所有人群对病毒的易感性以及需要在社交媒体上纠正错误信息，来维持和提高公众意识的重要性。
