Njonnou Sylvain Raoul Simeni, Eloumba Esther Astrid Mbono Samba, Men-do Edwige, Mboule Raissa Manuela Ewala, Sango Anne Juliette Flore, Lekpa Fernando Kemta, Essomba Marie-Josiane Ntsama, Balti Eric Vounsia, Ouankou Christian Ngongang, Djotah Justin, Bangbang Cedric Fritzgerald Eyenga, Sob-Ze Martin Sanou, Choukem Simeon Pierre
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Yaounde Central Hospital.
J Public Health Afr. 2023 Dec 27;14(12):2718. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2718.
COVID19 is an emerging infectious disease that has spread all over the world and became a pandemic. Cameroon is the 7th most affected country in Africa, with most of the cases in metropoles. The main objective was to assess the knowledge, perceptions and practices of the Cameroonian populations about COVID19 infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 15th to July 15th, 2020; targeting all Cameroonians over 15 years old living in Cameroon. A standard Google Forms® questionnaire was submitted via social media (WhatsApp and Facebook particularly). The sampling was consecutive and not exhaustive. The data were processed on Excel 2016 and analyzed through EPI info 3.5. The questionnaire included knowledge, perceptions and practices about the disease's existence, its functional signs, prevention and control. Knowledge, perceptions and practices were considered good for a response score ≥75% and poor for a score ≤25%. Intermediate scores were considered average and insufficient. Univariate and multivariate analyzes were performed to identify the factors associated with a significance level (P#x003C;0.05). Of the 996 (507 males) participants, the median age was 26±8 years. Health workers represented 20.8% of participants. A large proportion of the population (78.6%) had good knowledge, while more than half (56.5%) had good perceptions, but only (23.1%) had good practices. Having reached higher education (P=0.007), and being a health worker (P=0.0008) were associated with a good level of knowledge. High school education (P=0.040) and being a health worker (P=0.049) were associated with positive perceptions. Being employed (P=0.003) and having secondary education level (P=0.033) were associated with good practices. Knowledge and perceptions were good among the study population, but the practice level is still insufficient to effectively fight the COVID19 pandemic. Educational level, being employed or being healthcare workers were associated with good knowledge, perceptions and practices.
新冠病毒病是一种新出现的传染病，已在全球传播并成为大流行病。喀麦隆是非洲受影响第七严重的国家，大多数病例出现在大城市。主要目的是评估喀麦隆民众对新冠病毒感染的知识、认知和做法。于2020年5月15日至7月15日进行了一项横断面研究；目标人群为所有居住在喀麦隆的15岁以上喀麦隆人。通过社交媒体（特别是WhatsApp和Facebook）提交了一份标准的谷歌表单问卷。抽样是连续的但不全面。数据在Excel 2016上进行处理，并通过EPI info 3.5进行分析。问卷包括关于该疾病的存在、其功能体征、预防和控制的知识、认知和做法。对于回答得分≥75%的情况，知识、认知和做法被认为良好；对于得分≤25%的情况，则被认为较差。中间分数被视为中等且不足。进行单变量和多变量分析以确定与显著性水平（P<0.05）相关的因素。在996名（507名男性）参与者中，年龄中位数为26±8岁。卫生工作者占参与者的20.8%。很大一部分人群（78.6%）有良好的知识，而超过一半（56.5%）有良好的认知，但只有（23.1%）有良好的做法。受过高等教育（P=0.007）以及是卫生工作者（P=0.0008）与良好的知识水平相关。高中教育（P=0.040）以及是卫生工作者（P=0.049）与积极的认知相关。有工作（P=0.003）以及具有中等教育水平（P=0.033）与良好的做法相关。研究人群中的知识和认知良好，但实践水平仍不足以有效抗击新冠病毒大流行。教育水平、有工作或身为医护人员与良好的知识、认知和做法相关。
