KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE, AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS COVID-19 IN NORTH EASTERN STATES OF INDIA: AN ONLINE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Authors

  • AMIT SRIVASTAVA Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Imphal, Manipur, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3485-5424
  • RENU BALA Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Imphal, Manipur, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5965-7491
  • RATAN CHANDRA SHIL Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Agartala, Tripura, India.
  • PRABIN KUMAR SHAW Department of Materia Medica, The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
  • LIYI KARSO Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Guwahati, Assam, India.
  • HIMADRI BHAUMIK Department of Materia Medica, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
  • SANTOSH KUMAR TAMANG Clinical Research Unit, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
  • BAIDURJYA BHATTACHARJEE Clinical Research Unit for Homoeopathy, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.
  • TAPAN NATH Department of Case Taking and Repertory, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.
  • ABHIJIT CHAKMA Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Agartala, Tripura, India.
  • PRASENJIT SINHA Department of Biostatistics, Tripura University, Agartala, Tripura, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i12.39677

Keywords:

Attitude, COVID-19, Knowledge, North East India, Perception, Practices

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, practices, and perception (KAP) toward COVID-19 among the population of eight North Eastern (NE) states of India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study from June 30 to July 13, 2020 was carried out through a self-reported, structured questionnaire that was circulated online to participants of age group of 18 years or above. Convenient sampling was used to recruit respondents for the study.

Results: The study received responses from 8309 participants. Key findings revealed that most respondents had good knowledge of preventive measures and common symptoms of COVID-19. The majority of the respondents showed a good attitude and adopted preventive practices. The mean score of knowledge was 7.137, attitude was 16.132, practice was 9.379, and perception was 13.583. The scores of four KAP categories significantly differed across most of the demographic variables (p<0.001). The majority of people took homoeopathic medicine as prophylaxis for immune booster.

Conclusion: The study highlights that the focus on behavioral change communication in all the NE states could be strengthened, especially in rural areas. Advocacy based on the comprehensive list of symptoms for COVID-19 may also be bolstered. There is scope for strategically promoting knowledge, immunity boosting, and self-care practices suggested in the AYUSH systems of medicine.

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Author Biographies

AMIT SRIVASTAVA, Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Imphal, Manipur, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Research Officer (Homoeopathy),

Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy

(Under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi)

New Checkon, Opposite Tribal Colony,

Imphal East, Manipur- 795001

RATAN CHANDRA SHIL, Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Agartala, Tripura, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Research Officer (Homoeopathy),

Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy

(Under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi)

Khumulwng, Jirania,

Agartala, Tripura (W)- 799045

PRABIN KUMAR SHAW, Department of Materia Medica, The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Lecturer,

The Calcutta Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital,

265-266, APC Road,

Kolkata, West Bengal- 700009

LIYI KARSO, Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Guwahati, Assam, India.

MD (Homoeopathy)

Research Officer (Homoeopathy),

Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy,

(Under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi),

Borsojai, Bhetapara,

Guwahati, Assam- 781028

HIMADRI BHAUMIK, Department of Materia Medica, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Lecturer,

North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy,

Mawdiangdiang,

Shillong, Meghalaya- 793018

SANTOSH KUMAR TAMANG, Clinical Research Unit, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Research Officer (Homoeopathy),

Clinical Research Unit (T),

(Under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi),

Development Area,

Gangtok, Sikkim- 737101

BAIDURJYA BHATTACHARJEE, Clinical Research Unit for Homoeopathy, Aizawl, Mizoram, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Research Officer (Homoeopathy),

Clinical Research Unit for Homoeopathy,

(Under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi),

Aizawl, Mizoram- 796001

TAPAN NATH, Department of Case Taking and Repertory, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Lecturer,

North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homoeopathy,

Mawdiangdiang,

Shillong, Meghalaya- 793018

ABHIJIT CHAKMA, Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy, Agartala, Tripura, India.

MD (Homoeopathy),

Research Officer (Homoeopathy),

Regional Research Institute for Homoeopathy,

(Under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi),

Khumulwng, Jirania,

Agartala, Tripura (W)- 799045

PRASENJIT SINHA, Department of Biostatistics, Tripura University, Agartala, Tripura, India.

PhD,

Assistant Professor,

Department of Statistics,

Tripura University,

Suryamaninagar,

Tripura (W)- 799022

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Published

07-12-2020

How to Cite

SRIVASTAVA, A., R. BALA, R. C. SHIL, P. K. SHAW, L. KARSO, H. BHAUMIK, S. K. TAMANG, B. BHATTACHARJEE, T. NATH, A. CHAKMA, and P. SINHA. “KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE, AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS COVID-19 IN NORTH EASTERN STATES OF INDIA: AN ONLINE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY”. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, vol. 13, no. 12, Dec. 2020, pp. 165-72, doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i12.39677.

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Original Article(s)