Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of Socio-ecological and Socio-anthropological Determinants of COVID-19 in Lusaka District of Zambia

Fri A. Fonchin^{1, 2,} , Linda Basikolo^{1, 3}, Simegnew A. Kallu^{1, 4}, Henson Kainga^{1, 5}, Jezreel Mwiinde^{1, 2} and Vistorina Benhard^{1, 6}

¹University of Zambia, Lusaka 10101, Zambia

²Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia

³Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia;Ministry of Agriculture, Lilongwe 207203, Malawi

⁴Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia;Haramaya University, P.O. Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

⁵Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia;Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe 207203, Malawi

⁶Africa Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Humans and Animals, University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia;Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Namibia

Cite this paper:
Fri A. Fonchin, Linda Basikolo, Simegnew A. Kallu, Henson Kainga, Jezreel Mwiinde and Vistorina Benhard. Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions of Socio-ecological and Socio-anthropological Determinants of COVID-19 in Lusaka District of Zambia. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2022; 10(2):40-49. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-10-2-1

Abstract

Background: The Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a disease of public health concern by the WHO in January 2020, one month after its emergent. Efforts have been made to raise and improve public awareness of COVID-19. Zambia has reported repeated waves of the COVID-19 pandemic with highest transmissions in Lusaka, the Copperbelt, and Ndola districts. Populations’ knowledge, attitude, and perceptions (KAPs) towards COVID-19 have impacts on control and prevention measures. Despite the collection of research on KAPs towards COVID-19, the KAP of socio-ecological and socio-anthropological determinants regarding the disease remains speculative. Hence, this study investigates KAPs of socio-ecological and socio-anthropological determinants of COVID-19 among the inhabitants of Lusaka district of Zambia. Methodology: A total of 301 inhabitants from four Lusaka District Compounds were sampled by a simple random method using a cross-sectional study design and interview-based questionnaires data collection method to investigate the KAPs of ecological and anthropological determinants of COVID-19. The analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis for associations between participants KAPs towards COVID-19, and finally, a multivariate logistic regression to determine KAP predictors. Findings/conclusion: Majority of study participants were females (54.5%). 53.2% of the respondents were in the age group of 18–28 years, and mostly (53.5%) single. 46.5% participants had tertiary level of education and (57.8%) had a monthly income of 0-K1000. The overall KAP knowledge was moderate (67.1%), and only 51.5% of participants demonstrated a positive attitude towards preventing COVID-19 infections. Socio-demographic factors had a weak bearing on KAP and attitude scores, with levels of education and gender being the only significant variables, respectively. This study indicates a poor understanding of COVID-19 with respect to ecological and anthropological determinants. Governments need to ensure more awareness campaigns to improve the populations’ KAPs towards future infectious diseases that may occur.

Keywords:
anthropological COVID-19 ecological Lusaka

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