Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 among Residence in Mombasa County, Kenya

Background: Infectious disease pandemic of COVID-19 continues to be a global & public health challenge. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of the people towards COVID-19 is critical to the understanding the epidemiological dynamics of the disease. This study sought to assess the awareness of Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted in Mombasa between September-October, 2020. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson’s correlation and multivariate linear regression tests. A total of 422 participants completed the survey questionnaire. A p<0.05 was statistically significant. Results: The mean age was 29.55 years (SD: 10.7), 252 (59.72%) were female, and 170 (40.28%) were male. Majority 255 (60.4%) were aged between 18-29 years while 200 (47.38%) and 162 (38.39%) were educated up to secondary and university level respectively. Knowledge scores significantly differed across genders, age-groups, categories of marital status, education levels (p<0.05). The mean COVID-19 knowledge score was 7.45 (SD: 1.51), suggesting an overall 62% (7.45/12×100) correct rate on this knowledge test. The majority of the respondents agreed that COVID-19 will finally be successfully controlled (66.35%) and this was significant (p<0.05). The vast majority of the participants had not visited any crowded place (88.35%) and wore masks when going out (74.31%) in recent days. Conclusions: The knowledge about COVID-19 in the Mombasa County population during the outbreak was acceptable, attitudes have been mostly favourable and the practices are mostly adequate.