Knowledge of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and its Management: A Survey among Saudi People in Taif; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Assessment of the public general knowledge on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome is crucial to the development of health policies for containment of the disease. Objectives: To measure the level of public knowledge on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and to identify its predicators. Methods: A cross -sectional survey was conducted during June -October 2015, whereby adult (> 18 years old) Saudi people residing in Taif Area were recruited. Convenience method of sampling was adopted. Data was collected by a structured questionnaire. Face-to-face interview method was used to collect the data. Data was processed and analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). Logistic regression analysis was performed. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 377 participants was recruited (age range 18-85 years). The majority was males and 65% were university graduates. Of all the interviewees 56 % believed that the disease transmission can occurs through infected camel and bats. The fact that the disease has no specific treatment was known by 53.8% and 42.7% of them denied any role for traditional medicines in the prevention or treatment of the disease. Participants had satisfactory knowledge about the disease and its management were 216 (57.3%). Significant predictors of satisfactory knowledge were age more than 40 years [OR= 0.4; 95% CI (0.2-0.7); P = 0.001], university education [OR= 1.6; 95% CI (1.0-2.6); P = 0.042] and being employed in the medical field [OR= 2.8; 95% CI (1.7-4.5); P < 0.001]. Conclusions: Despite the great effort done by the health authorities in the country to educate the people and to raise their awareness about the disease, there are gaps in public knowledge. Future planned educational interventions should focus on younger people and those with educational background below the university level.