Knowledge of COVID-19 and its prevention among rural residents in Fuqing,China

福清市农村居民对新型冠状病毒疫情及预防认知的调查研究

Objectives:Rural areas are the weakest place for epidemic prevention and control,yet few studies have specifically conducted surveys in rural areas.The purpose of this study is to assess rural residents’knowledge of the COVID-19 and its prevention in China.Methods:A cross-sectional survey study containing 1,426 samples was conducted in Fuqing,China to assess rural residents’knowledge of the COVID-19 and its prevention.Logistic regression was used to identify potential differences in participants’knowledge of COVID-19 and its prevention and control in different population subgroups.Results:The mean and median of residents’knowledge of COVID-19 was 5.53 and 6 points,respectively.The mean and median of residents’knowledge related to self-protection against COVID-19 was 10.34 and 11 points,respectively.Older adults(AOR45e59=2.26,95%CI 1.20 to 4.27;AOR60-69=3.13,95%CI 1.63 to 5.98;AOR70=4.68,95%CI 2.35 to 9.33)were more deficient in knowledge of COVID-19.Those who were better educated and with a higher average annual household income were less likely to be deficient in the knowledge of COVID-19 and knowledge of self-protection against COVID-19.Moreover,those who were single,divorced,or widowed(AOR=1.67,95%CI 1.13 to 2.46)were more deficient in the knowledge of self-protection against COVID-19.Conclusions:Our study suggests that when facing a pandemic like COVID-19,the key is to inform the public to understand simple and effective self-protection measures.Therefore,we call on the govern-ments to give priority to publicity and education on self-prevention measures for the targeted pop-ulations and regions.This is most evident among the vulnerable groups like those who were unmarried,elderly,and those with low education or low income.Similar suggestions may be of use in other countries as well.

目的了解福清市农村居民对新型冠状病毒疫情及自我防护的认知情况。方法本研究为横断面研究,采用自行设计的新型冠状病毒疫情及自我防护认知问卷,2020年5—6月共调查福清市农村1426名18岁以上常住居民。采用二元logistic回归模型鉴别新型冠状病毒疫情及其预防不同认知水平居民的主要社会人口学特征。结果福清市农村居民对新型冠状病毒疫情认知的平均得分和中位数得分分别为5.53分和6分;对新型冠状病毒疫情自我保护知识的平均得分和中位数得分分别为10.34分和11分。二元Logistic回归模型显示,年长人群(Adjusted OR 45~59=2.26,95%CI=1.20~4.27;Adjusted OR 60~69=3.13,95%CI=1.63~5.98;Adjusted OR≥70=4.68,95%CI=2.35~9.33)对新型冠状病毒疫情的了解更为缺乏;受教育程度、家庭平均年收入较高的人群对新型冠状病毒疫情的认知水平和相关自我防护知识水平均较高(P<0.05);单身、离异或丧偶人群(Adjusted OR=1.67,95%CI=1.13~2.46)更缺乏对新型冠状病毒疫情自我保护的知识。结论研究表明,福清市农村居民对新型冠状病毒疫情认知水平一般,但相关自我保护知识水平较高。研究建议在面对类似新冠这类重大疫情时,对居民实施相关自我防护知识的宣传教育或更为重要,尤其要加强对无配偶、年龄较大、受教育水平和/或收入较低的重点人群进行自我防范措施的宣传教育。