Saad Javed

Conference 2022 Poster Presentation

 

Project title

Public awareness and preparedness towards corona-virus pandemic in Pakistan

 

Authors and Affiliations

Adeela Rehman1, Ibad ullah Sajid2, Saad Javed3, Eesha Yaqoob4

1. Department of Sociology, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi Pakistan
2. Social Welfare Officer Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Maal Department Rawalpindi, Pakistan
3. Department of Neurosurgery, Rawalpindi Medical University, Pakistan
4. Department of Sociology, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

 

Abstract

Background

The declaration of a group of pneumonia instances of obscure etiology in China’s prime city of Wuhan, was made in Decemebr-2019. On 26th February 2020, Pakistan detected first two cases of novel coronavirus and till March 25th, 20 the number of confirmed cases has been surged to 1,000 with seven deaths. Despite taking proactive measures by the Government, the number of confirmed cases has been reported to 1000 and is rising rapidly.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, a self-administrated online questionnaire was circulated through emails and social media. The questionnaire comprised of close ended questions regarding assessing awareness about the cause and symptoms of COVID-19 and knowledge about preventative measures required to be taken at individual and state level. A total of 350 participants responded to the survey in the given time period of six days (March 13-19, 2020). The participants belonged to all provinces of Pakistan including Azad Jammu Kashmir and Federal Territory.

Results

The findings showed the public was aware of the COVID-19 epidemiological breakout, its causes, symptoms, modes of transmission and preparedness mechanism. The correlation matrix also depicted that public awareness about the danger of COVID-19 were significantly correlated with the preparedness at the individual and state levels.

Conclusions

The general public was well aware of the COVID-19 epidemiological breakout, its causes, symptoms, modes of transmission and preparedness mechanism.