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Knowledge into the Practice against COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Prince Yeboah

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Dennis Bomansang Daliri

    (Department of Psychiatry, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Ahmad Yaman Abdin

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong

    (Department of Health Promotion & Education, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Werner Pitsch

    (Department for Economics and Sociology of Sports, Faculty of Economics and Empirical Human Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Anto Berko Panyin

    (Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Emmanuel Bentil Asare Adusei

    (Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Kumasi, Ghana)

  • Afraa Razouk

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Muhammad Jawad Nasim

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

  • Claus Jacob

    (Division of Bioorganic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbruecken, Germany)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected populations globally, including Ghana. Knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, and the application of preventive public health interventions are pivotal to its control. Besides a lockdown, measures taken against the spread of the virus include the wearing of face masks, social distancing, regular hand washing with soap and, more recently, vaccination against the virus. In order to establish a possible link between the knowledge of the disease and compliance with preventive measures, including vaccination, a cross-sectional study employing an interview-structured questionnaire was conducted in six regions of Ghana ( n = 1560). An adequate level of knowledge of COVID-19 (69.9%) was reported. The linear multiple regression analysis further explicated the differences in the knowledge of COVID-19 among the respondents by their knowledge of cholera and influenza (adjusted R-Square = 0.643). Despite this profound knowledge of the illness, two thirds of the respondents were unwilling to follow basic preventive measures and only 35.3% were willing to be vaccinated. Amazingly, neither knowledge of COVID-19 nor the socio-demographic characteristics had any meaningful influence on the practice of preventive measures. Personal attitude leading to efficient public compliance with preventive measures, therefore, is a critical issue demanding special attention and effective interventions by the government and locals with authority to curb the spread of the pandemic which surpasses the traditional channels of public health communication. This includes a roll-out of persuasion, possibly including public figures and influencers, and in any case, a balanced and open discussion addressing the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in order to avoid new variants and comparable problems currently facing many countries of Western Europe. Indeed, a profound hesitancy against vaccination may turn African countries such as Ghana for many years into hotspots of new viral variants.

Suggested Citation

  • Prince Yeboah & Dennis Bomansang Daliri & Ahmad Yaman Abdin & Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong & Werner Pitsch & Anto Berko Panyin & Emmanuel Bentil Asare Adusei & Afraa Razouk & Muhammad Jawad Nasim & Claus , 2021. "Knowledge into the Practice against COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study from Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:12902-:d:697000
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ryan J. Gamba & Lana Mariko Wood & Adianez Ampil & Alina Engelman & Juleen Lam & Michael T. Schmeltz & Maria M. Pritchard & Joshua Kier Adrian Santillan & Esteban S. Rivera & Nancy Ortiz & Darice Ingr, 2021. "Investigating the Feasibility of a Restaurant Delivery Service to Improve Food Security among College Students Experiencing Marginal Food Security, a Head-to-Head Trial with Grocery Store Gift Cards," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-14, September.
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