Influence of sociodemographic characteristics on knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 in northern Iraq
Other Title(s)
تأثير العوامل الاجتماعية و الديموغرافية على أنماط المعرفة و النوم و الأكل و المخاوف و الممارسات تجاه كوفيد-19 في شمال العراق
Joint Authors
Karim, Sad Kazim
Taha, Burjan Hashim
Amin, Nizar Muhammad Muhammad
Thomson, Russell
Blazeska, Klimentina Krstanoska
Slewa Younan, Shameran
Source
The Arab Journal of Psychiatry
Issue
Vol. 33, Issue 1 (31 May. 2022), pp.74-90, 17 p.
Publisher
The Arab Federation of Psychiatrists
Publication Date
2022-05-31
Country of Publication
Jordan
No. of Pages
17
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Objective: Targeted public health campaigns are important in countries where health resources are limited.
This is especially the case for countries such as Iraq since decades of sanctions, war and armed conflict have depleted the health system.
The current study investigated the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on attitudes towards the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) relating to knowledge and behaviors held by people living in North Iraq.
Method: A cross-sectional survey, conducted from 21st March to 12th April 2020, used an online platform.
Multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors and respondents’ knowledge, attitude and behavioral practices in response to COVID-19.
Results: Respondents with better self-reported health were most likely to report sleep impairment (OR=2.32,1.49-3.68) impaired eating (OR=1.84, 1.17-2.95) fear in response to social media news on COVID-19 (OR=1.92, 1.32-2.81) and were more likely to practice COVID-19 prevention measures (OR= 1.08, 1.01-1.14).
On the other hand, those with better self-reported health (OR= 0.4; 0.27-0.59) were less likely to report good knowledge on COVID-19 whereas those with higher levels of education (OR= 3.59, 1.29-10.2) claimed to have higher knowledge of COVID-19.
Men believed that war was more frightening than COVID-19 (OR=1.91, 1.33-2.75) compared to woman.
Conclusion: Self-reported health and type of employment were the sociodemographic factors most frequently noted to influence knowledge, attitude and behaviors toward COVID-19 amongst the northern Iraqi population.
In a country where health resources are scare and stretched because of a history of sanctions and prolonged war and community violence, these results provide directions for targeted approaches to support public health campaigns.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Taha, Burjan Hashim& Karim, Sad Kazim& Amin, Nizar Muhammad Muhammad& Thomson, Russell& Blazeska, Klimentina Krstanoska& Slewa Younan, Shameran. 2022. Influence of sociodemographic characteristics on knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 in northern Iraq. The Arab Journal of Psychiatry،Vol. 33, no. 1, pp.74-90.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1431097
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Taha, Burjan Hashim…[et al.]. Influence of sociodemographic characteristics on knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 in northern Iraq. The Arab Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 33, no. 1 (May. 2022), pp.74-90.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1431097
American Medical Association (AMA)
Taha, Burjan Hashim& Karim, Sad Kazim& Amin, Nizar Muhammad Muhammad& Thomson, Russell& Blazeska, Klimentina Krstanoska& Slewa Younan, Shameran. Influence of sociodemographic characteristics on knowledge and attitudes about COVID-19 in northern Iraq. The Arab Journal of Psychiatry. 2022. Vol. 33, no. 1, pp.74-90.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1431097
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 88-89
Record ID
BIM-1431097