Public opinion and practice towards COVID-19 pandemic in Libya
Opinión pública y práctica frente a la pandemia de COVID-19 en Libia
Sara A. Almeraash, Abdussalam A. M. Amara
Abstract
Introduction: World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, and like any global health crisis at its beginning, need a commitment to take the necessary precautions due to its spread among people before and during the presence of vaccine or drug. This study aims to assess public opinion and practice of Libyan community in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional online study was conducted among Libyans between Sep. 15th, and Oct. 29th, 2020 using a developed-design questionnaire consisting of 23 questions assessing the aim of the study. 2305, who agreed to participate, was involved in the present study.
Results: The response rate of Libyan regions, the west, east, middle and south areas, was 80.0%, 8.7%, 10.0 % and 1.3%, respectively. The majority were female (63.1%), with mostly in the 20-50 years’ age group (86.6%). The high level of education was university graduate (71.3%). The opinion average rate of participants was 33.2 % disagree and 26.4 % strongly disagree towards ban measures issued by authorities. Findings reveal good practice of applying preventive measures (always, an average rate of 35.1%). The relationship between opinion score and the participant’s demographic data show highly significant difference with the educational level (P = 0.002), but no differences found with residence (P = 0.183), with age (P = 0.212), and with gender (P = 0.313). With regard to the practice score, a significant difference was existed with gender (P = 0.029), age (P = 0.000), level of education (P = 0.013) and residence (P = 0.000).
Conclusions: Libyan people has an acceptable level of awareness and opinion in applying the necessary precautionary measures towards COVID-19 pandemic, where prevention practices are influenced by level of education, residence, age and gender.
Keywords
Resumen
Introducción: La Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró la COVID-19 como una pandemia y, como cualquier crisis de salud global en sus inicios, es necesario el compromiso de tomar las precauciones necesarias debido a su propagación entre las personas antes y durante la presencia de una vacuna o fármaco. Este estudio tiene como objetivo evaluar la opinión pública y la práctica de la comunidad libia en el contexto de la pandemia de COVID-19.
Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en línea entre libios entre el 15 de septiembre y el 29 de octubre de 2020 utilizando un cuestionario de diseño desarrollado que consta de 23 preguntas que evalúan el objetivo del estudio. 2305 sujetos accedieron a participar en el presente estudio.
Resultados: La tasa de respuesta de las regiones libias, las áreas oeste, este, medio y sur, fue del 80,0%, 8,7%, 10,0% y 1,3%, respectivamente. La mayoría eran mujeres (63,1%), en su mayoría en el grupo de edad de 20 a 50 años (86,6%). El nivel de educación alto fue de titulado universitario (71,3%). La tasa promedio de opinión de los participantes fue del 33,2% en desacuerdo y del 26,4% en total desacuerdo con las medidas de prohibición emitidas por las autoridades. Los hallazgos revelan buenas prácticas de aplicación de medidas preventivas (siempre, una tasa promedio del 35,1%). La relación entre la puntuación de opinión y los datos demográficos del participante muestra una diferencia altamente significativa con el nivel educativo (P = 0,002), pero no se encontraron diferencias con la residencia (P = 0,183), con la edad (P = 0,212) y con el género (P = 0,313). Con respecto al puntaje de práctica, existió una diferencia significativa con el género (P = 0.029), la edad (P = 0.000), el nivel de educación (P = 0.013) y la residencia (P = 0.000).
Conclusiones: El pueblo libio tiene un nivel aceptable de conciencia y opinión en la aplicación de las medidas de precaución necesarias frente a la pandemia de COVID-19, donde las prácticas de prevención están influenciadas por el nivel de educación, residencia, edad y género.
Palabras clave
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Submitted date:
08/07/2021
Reviewed date:
10/04/2021
Accepted date:
10/19/2021
Publication date:
10/20/2021
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