Assessment of Children's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding COVID-19 at Secondary Schools in Makkah Al-Mokarramah, Saudi Arabia2021
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background:
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which emerges in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and spreads around the world at the beginning of 2020. The World Health Organization declares the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on the 30th of January, and a pandemic on the 11th of March. On the 4th of March, the Saudi Arabia government orders the full closure of all schools and universities nationwide. Secondary Schools student are more likely to engage in risky health practices related to COVID-19. Their compliance with infection control measures is a key factor to mitigate the spread of the disease. Novel coronavirus-2019 is a highly infectious disease that caused a global pandemic around the world. Lack of knowledge about appropriate infection control practices has caused great concerns for human health, especially in the risk of many communicable diseases .and related to COVID-19 ).
Aim of the study: To assessment of Children's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding COVID-19 among school students secondary in Makkah Al-Mokarramah , Saudi Arabia2021.
Method: An online cross-sectional survey was utilized. study conducted among secondary school students at Makkah, during the April to June, 2021, a total of 200 studet aged 12–18 years, available students of secondary school children were included in the study. A structured online self-reported questionnaire sheet was used to assess children’s knowledge, attitude, and practice about COVID-19
Results shows that most of the participants (66.0%) were in the age group more than 14-16 years follow by the (21.67%)were in the age >16 years and the data ranged from(20.0%) the majority of them were female (75.0%) while male (25.0%),also regarding Nationality the majority of participant are Saudi were(90.0%) while Previous training programs the majority of participant were (94.0%(.
Conclusion: Regardless of the results,, it is suggested that people should continue to strengthen knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19, so that Saudi Arabia can win the battle against the disease, More emphasis should be placed on education of the student participants about biological meaning of this infection and relative preventive or future measures. Awareness educational programs should be implemented toward preventive measures of COVID-19.