Practices COVID-19: cross sectional survey among Mongolian residents
- VernacularTitle:Хүн амын коронавируст халдвараас урьдчилан сэргийлэх дадлыг судалсан дүн
- Author:
Buuveidulam A
1
;
Tuguldur B
1
;
Nergui R
1
;
Suvd B
1
Author Information
1. National Center for Public Health
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
COVID-19;
keeping distance;
hand washing;
practice;
prevention;
wearing mask
- From:Mongolian Medical Sciences
2020;194(4):57-63
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Introduction:In 11 March, 2020 WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic demands health care systems and decision-makers around the world to take
effective preventive measures, policies, and decisions. The pandemic continues to affect individual
and social mental health, well-being, lives, relationships, as well as economic stability. Therefore,
we measure individual and social responses in this context 1) by measuring unexpected events
and actions being taken accordingly, and 2) by the effectiveness of the organized responses to the
pandemic. Prevalence of COVID-19 epidemics has a direct relationship with the general population
behavior, therefore preventive measures against the spread of COVID is vital. Estimation of practices
towards COVID-19 in the population will greatly assist in intensifying the government's efforts to
prevent it. Therefore, there is a need to identify the population’s prevention behaviors, attitudes, and
information needs about coronavirus infection (COVID-19), to further improve the responses, risk
communications, and to ensure public preparedness.
Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population of Mongolia using quantitative
and qualitative (II & FGD and observation) cross-sectional survey method. The study was adapted to
the specifics of the country, using the research tools and guidelines developed by the WHO Regional
Committee for Europe, the COVID-19 readiness and response, and risk information communication
planning.
Total of 1740 people aged 15-60 years old participated in the study from 3 bordering provinces (Bayan-Ulgii, Selenge and Dornogovi) and 2 districts of Ulaanbaatar (Songinokhairkhan and Chingeltei).
Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. Deviation values of 95% confidence interval
(95%CI) were used to assess the difference between the measurement of accuracy of the results
(distribution rate) and the groups (age, sex, location).
Results:According to the results 47.5% (95%CI: 44.9-49.7) participants were from Ulaanbaatar and 56.7%
(95%CI: 50.3-55.1) were from rural areas. The participants' average age was 35. Most of the
participants were married (72.0%, 1252) and women (60.7%, 1057). As for living conditions 34.8%
(95%CI: 32.7-37.1) of the participants live in apartments and 65.2% (95%CI: 62.9-67.3) live in
ger areas. Respondents had answered to an average of 9.23 ± 3.2 (95%CI: 9.09-9.38) out of 14
scored questions for required knowledge of COVID-19. Knowledge score was higher among female
participants (9.43±3.14) than that among male participants (p=0.0001).The score of participants
with incomplete secondary education was 8.13 ± 3.24, however this score has increased to 8.32 ±
3.44 for those with complete secondary education and 10.08 ± 2.71 for those with higher education (p=0.0001). The majority of participants perceived COVID-19 pandemic as very dangerous. 69.8% of
the surveyed population has been able to prevent COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
This suggests that more than half of the population has a practice of preparedness of COVID-19: wearing a mask, keep
distance, and hygiene. 81.6% of the participants said that they use masks when going out, but most
of them use them incorrectly, which is reflected in the decrease in the frequency of people wearing
masks when shopping, public transportation and public transportation. Half of the respondents said
that in places where interpersonal space is regulated, they keeping distance. However, 2 out of 3
people cannot keep distance. According to the survey, 41.6% of the respondents used to wash their
hands regularly, 58% cleaned and disinfected, 67.0% avoided touching their eyes, nose and mouth
with dirty hands, and 76.6% using napkins and elbows when coughing and sneezing. COVID-19
prevention practices in the population were statistically significant in relation to their knowledge of
COVID-19.
Conclusion:Despite to 81.4 percent of the surveyed population reported they wear face masks outdoors,
quantitative and observational studies have shown that people wear face masks indoors relatively
for a long period of time and handle it incorrectly. Two out of three respondents were not following
social distancing guidelines at all. According to the survey result, good hygiene practices towards
COVID-19 prevention was insufficient such as not washing hands properly (58.4%), not possessing
hand sanitizer (42.1%), touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands (22.1%), and not
covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (23.4%).
- Full text:2020-194(4)-57-63.pdf
