COVID-19 preventive measures in Rohingya refugee camps: An assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice

• Published in: PloS one 2024-01, Vol.19 (1), p.e0282558
• Main Authors: Halder, Charls Erik, Hasan, Md Abeed, Mohamud, Yussuf Mohamed, Nyawara, Marsela, Okello, James Charles, Mizan, Md Nahid, Sayum, Md Abu, Hossain, Ahmed, Willam, Andrew, Tassdik, Hamim
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Attitudes; Biology and Life Sciences; Communication; Community; Community health aides; Community involvement; Community participation; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Cross-sectional studies; Data collection; Disease control; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Epidemics; Females; Households; Human settlements; Humanitarianism; Infectious diseases; International organizations; Knowledge; Medical personnel; Medicine and Health Sciences; Medicine, Preventive; Methods; Migration; Pandemics; People and Places; Polls & surveys; Population; Practice; Preventive health services; Public health; Questionnaires; Refugee camps; Refugees; Risk communication; Rohingya people; Safety and security measures; Sample size; Social Sciences; Viral diseases
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282558

Although many studies were conducted on COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) among the general population in many countries, very little is known about refugees, particularly Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar. A vast array of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) interventions were implemented in Cox's Bazar with the intent of reducing disease transmission by empowering the community to adopt public health measures. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of COVID-19 preventive measures among the Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, and to identify their socio-demographic determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 500 Rohingya individuals. Participants in the study were Rohingya refugees residing in five randomly selected camps where International Organization for Migration (IOM) Health was operating. Using a structured questionnaire, skilled community health workers surveyed the Rohingya population. In addition to the survey on knowledge, attitude, and practice, the study gathered information on the perspectives and relevance of sociodemographic factors that influence KAP. The study findings indicate that the mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 9.93, 7.55, and 2.71 respectively. Association was found between knowledge and practice level and age group-the elderly age group (>/ = 61 years) had less level of knowledge (AOR 0.42, P value = 0.058) and the late mid-age group (46-60 years) had better practice level (AOR 2.67, P value