Response of the public to preventive measures of coronavirus infection in Iraqi Kurdistan

• Published in: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness 2020-07, p.1
• Main Authors: Deldar Morad Abdulah, Salem Said Aziz Qazli, Sherzad Khudeida Suleman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.233

Objectives: On, March 1, 2020, the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) announced four confirmed cases of COVID-19. We aimed to explore response of the public towards the prevention principles against coronavirus infection. Methods: The investigators invited individuals from different geographic areas of Duhok governorate of Iraqi Kurdistan in March 2020. Results: The mean age of the participants was 25.74 (16-95 years). The mean score and prevalence of fear towards coronavirus infection was 4.40 of 10 and 81.9%, respectively. A small percentage of participants did not minimize their exposures by reducing close contact with respiratory droplets (14.5%) and visited public areas during the epidemic (28.7%). The study revealed that 30.8% of the participants did not use facemask or tissues when they sneeze in public areas. Most of the participants washed their hands when there is a possible transfer of coronavirus pathogen (94.6%) and cleaned or disinfected the suspected areas to pathogens at home (84.6%). Some participants did not visit a medical clinic if they get the suspected symptoms of coronavirus infection (11.2%) due to lower education. Participants agreed with the health policies of KRG against coronavirus outbreak (90.8%). Conclusions: Some of the public do not adhere to preventive measures against coronavirus infection.