Abstract: Following the discovery of various Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients in the Arabian Peninsula especially Saudi Arabia were many cases confirmed diagnostically and some deaths were reported, stakeholders need to determine community awareness of the disease. Methodology: descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among PHC attendees at KFMMC through self administered questionnaire. Objective: determine the PHC attendees' knowledge about the MERS-CoV, their attitude and practice toward causes, treatment and prevention of the disease. Results: Of the 722 respondents covered in this research (n=375, 51.9%) were males and (n=347, 48.1%) were females from eastern region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The respondents source of information was the television (n=271, 37.5%) followed by newspapers and magazines (n=125, 17.3%) and friends and family (n=107, 14.8%). Regarding symptoms of MERS-CoV infection, the proportion of respondents citing fever was highest (68.4%) followed by pneumonia (56.9%). The respondents' knowledge about preventive measures from MERS-CoV infection was highest (mean score of 62 ± 24%). Although the respondents' knowledge about the symptoms of infection and their attitude toward it are satisfactory, however most of them don't know the causes of infection (48%), and 62.9% thought that the mode of transmission is human to human. Conclusion: The analysis shows some differences in people awareness of the disease, these differences could be related to gender, level of education or work place factors. So, we need to have some public lectures, flyers and TV shows to explain the details of MERS-CoV related to its causes, mode of transmission, preventive measures and treatment modalities.
Keywords: MERS-CoV, novel coronavirus, Knowledge, Attitude, practice, Saudi Arabia.
Title: MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROM- CORONAVIRUS (MERS-CoV), AWARENESS AMONG PHC ATTENDEES AT KFMMC, EASTERN PROVINCE, SAUDI ARABIA
Author: Ibrahim DaifAllah al Qurashi, Abdullah Ibrahim al Enizi, Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ahmari, Abdulrahman Ahmad Al Naim, Adel Nasser Al Bargi, Sayed Ibrahim Ali, Abdullah khalid Al Maqhawi, Suha Jafar Al Bahrani
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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