Publication Details

AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS

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environmental science

Covid-19 preventive behaviours in Cameroon: A six-month online national survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Volume 18, No. 5, Article 2554, Year 2021

Since March 2020, the Cameroonian government implemented nationwide measures to stall COVID-19 transmission. However, little is known about how well these unprecedented measures are being observed as the pandemic evolves. We conducted a six-month online survey to assess the preventive behaviour of Cameroonian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. A five-point adherence score was constructed based on self-reported observance of the following preventive measures: physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, not touching one’s face, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Predictors of adherence were investigated using ordinal logistic regression models. Of the 7381 responses received from all ten regions, 73.3% were from male respondents and overall mean age was 32.8 ± 10.8 years. Overall mean adherence score was 3.96 ± 1.11 on a scale of 0– 5. Mean weekly adherence scores were initially high, but gradually decreased over time accompanied by increasing incidence of COVID-19 during the last study weeks. Predictors for higher adherence included higher age, receiving COVID-19 information from health personnel, and agreeing with the necessity of lockdown measures. Meanwhile, experiencing flu-like symptoms was associated with poor adherence. Continuous observance of preventive measures should be encouraged among Cam-eroonians in the medium-to long-term to avoid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

Statistics
Citations: 29
Authors: 29
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Research Areas
Covid
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Cameroon
Participants Gender
Male