Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward COVID-19 among the general population: A cross-sectional Study in Kankan Guinea

Abstract Implementing decisive and effective infection prevention and control measures requires a good understanding of the state of knowledge among the general population, in order to identify existing gaps and respond adequately. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among the public in Kankan Guinea, with a view to understanding socio-demographic factors that are associated with poor KAP. In total, 1230 Guineans participated in this study.The majority of respondents (60%) had good knowledge about COVID-19. However, only 44% of respondents below 29 years old had a good level of knowledge about COVID-19. Male participants had a higher level of knowledge about COVID-19 compared to female participants (P = 0.003). The majority of participants (82%) had negative attitudes towards COVID-19 and 61% of respondents reported good practices related to COVID-19 measures. In this study, being female was a risk factor for poor knowledge about COVID-19 (P < 0,001) and being single was a risk factor for negative attitudes towards COVID-19 (P = 0,009). Appropriate measures should be undertaken to raise public awareness and improve widespread practice of preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.