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Community's misconception about COVID-19 and its associated factors in Satkhira, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Bakebillah M 1 , Billah MA 2 , Wubishet BL 3 , Khan MN 4

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Folklore, Faculty of Social Science, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • 2 Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Business, Economic and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • 3 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Health Services Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • 4 Department of Population Science, Faculty of Social Science, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Najrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
PLoS One, 2021;16(9):e0257410.
PMID: 34506614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257410

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Misconception related to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been spread out broadly and the the World Health Organization declared these as a major challenge to fight against the pandemic. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 related misconception among rural people in Bangladesh and associated socio-demographic and media related factors.

METHODS: Multistage sampling method was used to collect data (n = 210) from three unions of Satkhira District, Bangladesh. The dependent variable was the presence of COVID-19 related misconception (Yes, No) which was generated based on respondents' responses to a set of six questions on various types of misconception. Exposure variables were respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, mass media and social media exposure. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the respondents. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 misconception.

RESULTS: More than half of the study respondents had one or more COVID-19 related misconception. Over 50% of the total respondents considered this disease as a punishment from God. Besides, many of the respondents reported that they do not think the virus causing COVID-19 is dangerous (59%) and it is a disease (19%). Around 7% reported they believe the virus is the part of a virus war (7.2%). The bivariate analysis found the presence of socio-demographic factors of the respondents, as well as the factors related to social and mass media, were significantly associated with the COVID-19's misconception. However, once all factors considered together in the multivariate model, misconception were found to be lower among secondary (AOR, 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.84) and tertiary (AOR, 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.92) educated respondents compared to the respondents with primary education.

CONCLUSION: This study obtained a very higher percentage of misconception about the COVID-19 among the respondents of Satkhira district in Bangladesh. This could be a potential challenge to fight against this pandemic which is now ongoing. Prioritizing mass and social media to disseminate evidence-based information as well as educate people about this disease are necessary.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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