Knowledge, attitude, and practice about COVID-19, vaccination acceptability, and post-infection consequences across North India: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

This study aimed to assess COVID-19 awareness, attitude, practice, and post-infection effects, as well as vaccine acceptance, among general people in North India at the end of the first COVID-19 wave in India. A cross-sectional survey took place from 20 January to 28 February 2021 in Northern India, covering 8 states, including Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Chandigarh to assess the KAP in the context of COVID-19. A validated questionnaire was distributed via social media (Instagram, WhatsApp), and responses were collected via a Google Form. The total number of participants was n=813, out of which more than half of the responders were male (54.2%). The majority of respondents belong to the age category 18 to 29 years (66.9%) and (85.8%) of respondents come from a nuclear family. Mean (percentage) scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 57.91%, 60.98%, and 89.79% respectively. The vaccine acceptance in participants was quite high (70.8%), (67.7%) have a positive belief in vaccine efficacy, and (42.7%) of respondents were willing to take the vaccine at a health centre/clinic. Out of the total participants (74.5%) believe that vaccines can control the spread of COVID-19. The prevalence of post-infection effects was more in females with a mean percentage of 52.94, like (94.1%) of females and (70.4%) of males were facing the loss of taste and smell even after recovering from COVID-19, similarly, (70.6%) of female and (38.9%) of male were facing sexual problems after recovering from COVID-19. Although the overall KAP regarding COVID-19 disease was average and balanced in some areas (69.56% overall in all categories of KAP) in our participants. Our result finding shows that there were certain gaps in knowledge, attitude, and practice of participants. Due to these gaps, India faced the second wave of COVID-19. These gaps can be decreased by efficient and tailor-made health education initiatives as the third wave is rousing.