The Outbreak of Pandemic COVID-19 disease in Aurangabad:
Risk Perceptions, Knowledge and Information sources among Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal women
Vishranti Bhagwan Giri*
Lecturer, College of Nursing Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, (Maharashtra) India.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: vishrantigiri@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Background: This year January 2020. The pandemic of the Covid-19 pandemic has created anxiety among every woman in the society, including all women Due to an increase in age and associated conditions who are considered to be at a greater risk of infectious diseases. This study aimed to examine COVID -19 related risk perceptions, knowledge, and information sources among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in the Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was selected and a four-section questionnaire was used. In this study, only social media platform was used. The study sample was 155 perimenopausal women. Results: The Participants perceived their risk of COVID -19 due to their age and other disease conditions. The participants demonstrated less knowledge about COVID- 19. The five major sources from which they obtained information about Covid-19 were the television, newspapers, health professionals, the internet, and family and friends. Participants placed a high level of confidence in these sources. There was no significant relationship between the perceived risk of contracting Covid-19 and knowledge about the disease. Conclusions: Social media is an important source of information about Covid-19 for the participants. Participants were had less knowledge about Covid-19. The result of the study gives valuable insight to healthcare professionals, includes nurses and midwives who serve on the frontline and provide care to perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
KEYWORDS: Pandemic, perceived risk, knowledge, information sources, perimenopausal women.
INTRODUCTION:
The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019. According to the World Health Organization report cases was increased tremendously. The pandemic is accelerating and the case fatality rate is more. To date, there is no sign of an end. In this situation, uncertainty surrounding the progress and rapid spread of the disease, every one of us has a subconscious fear of infection. A perceived sense of immediate risk causes has a significant psychological effect.1,2
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic is still in a difficult stage. Yet there is a need to get accurate information and it will be more difficult to get.3
The development of information technology has increased the number of sources from which the general public can obtain health information about a pandemic. For example, the internet and social media have increased the speed and volume of information exchange worldwide.4
Reliable open communication channels can help the general public detect spurious or misleading information Failure to do so can amplify risk perceptions amid an evolving pandemic Chuang has noted that healthcare professionals play a key role in risk communication by providing accurate information.
METHODS:
A Cross-sectional survey design was used to examine COVID-19- related risk perceptions, knowledge, and information sources among perimenopausal women and postmenopausal women. Women who could read and write Marathi and English were willing to participate in this study and had aged between 40-55 years for inclusion. An electronic questionnaire was used, and it consisted of four sections which assessed a) demographic perceptions, b) risk perceptions c) Knowledge about Covid-19 d) information sources.
In the demographic characteristics, their age, educational level, occupation, area of residence. Regarding perception, the participants were asked about the risk of contracting and dying from Covid-19. They were asked to indicate the extent to which they were worried about contracting Covid-19, their family members contracting Covid-19, the spread of Covid-19 to the areas in which they lived. The responses of the participants were recorded on a Likert scale.
To assess knowledge, based on WHO has published on their public web page twenty –one questions were prepared how masks should be worn and the myths that related to Covid-19. Four out of 21 questions assessed knowledge about Covid-19 about menopause. Responses were scored as follows: Correct Answer=2, not sure=1, and incorrect answer=0. At last, the information sources were developed by the researcher.5-10 Participants were asked to indicate the sources from which they obtained information about Covid-19 and their level of confidence in these sources. In this section, the researcher has used a five-point Likert scale, which ranged from 1 (very little) to 5 (very much).
The content validity of the tool was assessed by three nursing experts from infection control and post-graduated in Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing. In March 2020, the questionnaire was electronically distributed to all participants using the Microsoft Team application which was the most popular application in Maharashtra. Participants were selected from Gynecology OPD. They were assured that participation in the study was voluntary and they had the right to refuse and withdraw from the study. Simultaneously the participants were provided with instructions on how to complete and submit the online questionnaire. They were also informed that clicking the final "Submit" button. The first page of the online survey described the aim and purpose of the study. Access to the submitted response of the participants was protected to the restricted to the researcher by using username and password login.
Analysis:
Descriptive statistics (mean, SDs, and frequencies) were computed to examine participant's characteristics and risk perception, knowledge, and information sources. Inferential statistical analysis was conducted in which’ test and chi-square test.
RESULTS:
A total of 161 were participants participated in the study, among them 79.8% were perimenopausal women, and rest (20.2%) were menopausal women. Their mean age was 40-55 years. All participants in this study have not experienced any complications during the menopausal period (91.8%) or chronic diseases before menopause. (94.5%) Most of them held education up to graduation degree (78.2%). Regarding their occupations, 48%, 35.3%, 8.7%, 8.0% of them were retired employee, housewives, teachers, self-employed women, respectively.
Perceived Risk:
In table 1 shows that the total perceived risk scores ranged from 8 to 32 (mean =18.24, SD =5.48). The perceived risk of contracting Covid-19 was greater than the perceived risk of other conditions. Among 37.7% of the participants reported that they were worried about contracting Covid-19 and 45.7% were concerned about their family members contracting Covid-19. More than fifty percent of them worried about the spread of Covid-19 to the areas in which they resided.
Knowledge about Covid-19:
The rate at which correct answers were provided to the 10 items that assessed knowledge about COVID -19 was 69.5%. The rate at which correct answers were provided to the three items that were related to perimenopause and menopause was 77.5. (Mean =6.20, SD= 1.05). Overall participants in this study had average knowledge regarding prevention, care during Covid-19. (Table-2)
Table 1: Perceived risk of death due to Covid-19 and other adverse events.
|
Sr.No. |
Item |
Mean |
Very unlikely (%) |
Unlikely (%) |
Neutral (%) |
Likely (%) |
Very Likely (%) |
|
1. |
Hypertension |
1.78 |
45.3 |
33.1 |
20.3 |
1.4 |
0 |
|
2. |
Diabetes Mellitus |
1.84 |
42.6 |
32.4 |
23.6 |
1.4 |
0 |
|
3. |
Swine Flu |
1.99 |
35.3 |
33.3 |
28.7 |
2.7 |
0 |
|
4. |
COVID- 9 |
2.01 |
39.6 |
29.5 |
22.8 |
6.7 |
1.3 |
|
5. |
Traffic Accidents |
1.91 |
38.5 |
34.5 |
25 |
2.0 |
0 |
Table 2: Questions used to assess knowledge about COVID -19.
|
Sr. No. |
Questions |
Yes ( % ) |
No (%) |
Not Sure (%) |
|
1. |
You should wear a mask if you have been coughing or sneezing. |
72.2 |
27.7 |
0 |
|
2. |
Before wearing a mask, you should clean your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water. |
68.3 |
33.7 |
1.0 |
|
3. |
You should cover your mouth and nose with a mask and make sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask. |
71.1 |
28.3 |
0.6 |
|
4. |
Ultraviolet lamps should be used to sterilize hands or other areas of skin. |
17.7 |
29.8 |
52.4 |
|
5. |
It is safe to receive an online package or letter within Aurangabad. |
50 |
26.6 |
23.4 |
|
6. |
During perimenopause and postmenopause eating garlic and drinking Kada can protect you from Covid-19. |
81.5 |
4.0 |
12.9 |
|
7. |
Currently, there are specific medicines that can be used to prevent or treat Covid-19 among perimenopause and postmenopause. |
58.9 |
12.1 |
29.0 |
|
8. |
Perimenopause and postmenopausal women are more susceptible to Covid-19 than the general population. |
83.1 |
4.0 |
12.9 |
|
9. |
Pets (dogs or cars) can spread Covid-19 |
45.2 |
19.4 |
35.5 |
|
10. |
Vaccines against pneumonia can protect you from Covid-19 |
74.2 |
8.9 |
35.5 |
Information Sources:
The five major resources from which the participants obtained information about COVID- 19 were the television, newspapers, health Professionals, internet, family, and friends. (Mean = 4.14).
Data depicts in table 3 regarding the most informative resource was health professionals (Reliance = 4.15 and Confidence = 4.14)
Table 3: Mean reliance and confidence scores for different sources of information about Covid-19.
|
Sr. No. |
Source |
Reliance |
Confidence |
|
1. |
Television |
4.14 |
4.14 |
|
2. |
New Paper |
3.30 |
3.41 |
|
3. |
Health Professionals |
4.15 |
4.14 |
|
4. |
Internet |
3.48 |
3.49 |
|
5. |
Family and friends |
3.45 |
3.49 |
DISCUSSION:
This study focused on COVID -19 risk perceptions, knowledge, and information sources among perimenopausal and menopausal women. The Data were collected during the lockdown period in March 2020 following the outbreak in Aurangabad.
The finding in this study that the participants in this study were perceived their risk of contracting hypertension to be greater than their risk of contracting Covid-19. Lee et.al. conducted a study during pandemic participants in this study perceived risk of dying from influenza than COVID-19.11
The participants of this study had moderate knowledge about COVID -19 (correct response was 69.5%). Brug et.al conducted a study in the Netherlands and found that 83.9% of the participants obtained accuracy rates were higher than 75% on a measure of their knowledge.
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Received on 14.09.2020 Modified on 17.12.2020
Accepted on 03.03.2021 © AandV Publications all right reserved
Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2021; 9(3):294-296.
DOI: 10.52711/2454-2660.2021.00069