Abstract

Handwashing (HW) with water and soap is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of protecting oneself and others against the coronavirus. Here, the HW knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Saudi adults were assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic using a cross-sectional study conducted between May 8 and June 8, 2020, during a partial lockdown period. A web-based validated questionnaire was distributed through different social media platforms, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, seven items related to knowledge, four items related to attitudes, and thirteen items related to the practice of HW were assessed. A total of 1323 (51% male and 49% female) adults from all regions of Saudi Arabia responded to the questionnaire. The overall mean (± SD) was 5.13 (± 1.18) for knowledge of HW and COVID-19, 2.79 (± 0.77) for attitude toward HW, and 7.8 (± 2.56) for HW practice. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed factors associated with knowledge to be age and family income. Sex, educational level, family income, and HW knowledge were associated with negative and neutral attitude, whereas age, sex, family income, and HW knowledge were associated with practice. These results suggest that HW knowledge was strongly associated with positive attitudes toward HW and correct HW practice in Saudi adults during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Details

Title
Handwashing knowledge, attitudes, and practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A non-representative cross-sectional study
Author
Al-Wutayd, Osama 1 ; Mansour, Ali E 2 ; Aldosary Ahmad Hamad 1 ; Hamdan, Hamdan Z 3 ; Al-Batanony, Manal A 4 

 Qassim University, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412602.3) (ISNI:0000 0000 9421 8094) 
 Qassim University, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412602.3) (ISNI:0000 0000 9421 8094); Al Azhar University, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt (GRID:grid.411303.4) (ISNI:0000 0001 2155 6022) 
 Qassim University, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412602.3) (ISNI:0000 0000 9421 8094); Al-Neelain University, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan (GRID:grid.440839.2) (ISNI:0000 0001 0650 6190) 
 Qassim University, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.412602.3) (ISNI:0000 0000 9421 8094); Menofia University, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Menofia Faculty of Medicine, Al Minufiyah, Egypt (GRID:grid.411775.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0621 4712) 
Publication year
2021
Publication date
2021
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2562363199
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.