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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 May:194:185-195.
doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.03.005. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review and meta-analysis with policy recommendations

S Saadatjoo  1 , M Miri  2 , S Hassanipour  3 , H Ameri  4 , M Arab-Zozani  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review and meta-analysis with policy recommendations

S Saadatjoo et al. Public Health. 2021 May.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate and synthesize the current evidence on knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of the general population regarding COVID-19.

Study design: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search on PubMed/LitCovid, Scopus, and Web of Sciences databases for papers in the English language only, up to 1 January 2021. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist developed for cross-sectional studies to appraise the quality of the included studies. All stages of the review conducted by two independent reviewers and potential discrepancies were solved with a consultation with a third reviewer. We reported the result as number and percentage. A meta-analysis conducted using a random effect model with a 95% confidence interval.

Results: Forty-eight studies encompassing 76,848 participants were included in this review. 56.53% of the participants were female. The mean age of the participants was 33.7 years. 85.42% of the included studies were scored as good quality, 12.50% as fair quality, and the remaining (2.08%) as low quality. About 87.5% examined all three components of the KAPs model. The knowledge component was reported as good and poor in 89.5% and 10.5% of the included studies, respectively. Of the studies that examined the attitude component, 100% reported a positive attitude. For the practice component, 93.2% reported satisfactory practice, and 6.8% poor practice. The result of the meta-analysis showed that the overall score of KAPs components about COVID-19 were 78.9, 79.8, and 74.1, respectively.

Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that the overall KAP components in the included studies were at an acceptable level. In general, knowledge was at a good level, the attitude was positive and practice was at a satisfactory level. Using an integrated international system can help better evaluate these components and compare them between countries. PROSPERO REGISTRATION CODE: (CRD42020186755).

Keywords: Attitude; COVID-19; Knowledge; Policy recommendations; Practice; Systematic review.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The percentage of the included studies based on location (A) and data collection methods (B).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The percentage of included studies based on quality score.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The number of investigated components in the included studies.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
The percentage of studies based on the knowledge (K), attitudes (A), and practices (P).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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