Knowledge and preparedness for home-based, family-centred management of COVID-19 patients and dead bodies among residents in a COVID-19 high-risk setting: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge and preparedness for home-based, family-centred management of COVID-19 patients and dead bodies among residents of Wakiso district, Uganda during the first COVID-19 wave.

Design: A cross-sectional study. Household heads aged 15years and above in 5 sub counties of Wakiso district were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive and regression analyses were done and assessed the association between selected variables and COVID-19 related knowledge on home-based care and burials using Stata version 16.

Results: We enrolled 205 participants, with a median age of 28 (Interquartile range (IQR):25-35) years. Majority (n= 157, 76.6%) were female and had achieved at least secondary level of education (n =117, 57.1%). The mean knowledge score on home-based care for COVID-19 patients was 49.5%, while that on COVID-19 dead body management was 36.5%. Seven (3.4%) respondents were ready to undertake home-based care and dead body management. The remaining 198 (96.6%) unready respondents reported inadequate knowledge (n=166, 84%) and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) (n=17, 8.6%) as the major barriers for their readiness. There was no statistically significant difference in both the knowledge on home-based COVID-19 patient care and dead body management stratified by demographics characteristics.

Conclusion: The knowledge and preparedness for home-based COVID-19 patient care and dead body management were suboptimal among respondents in the first COVID-19 wave. We recommend more public sensitization programmes on the general principles of home-based patient care and dead body management for better disaster preparedness in future outbreaks.