Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has accursed the world since December 2019 when it was first diagnosed in Wuhan, China. As it quickly spread to almost all the corners of the world, WHO later declared it as a global pandemic. Effective non pharmaceutical measures to control it, depends upon the knowledge and practice of basic principles of hygiene and use of facemasks. Hence educating public about it has an immense role in controlling this contagious disease.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Chittagong during June 2020 to December 2020 with a study population of 1489 participants. Adults with good physical and mental condition, and those who agreed to participate were included while unwilling and sick people were excluded from the study.

Results: Out of 1489 participants, the mean age was 28.81±8.64 years with range from 12 to 70 years. More than half (51%) of the participants were female and about 773(51.9%) participants had completed above X education level. Knowledge about the disease, its causative agent, main symptoms, ultimate fate and its mode of transmission was considerably high. The majority of the participants were accustomed of the preventive measure such as social distancing, isolation of the patients, home quarantine and avoidance of large gatherings. Knowledge directly affected both attitude and practices as the survey revealed that the majority (88.72%) of the participants achieved a good knowledge-attitude score and 78.44% achieved a good knowledge-practice score. Overall achieved knowledge score regarding the importance of the use of face masks translated on attitude and practices.

Conclusion: Our findings insinuated that Bangladeshi population substantiated a decent knowledge about COVID-19 and knowledge about the importance of facemasks was above par and that too translated on attitude and practices. Hence widespread targeted health education programme that incorporates considerations of KAP modifying factors is further needed to prevent subsequent waves of the infection.

Keyword: Attitude; Corona virus; COVID-19; Face Masks; KAP study; Knowledge; Practice.

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Dr Mortuza Begum

Junior Consultant, Department of Obs and Gynae, Chittagong Medical College and Hospital, Chattogram, Bangladesh