Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Results of Two Consecutive Online Surveys

John D. Ditekemena, Hypolite M. Mavoko, Michael Obimpeh, Stijn Van Hees, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Dalau M. Nkamba, Antoinette Tshefu, Wim Van Damme, Jean Jacques Muyembe and Robert Colebunders
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John D. Ditekemena: Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Hypolite M. Mavoko: Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Michael Obimpeh: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Stijn Van Hees: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Dalau M. Nkamba: Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Antoinette Tshefu: Kinshasa School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wim Van Damme: Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2600 Antwerp, Belgium
Jean Jacques Muyembe: Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale and Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa 834, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Robert Colebunders: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: Adherence to preventive measures is essential to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Two online surveys were conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 23 April to 8 June 2020, and from August 24th to September 8th, respectively. A total of 3268 (round 1) and 4160 (round 2) participants were included. In both surveys, there was a moderate level of adherence to regular handwashing (85% and 77%, respectively), wearing of facemasks (41.4% and 69%, respectively), and respecting physical distancing (58% and 43.4%, respectively). The second survey found that, working in private (OR = 2.31, CI: 1.66–3.22; p < 0.001) and public organizations (OR = 1.61, CI: 1.04–2.49; p = 0.032) and being a healthcare worker (OR = 2.19, CI: 1.57–3.05; p < 0.001) significantly increased the odds for better adherence. However, a unit increase in age (OR = 0.99, CI: 0.98–0.99; p < 0.026), having attained lower education levels (OR = 0.60, CI: 0.46–0.78; p < 0.001), living in a room (OR = 0.36, CI: 0.15–0.89; p = 0.027), living in a studio (OR = 0.26, CI: 0.11–0.61; p = 0.002) and apartment (OR = 0.29, CI: 0.10–0.82; p = 0.019) significantly decreased the odds for better adherence. We recommend a multi-sectorial approach to monitor and respond to the pandemic threat. While physical distancing may be difficult in Africa, it should be possible to increase the use of facemasks.

Keywords: COVID 19; adherence; prevention measures; infectious diseases (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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