COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours in Cameroon: A Six-Month Online National Survey

Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Leonard Ngarka, Wepnyu Y. Njamnshi, Leonard N. Nfor, Michel K. Mengnjo, Edwige L. Mendo, Samuel A. Angwafor, Jonas Guy Atchou Basseguin, Cyrille Nkouonlack, Edith N. Njit, Nene Ahidjo, Eric Samuel Chokote, Fidèle Dema, Julius Y. Fonsah, Godwin Y. Tatah, Nancy Palmer, Paul F. Seke Etet, Dennis Palmer, Dickson S. Nsagha, Daniel E. Etya’ale, Stephen Perrig, Roman Sztajzel, Jean-Marie Annoni, Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek, Rose G. F. Leke, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa Obama, John N. Nkengasong, Robert Colebunders and Alfred K. Njamnshi
Additional contact information
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Leonard Ngarka: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Wepnyu Y. Njamnshi: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Leonard N. Nfor: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Michel K. Mengnjo: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Edwige L. Mendo: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Samuel A. Angwafor: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Jonas Guy Atchou Basseguin: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Cyrille Nkouonlack: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Edith N. Njit: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Nene Ahidjo: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Eric Samuel Chokote: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Fidèle Dema: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Julius Y. Fonsah: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Godwin Y. Tatah: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Nancy Palmer: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Paul F. Seke Etet: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Dennis Palmer: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Dickson S. Nsagha: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Daniel E. Etya’ale: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), 1226 Geneva, Switzerland
Stephen Perrig: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), 1226 Geneva, Switzerland
Roman Sztajzel: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), 1226 Geneva, Switzerland
Jean-Marie Annoni: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), 1226 Geneva, Switzerland
Anne-Cécile Zoung-Kanyi Bissek: Division of Health Operations Research, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Rose G. F. Leke: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa Obama: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
John N. Nkengasong: CDC Africa, African Union, Addis Ababa 3243, Ethiopia
Robert Colebunders: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
Alfred K. Njamnshi: Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon

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

Abstract: Since March 2020, the Cameroonian government implemented nationwide measures to stall COVID-19 transmission. However, little is known about how well these unprecedented measures are being observed as the pandemic evolves. We conducted a six-month online survey to assess the preventive behaviour of Cameroonian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. A five-point adherence score was constructed based on self-reported observance of the following preventive measures: physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, not touching one’s face, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Predictors of adherence were investigated using ordinal logistic regression models. Of the 7381 responses received from all ten regions, 73.3% were from male respondents and overall mean age was 32.8 ± 10.8 years. Overall mean adherence score was 3.96 ± 1.11 on a scale of 0–5. Mean weekly adherence scores were initially high, but gradually decreased over time accompanied by increasing incidence of COVID-19 during the last study weeks. Predictors for higher adherence included higher age, receiving COVID-19 information from health personnel, and agreeing with the necessity of lockdown measures. Meanwhile, experiencing flu-like symptoms was associated with poor adherence. Continuous observance of preventive measures should be encouraged among Cameroonians in the medium- to long-term to avoid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cameroon; preventive measures; adherence; survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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