Knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices regarding cholera among six MENA countries following cholera outbreaks in the region.

Abstract

Background: Cholera persists as a global public health threat, endangering the lives of vulnerable societies including the MENA region where many countries are facing recent cholera outbreaks. The present study aimed to characterize the knowledge, attitude, and practices status related to cholera in six MENA countries in the MENA region.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured, validated questionnaire and distributed across different social media platforms in Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen between December 2022 and January 2023. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to cholera.

Results: A total of 2971 participants were included in the study, of which 62.5% were females; with a mean age of 34.8 ± 12.3 years; 85.4% heard about cholera; and 1.9% experienced cholera infection during cholera outbreaks in their countries. Among those who heard about cholera, 50.7% had adequate knowledge, 67.3% had desirable attitudes, and 50.3% reported good practices. Multivariate analysis revealed that being older, highly educated, employed, working in the medical field, and living in an outbreak country were the significant predictors affecting good knowledge. Additionally, good attitudes were significantly increased by older ages, females, those working in the medical sector, and those living in an outbreak country. Whereas working in the medical sector and having a larger number of people living in the same house significantly decreased the practice scores.

Conclusions: Raising community awareness about fecal-oral diseases transmitted via contaminated food or water, such as cholera, is crucial. This can be achieved by organizing targeted awareness campaigns for the whole community. Furthermore, mandatory educational workshops and programs for medical professionals are essential, as they serve as role models for the community.