Mohamed Osama Nour
Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Title: Domestic Self-Quarantine during COVID-19 Pandemic. An Experience from General Population at Damietta Governorate – Egypt
Biography
Biography: Mohamed Osama Nour
Abstract
Background: Arrival of COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt triggered national preparedness and integrated response including domestic self-quarantine. We aimed to investigate community awareness and commitment towards voluntary self-quarantine at home in Damietta Governorate – Egypt during COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was designed including a total of 500 adult participants from Damietta, Egypt between April 10 and July 15, 2020. Participants were asked about their socio-demographics, sources of knowledge about COVID-19, awareness towards methods of COVID-19 prevention, commitment to home self-quarantine measures, and their trust in governmental measures, community resources and emergency services.
Results: Only 18.4% were quarantine responders and the main causes of leaving home were buying essentials and food and going to work. Their response was significantly higher among older ages and those with a history of chronic illness while non-response was significantly obvious among married, working, and those with low family income. Quarantine responders were significantly more dependent on reliable sources than the others (59.8% vs 39.7%, p=0.001). About 39.2% reported accepted (good) knowledge towards effective methods of COVID-19 prevention and the overall accepted knowledge was significantly higher among quarantine responders. Their trust in governmental measures, community resources, and emergency services to face the pandemic was poor (84.6%, 71.8%, and 79%) respectively with no significant differences between both groups.
Conclusion: Compliance with and engagement in voluntary self-quarantine in Egypt is poor. Public response to quarantine is affected by sociodemographics and their trust in governmental measures, community resources, and emergency services which were poor. Understanding how quarantine is perceived in Egypt is important to provide public support and to improve containment of pandemic influenza.