KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND PERCEPTION ON COVID 19 INFECTION AMONG ADOLESCENT AND ADULT POPULATION FROM TAMIL NADU - A SURVEY

Abstract

COVID- 19 was first reported in Wuhan, China.(Bakrania et al., n.d.) The sudden outbreak had affected many and had also spread rapidly to all over the world COVID- 19 is a type of pneumonia with an unknown cause.This disease usually spreads through cough, handshake, sneeze, touch, etc and considered as a communicable disease and needs more attention and care for preventing the same. (Dutta, 2014) The sudden infectious outbreak of COVID 19 has changed the routines of the entire world, where social distancing has turned in to an anthem in everyday life and people can’t step out of the house, self- quarantine has also become mandatory. The self isolation protocols and lockdown has created emotional changes and has also imparted psychological impacts among the general public especially among elderly and sick people.This was a questionnaire-based study using an online survey portal called “survey planet.” An e-form was circulated among 202 adolescents and adult participants from Tamil nadu. The data were collected during May 2020.Results were obtained using proper statistical methods, and thus, the awareness on the causes and precautions to avoid COVID 19 infection among adolescents and adults was studied.A majority of (91.4%) of the participants strongly believed the first lockdown of 21 days would be very effective in controlling the spread of infection.75.2% of the participants were already anxious and depressed about the spreading infection. All segments of people will not be at the same level of risk for the infection and it varies with many factors.45.5% of the participants were aware that older people were at a high risk category compared to any other population. 33.8% of the participants believe that people who suffer from chronic disorders like diabetes and hypertension were at higher risk for infection.Thus the best approach to tackle this pandemic is to take initiatives and strategies in the interest of creating knowledge and awareness on the spreading pandemic and its preventive measures.