Published date: Jun 30 2021

Journal Title: Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences

Issue title: Sudan JMS: Volume 16 (2021), Issue No. 2

Pages: 178–195

DOI: 10.18502/sjms.v16i2.9287

Mohammed Abdelkrim Adam Abdelmalikmohammedabdelkrim9@gmail.comDepartment of Medical–Surgical Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia

Abdalbasit Adam MariodDepartment of Food Chemistry. A-College of Sciences and Arts-Alkamil, University of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Mohamed Adam BeraimaDepartment of Medical–Surgical Nursing, Alghad International Colleges for Applied Medical Sciences, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Hammad Ali FadlalmolaDepartment of Community Health Nursing, Taibah University, Almadenah, Saudi Arabia

Eltagi Elsadeg Sulliman RahamaDepartment of Medical–Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing Sciences, University of El Imam El Mhadai, Aba Island, Sudan

Huda Khalafallah MasaadDepartment of Medical–Surgical Nursing, Applied Medical Science College, Hafr Albatin University, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Ibrahim Osman AhmedDepartment of Medical–Surgical Nursing, Erada Complex for Mental Health, Riyadh, KSA

Ibrahim Abbakr Ibrahim AbbakrDepartment of Nursing Practice, College of Nursing, Umm Alqura University, KSA

Eyas Gaffar Abdelraheem OsmanDepartment of Econometric and Statistical Data Analysis, College of Community, Shaqra University, Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim Musa Ibrahim HassanDepartment of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zalingei, Central Darfur, Sudan

Background: The lacking healthcare system services in conflict areas and the emergence of infection with a pandemic of coronavirus disease may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis among the camp residents in the central Dafur region of Sudan. Adequate knowledge and practices are vital to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 among internally displaced persons in Sudan.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through an online survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used for the internally displaced persons in two camps of Zalingei town, central Darfur region, Sudan.

Results: In total, 143 participants responded; 75 (52.4%) of them were female, while 68 (47.6%) were male; 49 (34.3%) were between the age of 50 and 60 years; 78 (54.5%) were formally uneducated; 126 (88.1%) did not have a chronic disease; and 56 (39.2%) knew about COVID-19 from their relatives and friends. The overall mean of participants’ knowledge toward COVID-19 was 3.68 (SD ± 0.60(, denoting good with a rate of 73.6% and that of the practice was 2.65 (SD ±1.08), denoting moderate with a rate of 53%. A positive correlation was seen between knowledge and practice (r = 0.700, p < 0.000). Statistically significant differences were observed between the mean score of knowledge and practice with age, education, and information sources (p < 0.0001). While graduates showed a higher knowledge (116.29, p = 0.000), secondary respondents showed a higher practice (115.04, p = 0.000) than others.

Conclusion: This study suggests educational intervention and awareness programs for uneducated and older people.

Keywords: Darfur, camp residents, knowledge, practical measures, COVID-19

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