Introduction: adherence to preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 depends on the people´s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. Living in rural areas may be associated with poor KAP towards COVID-19. This study compares the KAP regarding COVID-19 of people living in rural and urban areas in Cameroon. Methods: this was a comparative cross-sectional study, using data obtained through an online survey of 1,345 Cameroonians amongst which were 828 urban and 517 rural dwellers. The survey questionnaire consisted of; demographic characteristics, 10 questions on Knowledge, 4 on attitudes and 3 on practices. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: overall, about two-thirds of participants had correct knowledge of COVID-19. The mean knowledge score for urban dwellers was about twice that of rural dwellers (15.77 ± 5.25 vs 8.86 ± 7.24 respectively, p < 0.001). Furthermore, when compared to people who live in urban areas, rural inhabitants are less optimistic about COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon (OR = 3.43, P<0.001), less likely to accept a trial vaccine for COVID-19 (OR = 1.14, P<0.05), less likely to avoid going to crowded places (OR = 7.42, P<0.01), less likely to wear face mask outdoor (OR = 11.84, P<0,001), and less likely to practice hand hygiene (OR = 1.13, P<0.05). Conclusion: our findings suggest a big gap in COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes, and practices between rural and urban inhabitants in Cameroon. This highlights the need for increase sensitization of Cameroonians, especially rural dwellers on COVID-19 related knowledge, attitudes and appropriate practices.
Atabong Emmanuel Njingu was born on 02/11/1991 in Limbe, Cameroon. He is the last of his parents’ five children, amongst which are two brothers and two sisters. Emmanuel attended Catholic Primary School in Newtown, Limbe where he obtained his First School Living Certificate. After primary education, Emmanuel was admitted into Government Bilingual High School, Limbe where he obtained his General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary and Advanced Levels as the best student in the school at each of the examination in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Emmanuel went on to succeed in the competitive entrance examination into University of Buea medical school where he spent the next seven years of his live studying medicine. He graduated from medical school in 2017 and have since then committed his life to scientific research and practice of clinical medicine. He currently works with Doctors Without Borders in Cameroon.
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