Assessment of Health Awareness: Spreading and Prevention of Infection with SARS-CoV-2 Virus in the Anbar Governorate-Iraqi Community

Abstract

SARS-COV-2 virus is one of the fastest spreading viruses targeting the respiratory and other system in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize the needs for preventive measures, particularly at the moment because the virus is spreading fast in various parts of the world, causing various levels of infections: medium to severe, and fatal. The study aimed at assessing health and environmental awareness apart from correcting some scientific healthy concepts related to COVID-19. Additionally, this study also attempted to spread awareness in a simple way that simulates all levels of society. The current study focused on Iraq, specifically Al-Anbar governorate, as it is free from COVID-19 infections according to the reports of the Iraqi Ministry of Health in cooperation with the WHO. In this study, a set of electronic questionnaire was selected to collect relevant data. The electronic questionnaire was chosen because of the quarantine order by the authority due to the COVID-19. The items were built based on a variety of health, preventive, and environmental scientific questions and it was electronically distributed to 2084 individuals in Governorate. The findings revealed that Ramadi city had the most participants responding to the questionnaire (47%). The participation rate for female was 52% while the rate for male is 48%. The biggest age group was 20-24 years old and the highest academic background was a bachelor’s degree in education. The findings indicated a good percentage of health awareness among the participants in the governorate emphasizing on health instructions and preventive measures taken by the Crisis Cell, which had an important role in being infectious-free during the period. It is summarized that the level of health awareness and the role of the Crisis Cell: worked together COVID-19 the infection. Additionally, this questionnaire had a great role in correcting some understanding of scientific concepts among the public.