COVID-19 and Adolescents of Chengalpattu District: A Cross-sectional Study

Raja TK; Buvnesh Kumar M; Sasithra S; Divyaparvathy  J

Raja TK Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India.
Buvnesh Kumar M Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India.
Sasithra S Postgraduate, Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India.
Divyaparvathy J Postgraduate, Department of Community Medicine, Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chengalpattu, Tamilnadu, India.

Keywords: Corona, SARS-CoV-2, Pandemic, Virus, Younger Age

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a potential public health concern which was identified and declared as public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation.

Objective: To assess the knowledge and standard COVID-19 preventive practicing methods followed during pandemic among adolescents in the urban areas of Chengalpattu district.

Methods: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among the adolescents (10 years to 19 years) in urban field practising areas of a tertiary care private hospital during the second COVID wave. Data were collected through simple random sampling technique from 170 adolescents in the sampled households through face-to-face interview of respondents. Statistical analysis done using institutional licensed IBM-SPSS version 21.0 software.

Results: Majority of the study participants 53.5% were between the ages of 15 and 19. Of the participants, 52.4% were perusing their higher/higher secondary education. Female respondents were 51.8% in the present study. 67% had good knowledge regarding the corona virus and 82% had good COVID-19 preventive practice during the pandemic.

Conclusion: Lack of equivalent knowledge emphasises the need of educating the younger community about the novel virus. Appropriate measures to improve COVID-19 knowledge should be taken by relevant stakeholders in view of yielding equilibrium between preventive practice and knowledge so that the disease will be eradicated in near future.

How to cite this article:
Raja TK, Buvnesh Kumar M, Sasithra S, Divyaparvathy J. COVID-19 and Adolescents of Chengalpattu District: A Cross-sectional Study. Special Issue - COVID-19 & Other Communicable Disease. 2022;56-61.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202209

References

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) [Internet]. Who.int. 2020. Cited 14 September 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/india/emergencies/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19).

Vijai C, Suryalakshmi SM. Awareness, attitudes, and practices related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic among public in Chennai City, India. Cape Comorin. 2020;2(5):27-37. [Goole Scholar]

Covid19 [Internet]. Who.int. 2021. Cited 8 April 2021. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/table.

MoHFW [Internet]. Mohfw.gov.in. 2021. Cited 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/.

Tamil Nadu - Latest COVID-19 Cases, Hotspot Zones, and Testing Centers, COVIDIndia.org [Internet]. Covidindia.org. 2021. Cited 8 April 2021. Available from: https://covidindia.org/tamil-nadu/.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [Internet]. Who.int. 2021. Cited 15 January 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.

Lai S, Ruktanonchai NW, Zhou L, Prosper O, Luo W, Floyd JR, Wesolowski A, Santillana M, Zhang C, Du X, Yu H, Tatem AJ. Effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions to contain COVID-19 in China. Nature. 2020 Sep;585(7825):410-3.[PubMed] [Google Scholar]

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs [Internet]. Mohfw.gov.in. 2021. Cited 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/covid_vaccination/vaccination/faqs.html.

Tamil Nadu set to be 1st State to give kids Covid vaccine: Health Minister [Internet]. The Economic Times. 2021. Cited 22 November 2021. Available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-set-to-be-1st-state-to-give-kids-covid-vaccine-health-minister/articleshow/87014516.cms?from=mdr.

Unlock 7.0 Guidelines released, know what will be open and what will be closed - Tezz Buzz English, Daily Hunt. 2021. Available from: https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/nepal/english/tezz+buzz+english-epaper-tezbuzen/unlock+7+0+guidelines+released+know+what+will+be+open+and+what+will+be+closed-newsid-n233238730. Accessed 8 April 2021.

Unlocking TN: Colleges to reopen on Dec 7 &. Unlocking TN: Colleges to reopen on Dec 7, beaches and tourist places from Dec 14 [Internet]. The New Indian Express. 2021. Cited 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/nov/30/unlocking-tn-colleges-to-reopen-on-dec7beaches-andtourist-places-from-dec-14-2229934.html.

Vijai C, Joyce D. Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Knowledge and awareness: A survey of Thiruvallur District, Tamilnadu. Shanlax Int J Mana. 2020;8(1):69-76. [Goole Scholar]

Narayana G, Pradeepkumar B, Ramaiah JD, Jayasree T, Yadav DL, Kumar BK. Knowledge, perception, and practices towards COVID-19 pandemic among general public of India: A cross-sectional online survey. Curr Med Res Pract. 2020 Jul-Aug;10(4):153-9. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Pareek S, Kaushik NK, Verma D, Pareek A, Ramawat Y, Kumawat N, Kumar N, Kumawat S. Assessment of knowledge and practices of urban population regarding COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2020 Aug;7(8):3095-9. [Google Scholar]

Reuben RC, Danladi MMA, Saleh DA, Ejembi PE. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Towards COVID-19: An Epidemiological Survey in North-Central Nigeria. J Community Health. 2021 Jun;46(3):457-70. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Pandey S, Gupta A, Bhansali R, Balhara S, Katira P, Fernandes G. Corona virus (COVID-19) awareness assessment - A survey study amongst the Indian Population. J Clin Med Res. 2020;2(4):1-10. [Google Scholar]

Asia Internet Stats by Country and 2020 Population Statistics [Internet]. Internetworldstats.com. 2020. Cited 8 April 2021. Available from: https://www.internetworldstats.com/asia.html.