A total of 162 military were submitted to the questionnaire, 72.84% men and 27.16% women, and of these, 29.01% soldiers, 35.19% sergeants and 35.80% officers.
The description of basic knowledge about COVID-19 is distributed in table 1, where it can be seen that, when asked what the transmitting agent of COVID-19 was, 89.5% of the military responded that it was the new coronavirus, while 8.6% said who did not know and 1.9% answered that it was the mosquito.
Asked about the main symptoms of the disease, 96.3% answered correctly that they was high fevers, headaches, flu, cough, sore throat, respiratory failure, pneumonia and kidney failure, 2.5% said was stomach pains and 1.2% said that didn't know the symptoms.
Regarding the population at greater risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19, 83.3% of the participants had no doubts in stating that was elderly and people, with chronic diseases and immunocompromised, 8.1% responded that were young people, children and athletes and the remaining 8.6% said that did not know the population at greatest risk.
When asked about the actions that should be taken in case of suspicion of infection by COVID-19, 54.9% of the subjects said that they should go immediately to a health unit, 40.7% said that the most recommended thing is to call the emergency for COVID-19, 1.9% said that should take an anti-flu and 2.5% didn’t know what to do in this situation.
Regarding the prevention of COVID-19, 98.1% of the participants assured that physical distancing, constant hand hygiene with soap or gray water, disinfection with alcohol-gel, social isolation, the use of masks and avoiding clusters were the effective ways and recommended and 1.9% said they did not know the prevention methods.
Asked if there was any risk of infection and/or spread of COVID-19 in the barracks, 87.7% of those surveyed responded positively, 10.5% said they did not feel any risk of infection within the barracks, while 1.9% said they had no idea of the existence of the risk or not.
Table 1. Regarding the answers on basic knowledge about COVID-19.
Knowledge about COVID-19
|
|
|
Number of responses (%)
|
|
COVID-19 is a disease caused by
|
|
|
|
Novo coronavirus
|
145
|
(89.5%)
|
|
Mosquito
|
3
|
(1.9%)
|
|
I don't know
|
14
|
(8.6%)
|
|
The symptoms of COVID-19 are
|
|
High fevers, headaches, flu, cough, sore throat, respiratory failure, pneumonia, heart failure;
|
156
|
(96.6%)
|
|
Stomach pain
|
4
|
(2.5%)
|
|
I don't know
|
2
|
(1.2%(
|
|
Which population is most at risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19?
|
|
Idosos, doentes crónicos, funcionários de Saúde
|
135
|
(83.3%)
|
|
Children, youth, and athletes
|
13
|
(8.1%)
|
|
I don't know
|
14
|
(8.6%)
|
|
If you suspect that you are infected with COVID-19, what should you do?
|
|
Go immediately to a health unit
|
89
|
54.9%
|
|
Immediately call the hotline for COVID-19
|
66
|
(40.7%)
|
|
Take a flu medication
|
3
|
(1.9%)
|
|
I don't know
|
4
|
(2.5%)
|
|
How can we prevent ourselves from COVID-19?
|
|
Distance, constant hand hygiene with water, soap or ash, disinfection with alcohol-gel, avoid clusters, stay in quarantine, social isolation, wear a mask whenever you leave the house.
|
159
|
(89.1%)
|
I don't know yet
|
3
|
(1.9%)
|
Do you think there is any risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 in the barracks?
|
|
Yes
|
142
|
(87.7%)
|
No
|
17
|
(10.5%)
|
I have no idea
|
3
|
(1.9%)
|
Observing the responses regarding basic knowledge about COVID-19, 89.5% for the transmitting agent, 96.3% for the symptoms, 83.3% for the population at greater risk and 98.1%, forms of prevention, showed to have knowledge in line with the information given by health entities.
These results coincide with the findings by Manjate, J. L. S. et al. [10], in their study on "knowledge, attitudes and practices of public servants in Mozambique in relation to the prevention of COVID-19" in which they found that most participants had basic knowledge about the disease, where 93.66% of their informants knew the causative agent of COVID-19, 98.42% answered correctly regarding the main symptoms, 88.33% knew the population group at greater risk for the disease and 84.96% gave a satisfactory answer regarding the forms of prevention against the disease. Also in a study by Rugarabamu, S. et al. [12] with the population of Tanzania, found that a high number of participants (84.4%) had a good knowledge about COVID-19.
Similar results were also found in the study by Al-Hanawi, M. K. et al. [13] carried out in Saudi Arabia where most participants had accurate knowledge about COVID-19, reaching an average of 81.64% of respondents. In another study on knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to COVID-19, Asraf, H. et al. [14] found knowledge among the people of Nepal satisfactory. Having found a percentage of 98.7% in men and 98.8% in women of correct answers.
Similarly in another study by Zhong B. et al. [15] of Chinese residents during the period of rapid increase in the COVID-19 outbreak in a rapid cross-sectional online survey, 90% answered correctly regarding their knowledge of the disease.
This can show that in almost all the world and in different social classes, information about the disease was well disseminated by the health authorities, which made the populations have high levels of knowledge at all levels.
In the case of the present study should be noted that a good part of the results regard to knowledge about COVID-19, can be attributed to the efforts of the Army Command, through its Health Department, in holding lectures on the subject and posting informative pamphlets in military access areas.
Notwithstanding, health authorities recommend the use of the hotline (telephone call) in case of suspected infection by COVID-19, the present survey showed that the majority of respondents (54.9%) suggested that going to the medical center would be the way to go their first option, being antagonistic to the results found by Manjate, J. L. S. et al. [10], where 65.87% of respondents answered that the first measure to take would be to call the green line. The numbers referring to the present study may be due to the fact that the military has a health center in the workplace, hence they feel easier to access it.
Regarding the existence of the risk of contracting COVID-19, in the barracks, the results of this research (87.7%) are in agreement with the results of Manjate, J. L. S. et al. [10] in which most participants (80.95%) assumed that there is a possibility of contracting the disease in their communities.
Table 2 presents the results regarding the daily practices of the military, in relation to COVID-19. It can be observed that in terms of transport, the majority, 61.1% said that they used public transport daily as the main way to travel from home to work and vice versa, while 7.3% use personal transport, 3.7% commute usually on foot and 17.9% reported living in the barracks.
When asked about the number of times they washed their hands a day, 83.3% answered that they did it more than five times; 10.5% between three and five times, while 1.9% said they did not worry about washing or using alcohol in their hands and 0.6% only once a day.
Regarding the use of a protective mask, 40.1% of the sample stated that they used it throughout the day, 59.3% only in crowded places and one subject corresponding to 0.6% said that they did not use the mask because they did not have it.
Asked if they disinfected faucets before using them, 53.1% stated that they disinfect the faucets first and only then use them. However, 46.9% said they used the faucets without first disinfecting.
Regarding compliance with the distance at mealtimes, 44.4% reported that they complied with the recommendations of at least 1.5 meters away from their partners, 37% responded that they did not, because there were no conditions for them to do so, while 18.1% said they neglected to comply with the recommendations.
Regarding the distance in dormitories/barracks, it should be noted that this question was addressed only to military residing in the barracks, where 70.5% stated that they strictly complied with the recommendations of the health authorities, while 29.5% assumed that they sometimes stayed in the beds of the colleagues playing board games or cards, acts contrary to the recommendations issued by Ministry of Health, in the current times.
When asked about the fulfillment of distancing in free or leisure time, 69.8% of the subjects guaranteed that they kept talking, always respecting the recommended distance; 29.6% said that at the moment they did not pay much attention to respecting the recommendations for distancing and 0.6% answered that they stayed playing cards, checkers, etc.
And when asked about compliance with the distance during daily military parades, 49.4% stated that it was always enforced; 40.1% answered that it was complied with, however, sometimes it was not and 10.5% answered that the recommended distance was never respected.
With regard to COVID-19 prevention practices in offices, such as disinfection of door handles, office furniture, keyboards and computer mice, and distancing between the military, 36.4% responded that these measures were always complied with., 48.1% said that they were complied with sometimes and 15.4% reported that they were never complied with.
When asked if the strategies adopted by the command as ways of preventing and mitigating COVID-19 were sufficient, 34% responded positively, while 64.8% said they were not enough and 1.2% preferred not to respond.
Table 2. Regarding the daily practices of the military in relation to COVID-19.
Regarding Practices
|
|
Number of responses (%)
|
What type of transport do you use to go to work and back home?
|
Public/Semi-collective transport
|
99
|
(61.1%)
|
My own transport
|
28
|
(17.3%)
|
I always walk
|
6
|
(3.7%)
|
Not applicable as I live in the barracks
|
29
|
(17.9%)
|
During the day, how often do you wash or disinfect your hands?
|
Once
|
1
|
(0.6%)
|
Between one and three times
|
6
|
(3.7%)
|
Between three and five times
|
17
|
(10.5%)
|
more than five times
|
135
|
(83.3%)
|
I don't care about hand hygiene
|
3
|
(1.9%)
|
You use the orinasal mask...
|
All day long
|
65
|
(40.1%)
|
Only in clusters (parades, transport, market, etc.)
|
96
|
(59.3%)
|
I don't have a mask
|
1
|
(0.6%)
|
In the bathhouses
|
I disinfect the faucets before use
|
86
|
(53.1%)
|
I use faucets without disinfecting
|
76
|
(46.9%)
|
In the cafeteria
|
I respect the distance of 1.5 meters from my colleagues
|
72
|
(44.4%)
|
There are no conditions to respect the recommended distance
|
60
|
(37%)
|
There are conditions to comply with distancing, however many of us ignore the recommendations
|
30
|
(18.5%)
|
In the dormitories
|
I comply with the distance and I just stay in my bed
|
74
|
(70.5%)
|
Sometimes I go to other colleagues' beds to talk or play cards or checkers
|
31
|
(29.5%)
|
On free moments
|
We talk, respecting the distance of 1.5 meters
|
113
|
(69.8%)
|
We talk, but we don't remember to respect the distance of 1.5 meters
|
48
|
(29.65%)
|
We play cards, checkers, football, and other sports without respecting the recommendations of distancing.
|
1
|
(0.6%)
|
How many military parades have been made on average per day?
|
Between one and three parades
|
135
|
(83.3%)
|
Between three and five parades
|
16
|
(9.9%)
|
More than five parades
|
11
|
(10.5%)
|
In military parades, is the distance of 1.5 meters respected?
|
Always
|
80
|
(49.4%)
|
Sometimes
|
65
|
(40.1%)
|
Never
|
17
|
(10.5%)
|
In the offices, the prevention of COVID-19, such as disinfection of doorknobs, furniture, keyboards and mice of computers, distancing, use of masks, etc., are fulfilled?
|
Always
|
59
|
(36.4%)
|
Sometimes
|
78
|
(48.1%)
|
Never
|
25
|
(15.4%)
|
Do you think the strategies taken by the command are sufficient for the prevention of COVID-19?
|
Yes
|
55
|
(34%)
|
No
|
105
|
(64.8%)
|
I prefer not to answer
|
2
|
(1.2%)
|
These results show a discrepancy between the subjects' knowledge and what they say in some of their daily practices. It is possible to notice, for example, with regard mainly to prevention measures, that above 98% responded positively, but the same does not go according to their actions, in which in the use of the nasal-oral mask about 59.3% a use only when in clusters, ignoring the recommendations of the health authorities on the use of the mask whenever we leave the house. And, with regard to compliance with distancing, more than 25% reported not complying with the recommendations.
Similar results were found by Manjate, J. L. S. et al. [10], stating the authors that this phenomenon is due to the widespread devaluation given to this pandemic, at least from a practical point of view. Manjate, J. L. S. et al. [10] also state in their study that a considerable fraction of the participants lack safety practices, such as not going to crowded places, wearing masks, washing their hands with the WHO technique and strictly following the lockdown.
In contrast to the present findings, in the study of Al-Hanawi, M. K. et al. [13] with the Saudi population, showed that over 92% of the participants adopted good and safe practices. And also from the study of Asraf, H. et al. [14] where almost all avoided crowded places (96.4%) and always used masks when leaving home (98.0%)
This difference in results in relation to daily practices may be due to the fact that underdeveloped countries, such as Mozambique, have few resources to provide educational and dissemination materials to broaden the understanding of the disease and influence in behavior change.