TABLE 3.

Survey Questionnaire Respondents’ Knowledge on COVID-19 Among Internally Displaced Persons, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Overall (N=307) No. (%)IDPs (N=164) No. (%)Comparison (N=143) No. (%)P Value
Source of information on COVID-19
Local radio278 (90.6)140 (85.4)138 (96.5).002
International radio11 (3.6)2 (1.2)9 (6.3).03
Television12 (3.9)1 (0.6)11 (7.7).002
Social media28 (9.1)2 (1.2)26 (18.2)<.0001
Church40 (13.0)28 (17.1)12 (8.4).04
Friends81 (26.4)50 (30.5)31 (21.7).11
No response4 (1.3)4 (2.4)0 (0).13
Recognition of illness
What are the signs and symptoms of COVID-19?a
I don’t know62 (20.2)52 (31.7)10 (7.0)<.0001
Feverb70 (22.8)43 (26.2)27 (18.9).16
Coughb171 (55.7)69 (42.1)102 (71.3)<.0001
Difficulty breathingb109 (35.5)46 (28.0)63 (44.1).005
Sneezing78 (25.4)41 (25.0)37 (25.9).96
Nasal congestion140 (45.6)59 (36.0)81 (56.7).0004
Headache67 (21.8)46 (28.0)21 (14.7).007
Fatigue92 (29.9)38 (23.2)54 (37.8).008
Joint pain80 (26.1)29 (17.7)51 (35.7).0006
Muscle pain27 (8.8)16 (9.8)11 (7.7).66
Loss of appetite14 (4.6)6 (3.7)8 (5.6).59
Diarrhea25 (8.1)18 (11.0)7 (4.9).08
Constipationc2 (0.7)2 (1.2)0 (0).50
Bleedingb,c25 (8.1)14 (8.5)11 (7.7).95
Asymptomatic spread
COVID-19 can be transmitted by someone with no symptoms.b146 (47.6)60 (36.6)86 (60.1)<.0001
Misconceptions
COVID-19 can be transmitted by mosquitos.b,c125 (40.7)67 (40.9)58 (40.6).19
COIVID-19 can be prevented by eating spicy food.c21 (6.8)11 (6.7)10 (7.0).90
Sufficient knowledge of COVID-19
Knew key symptoms, did not endorse misconceptions79 (25.7)24 (14.6)55 (38.5)<.0001
  • Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease; IDP, internally displaced person.

  • a If participant answered “I don't know,” no further symptoms were solicited. Otherwise, multiple answers were allowed.

  • b Used to assess sufficient knowledge of COVID-19.

  • c Number (percentage) of participants who erroneously endorsed these incorrect signs, symptoms, or statements.