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AIM: Coronavirus disease in 2019 has been defined as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge toward the coronavirus disease 2019 among the Palestinian population. METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey among 554 Palestinians was designed. A structured self-administered online questionnaire was distributed among 190 participants from West Bank and 364 from Gaza Strip during the outbreak through social media. The survey was conducted between 10th and 24th of October, 2020. RESULTS: Of the total enrolled participants, 401 were males and 153 were females; the mean age was 28.4 years with a standard deviation of 10.97. Results showed that the means of knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019 were: 76.7% (standard deviation = 12.8), 72.2 (standard deviation = 10.3), 77.7% (standard deviation = 11.0) for general knowledge, the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019, and immunity and protection aids, respectively. Univariate regression revealed significant associations among the level of knowledge and gender, governorates, education levels, and employment status. However, only gender remained a significant explanatory variable in multivariable analysis, as females were nearly four times more knowledgeable than males (OR = 3.94; 95% CI =1.71, 9.07; p = .001). CONCLUSION: In general, Palestinians had good knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019, modes of transmission, and immunity knowledge. Knowledge was less among males than females. This may need more effort by using different tools of communication to reach more to the male gender.
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BACKGROUND: In the Gaza strip, diarrhea is one of main reasons for children visiting primary healthcare centers. Hence, we investigate predictors of the diarrheal illness and health care-seeking behavior among different age groups. METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from August 2017 to June 2018 among 1857 households. A pretested structured questionnaire included information about socio-demographic, sanitation, hygiene, source of water, diarrheal illness, and seeking healthcare in households was administered to head of household. To achieve representativeness for the five Gaza's governorates, a cluster random sampling was applied. RESULTS: Of the 1857 household's heads, 421 (22.7%) reported an episode of diarrhea during the 48 h preceding the interview resulting an overall prevalence rate of 3.8 per 100 individuals. The prevalence of diarrhea was statistical significant greater in males (5.4/100) compared to females (1.3/100) in all age groups (p < 0.05). Socio-demographic, economic, water, sanitation, and hygiene factors were predictors of the diarrheal illness and seeking of non-professional healthcare for diarrhea illness treatment among. A transition behavior from professional to non-professional and vice versa in seeking healthcare in each diarrheal episode was found. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend improving the status of water, sanitation, and hygiene in the Gaza strip's households to reduce diarrhea among the population of Gaza strip. Community sensitization about the importance of seeking care at primary health centers because treatment of children is available for free or in low costs.