A Cross-Sectional Study of Precautions Followed By Patients Attending Primary Health Centre During The Lockdown Period of Covid-19

Abstract

During the lockdown period of the COVID 19 pandemic in 2021 the patients approaching the primary health centre were studied for a period of 3 months, from March to May in Hyderabad city. The precautions taken by these patients were also recorded using a semi-structured questionnaire. Among the 223 subjects mean age was 27.88 years, 61.9% were females, 83.4% were educated and 47.1% belonged to the SES III. Majority (50.2%) of patients were between 15 to 40 years. Below the age of 15 years constituted 28.3% and those above 40 years were 21.5%. In the study group only 12.6% suspects were asymptomatic, 31.8% had only fever, 49.3% had fever and URTI, while 6.3% had SOB along with fever and URTI. 1.8% had interstate travel history in past 15 days. 5.8% had history of contact with a COVID-19 patient or suspect. 65% patients took precautions. Under the preventive measures hand washing was 59.6% among which 69.2% used soap – water and 30.8% used alcohol rub to clean hands. 51.2% used mask while 48.2% did not use any protection. In this study the clinical symptoms were significant with age, sex, SES and preventive measures taken (p<0.05) but there was no significant association with presence of comorbidity.