key: cord-0973086-d6ri775h
authors: Zehra, Syeda Sakina; Khalil, Muhammad Asif; Shoukat, Laila
title: When the Big Shots Deviate: On the KAP of Religious Clerics Regarding Prevention of COVID-19 [Letter]
date: 2020-12-01
journal: Risk Manag Healthc Policy
DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s290659
sha: a524f913770db4b60dc2d820f8360e0fb0b9ea08
doc_id: 973086
cord_uid: d6ri775h

nan

participants would be dominant over those of the other group's individuals. Due to this, we propose that a stratified random sampling method should be used in this regard to help in relating the responses in a correct balance.

In Pakistan, religious leaders were seen actively taking part in the creation of awareness and instructing the public to follow the government's stay-at-home orders. 2 In the further battle against COVID-19 a strong coalition should be maintained between governments and other groups of people, especially in nations where they have large following, to smartly and effectively work towards prevention and control of the virus.

The infodemic was likewise rampant in Pakistan. As in Ethiopia, the religious clergy believed that COVID-19 was the wrath of God, in Pakistan, the citizens took COVID-19 as mild flu, religious propaganda, governmental propaganda, a bioweapon or microchip to control humans and the influence of 5G mobile networks, etc. 3 The sound prevention and control efforts should also include adequate check and balance of these unattested beliefs and stereotypes.

The results show a huge margin between the knowledge and practices score. One of the reasons for poor compliance towards prevention and control measures of COVID-19 can also be the inability to practise preventive measures in developing countries due to insufficient resources to maintain hygiene, poor ventilation in homes, congested areas and overcrowding in houses, etc. This fact can interfere with the Pearson Correlation. Hence, we think that health officials and decision-makers should be mindful of these lackings and make action plans accordingly.

The authors rightly mention that sensitization programs be held to overcome the poor knowledge, negative attitudes, and incorrect practices among the public. Additionally, we conclude that effective methodologies for disseminating real science which can reduce fear among the population be devised, and wide-scale testing be done by officials as a solution to these problems at hand. 

Risk Management and Healthcare Policy is an international, peerreviewed, open access journal focusing on all aspects of public health, policy, and preventative measures to promote good health and improve morbidity and mortality in the population. The journal welcomes submitted papers covering original research, basic science, clinical & epidemiological studies, reviews and evaluations, guidelines, expert opinion and commentary, case reports and extended reports. The manuscript management system is completely online and includes a very quick and fair peer-review system, which is all easy to use. Visit http://www.dovepress.com/testimonials.php to read real quotes from published authors. 

Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward prevention and early detection of COVID-19 and associated factors among religious clerics and traditional healers in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia: a Community-Based Study

Insight into COVID-19 responses and initiatives from Pakistan

Dialogic content analysis of misinformation about COVID-19 on social media in Pakistan

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this communication.