Knowledge of Chikungunya Disease among Academic Population in Private Universities, Khartoum State, Sudan - 2019

Introduction: Chikungunya is a viral disease that could lead to chronic symptoms. It has no approved treatment or vaccine to date.

Objective: To assess the level of knowledge about Chikungunya viral disease following an outbreak in Kassala Sudan among the academic population in private universities in Khartoum State.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in three private universities in Khartoum State during April-August 2019. A sample of 376 individuals (346 medical students and 30 teaching staff) was determined. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the target population. It included eleven variables about the information regarding Chikungunya disease. Data was imported into SPSS program version 20 and descriptive statistics were presented. Knowledge variables were categorized into scores as adequate, moderate and poor. Chi square test was used to test the knowledge levels among the study population at the confidence level of 95%.

Results: Out of 376 study population, 66 (17.6%) had never heard about the Chikungunya disease. Therefore, the knowledge variables were analyzed among 310 individuals who heard about the disease. Out of 310 individuals, 235 (75.8%) knew that the disease is viral and 245 (79.0%) knew that fever is the common symptom. Individuals who did not know the mode of transmission were 200 (64.5%). Individuals who did not know the diagnostic methods of the disease and management methods accounted for 228 (73.5%) and 174 (56.1%) respectively. One hundred seventy-five individuals (56.5%) did not know the prevention by vector control and 174 (56.1%) did not know if a vaccine is available or not. Out of 310 individuals, 60 (19.4%) had adequate knowledge about Chikungunya disease. Moderate to poor knowledge were significantly high among the study population, p value = 0.0002.

Conclusion: Most of the study population heard about Chikungunya disease but the majority had moderate to poor knowledge about the disease. Private universities should open channels with Ministries of Health to facilitate field training of students during outbreaks.