With these in mind, this research sought to explore slum dwellers' perceptions of COVID-19 from various angles. Next, it is important to know if they believe in some myths related to COVID-19. The overall purpose of this research is to find out the slum dwellers' perception of COVID-19.
This observation led many to believe that low-income countries are more invulnerable to COVID-19. Moreover, no such report exists as only the affluent class gets infected with COVID-19. There is evidence that claiming more exercise/work can prevent COVID-19 infection.
In contrast, isolation is used for people with symptoms of COVID-19 or who have tested positive for the virus. The views of slum dwellers regarding COVID-19 are grouped into nine complex variables containing 56 simple variables (Table 3). They believe the vaccine will have side effects (2.53) and the effectiveness of COVID-19 is questionable (2.58).
Slum Dwellers Perception and COVID-19 Related Facts
It is clear that they also take this disease seriously and do not agree with the case that - there is nothing to worry about the disease or no precautions are needed (3.77). As the preventive measures to avoid the transmission of the disease, the respondents give permission that if they are affected, they will go for self-quarantine (2.00) and adhere to the containment requirements when declared (2.17). However, they think that home quarantine is not for everyone, rather only for the infected people (2.25).
To prevent transmission, they believe they should always wear a mask (2.4), avoid traveling on public transport (2.48) and avoid guests and friends at home (2.56). Although the results of the survey reveal that slum dwellers are aware of many aspects of COVID-19, at the same time they strengthen their strong belief in some orthodox religious views such as - COVID-19 is all in the will of Allah (1.99), Allah will save the People who was affected by COVID (2.05), COVID-19 is the result of all our mistakes (2.68) and is a curse from Allah (2.78). On the contrary, they have not yet decided whether they agree that the vaccine will not protect them from the disease (2.99) and may cause harm to people after vaccination (3.02).
They do not receive strong motivation in favor of the decision to receive the vaccine and cannot even deny the necessity of vaccination (3.52).
Understanding of COVID-19
Self-awareness related to COVID-19
Demography Wise Perceptional Difference of the Responses A. Gender wise perceptional difference
Respondents of both genders are neutral that there is no need to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Furthermore, male participants are more doubtful (2.64) about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine than female participants (2.44). The nuclear family members differ more than joint family members on the reactions to pre-existing allergic reaction causes COVID-19 (3.30 vs. 3.04) and exposure to smoke, dust pollution causes it (3.27 vs. 2.92).
Both nuclear and joint family members differ in their agreement that physical proximity is one of the causes of COVID-19. Slum dwellers living in a nuclear family agree relatively more than joint family members that frequent washing of hands, face and feet can prevent COVID-19 (2.07 vs. 2.31). With regard to people at potential risk of being infected by COVID-19, nuclear family members disagree more than joint family members about variables fear of getting sick increases the chances of being infected by the disease (3.44 vs. 3.12), and in high degree the rich are infected by COVID-19 (3.79 versus 3.16).
In four cases of self-awareness related to COVID-19, nuclear and joint family responses differ. Nuclear family members disagree more strongly than joint family members that only bad people are infected with COVID-19 (4.04 compared to 3.30). Participants with different educational backgrounds differ significantly in their understanding of COVID-19: a deadly disease, just a mental illusion, and the responsibility of our enemies.
Educationally, slum dwellers hold significantly different opinions on many risk reduction techniques for COVID-19. Educationally, slum dwellers differ markedly in almost all orthodox religious beliefs regarding COVID-19, except that Allah will save people affected by COVID. Surprisingly, slum dwellers at different professional levels have similar views on the prevention methods for COVID-19.
Then the statistically significant correlation coefficients indicate a very weak correlation between perception of COVID-19 and age (table 5). None of the measures showing the causes of COVID-19 for slum dwellers are seen to be significantly correlated to age.
People with potential risk of being infected by COVID-19
The opinion that 'we should also follow precautions at home' and 'cover nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing' is very weakly negatively correlated with age (-0.094 & -0.106). The negative association means that the higher the age, the more the tendency to be self-conscious. Negative association is noted between some preventive measures for the transmission of COVID-19 and age, e.g., if affected, go for self-quarantine (-0.150), home quarantine for affected people (-0.103), and the need for confinement when be announced (-0.127 ).
This in turn means that young slum dwellers are less interested in following preventive mechanisms to avoid the spread of disease. Older slum dwellers are hypothesized to have stronger religious views than younger ones as COVID-19 is all the will of Allah (-0.209) and Allah will save people affected by COVID (- 0.242) are negatively related to age. The statistically significant correlation coefficient of - 0.156 can be interpreted as young slum dwellers are more opposed to the view.
Some orthodox religious belief regarding COVID-19
Perception regarding Covid-19 vaccine
Overall perception regarding COVID-19
Among the seven measures showing the causes of COVID-19 as perceived by slum dwellers, five are observed to be strongly associated with monthly income. The opinion that "we will be careful if the test is positive" has a very weak positive correlation with income (0.099). A positive association means that the higher the income, the lower the tendency to be self-aware.
A positive relationship is observed between some preventive measures for the transmission of COVID-19 and monthly income, for example, home quarantine for affected people (0.099) and the need for lockdown when announced (0.099). This in turn means that slum dwellers belonging to the lower income group are more interested in following the preventive mechanisms to prevent the spread of the disease. It is observed that slum dwellers have stronger conventional views than the solvent ones as “COVID-19 is all our misdeeds.”
Causes of COVID-19 1. Take precaution (quarantine) if tested positive
Grouping the Variables with Factor Analysis
Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)4 attempts to determine the number of factors5 and the loadings6 of measured variables (indicator) on them so that they correspond to what is expected based on pre-established theory. Factor analysis was performed on the data to select the grouping of variables under a common premise. The result of the Principal Component Analysis and Varimax rotated component matrix extraction method with Kaiser Normalization7 grouped the 55 variables into 12 factors that explained 62.029% of the total cumulative variance (Table 7).
High factor loadings in each group indicate a strong correlation between the factor and the corresponding variables. Factor analysis of 55 variables with 434 samples8 is found to be adequate (KMO) and valid (Bartlett's test of sphericity shows a significance level of 0.000). As can be seen in Table 8, the first factor (Self-awareness) seems to be the most important, explaining 18.422% of the variability consisting of nine out of 55 variables.
The second important factor (Risk reduction) explains 14.046% of the variability and consists of six variables. The third factor "Perception of Covid-19 vaccine" explains 5.949% of the variability and consists of six variables. Other factors do not seem to be very significant as they explain very low variability.
The communities5 of the variables that made up the factors are found to be very strong, which indicates strong relationships between the variables (Appendix 7). Factor table 8 showed that the grouping (eight groups) made from the scheme and the variables under the factors are quite consistent. One variable in this group is included in factor 11 and two others are under factor 4.
One variable from this group is included in factor 12 and two others are included in factor 4. The variables of factor 4 and factor 5 mainly focus on “People with a potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 (Group D)” (7 out of 8).
Regression Analysis with the Factors
Because of their perception that vaccine will have side effects and its effectiveness is questionable, they are found to be not fully confident about taking COVID-19 vaccine. Some of these misconceptions include that COVID-19 is a chronic disease brought by Chinese; sun rays, hot water gargle can reduce risks; taking lime/lemon can prevent this disease; or diabetic, asthma and heart patients are more at risk. Based on few demographic parameters (gender, marital status, family type, education, occupation) slum dwellers differ in some of their opinion on different aspects of COVID-19.
The married group also has the wrong idea that COVID-19 is a curse from Allah and the result of all our evil deeds. Slum residents from the nuclear family believe that cold weather is the cause of COVID-19 which is untrue. It should be understood that everyone has the same risk of contracting COVID-19 if exposed to a sick person.
Slum dwellers living in a nuclear family also blindly perceive that COVID-19 is everyone's will. Although weak, slum dwellers' perceptions related to several aspects of COVID-19 are noted to be positively associated with income. It is noted that "self-awareness" is the most important factor containing six of the eight variables.
However, it must be ensured that they strictly follow the methods to protect themselves and avoid the spread of the disease through the community. Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the COVID-19 among slum dwellers living in Dhaka city: a Bangladeshi interview-based survey. Knowledge, attitudes and practices related to the COVID-19 among slum dwellers living in Dhaka City: a Bangladeshi interview-based survey.
IEDCR and partners share insights on the prevalence, seroprevalence and genomic epidemiology of COVID-19 in Dhaka city. Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior in the Bangladeshi population during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online cross-sectional survey. Retrieved April 29, 2021, from the World Health Organization website: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.
