ORIGINAL: A Triple Jeopardy: Inadequate Knowledge about COVID-19 among Older Persons with Psychiatric Diagnosis attending a Geriatric Centre in Southwest Nigeria

West Afr J Med . 2022 Dec 29;39(12):1221-1228.

Abstract

Abstract  in English, French

Background: Older persons with mental illnesses have been affected by COVID-19 because of reduced access to routine health care, the adverse social impacts of preventive strategies and inadequate knowledge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adequate knowledge is crucial to ensuring adherence to the right preventive practices.

Objectives: This study evaluates the knowledge gaps about COVID-19 and preventive practices among older persons with psychiatric diagnoses (PD) in comparison with older persons with non-psychiatric diagnosis (nPD).

Methods: A hospital-based comparative study was conducted among older persons attending the sycho-geriatric and Healthy Ageing clinics of the Geriatric Centre, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were gathered with a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and SPSS version 23 was used to analyse the data. Level of significance was set at 5%.

Results: 390 respondents aged 60 and above were sampled in the two groups: 195 with PD and 195 with nPD. Their mean age was PD:72.2 (±7.4) years and nPD:71.0 (±8.0) years. Majority were aware of the ongoing pandemic (PD:95.9%; nPD:96.4%). The use of facemask (PD:89.7%; nPD:86.7%) was the commonest preventive practice. Male gender (OR: 2.09, CI ;1.14-3.86, p = 0.018) and education (OR: 5.10, CI; 1.15-22.67, p=0.032) were predictors of knowledge among PD and nPD respectively.

Conclusion: Older persons with psychiatric diagnoses have more gaps in their knowledge of COVID-19. Inadequate knowledge about COVID-19 could further put them in jeopardy of contracting the virus with its associated morbidity and mortality, in addition to the risk that old age and mental illness contribute. Health education programs about COVID-19 targeting the older population with mental illnesses would be beneficial.

Keywords: Covid-19; Geriatric psychiatry; Mental disorder; Pandemic.