<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to radical lifestyle changes worldwide, particularly in the Republic of Bulgaria, and was a factor for global changes in economics, politics, healthcare and daily life.</p>
<sec><h3>Aim</h3>
<p>The aim of the study was to analyze the public attitudes, awareness and fears related to the COVID-19 disease in the Republic of Bulgaria.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Materials and Methods</h3>
<p>The survey was conducted between August 1st, 2022 and September 1st, 2022 via an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 24 closed questions. A total of 1861 people, aged 18-69 years and older, took part in the survey after being selected randomly. The data were statistically processed via MS Excel.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>The main source of information to the respondents on issues related to COVID-19 was the Internet (29,8%), followed by TV (26%) and the specialized website (Single information portal) – 15,9%. More than one-third (35,1%) of the respondents was afraid of getting infected and an equal share of participants reported that they have been infected with COVID-19. More than half of the respondents (52,5%) adhered to all the provisions of the governmental bodies related to limiting the COVID-19 pandemic. The most frequent symptom of post- COVID-19 syndrome was being easily fatigued (26,7%), followed by shortness of breath (13,4%) and persistent cough (11,6%).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The survey could be useful in understanding what were the public attitudes, awareness and fears related to the COVID-19 disease in the Republic of Bulgaria during the pandemic.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to radical lifestyle changes worldwide, particularly in the Republic of Bulgaria, and was a factor for global changes in economics, politics, healthcare and daily life.
Aim
The aim of the study was to analyze the public attitudes, awareness and fears related to the COVID-19 disease in the Republic of Bulgaria.

Materials and Methods
The survey was conducted between August 1st, 2022 and September 1st, 2022 via an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 24 closed questions. A total of 1861 people, aged 18-69 years and older, took part in the survey after being selected randomly. The data were statistically processed via MS Excel.

Results
The main source of information to the respondents on issues related to COVID-19 was the Internet (29,8%), followed by TV (26%) and the specialized website (Single information portal) – 15,9%. More than one-third (35,1%) of the respondents was afraid of getting infected and an equal share of participants reported that they have been infected with COVID-19. More than half of the respondents (52,5%) adhered to all the provisions of the governmental bodies related to limiting the COVID-19 pandemic. The most frequent symptom of post- COVID-19 syndrome was being easily fatigued (26,7%), followed by shortness of breath (13,4%) and persistent cough (11,6%).

Conclusion
The survey could be useful in understanding what were the public attitudes, awareness and fears related to the COVID-19 disease in the Republic of Bulgaria during the pandemic.

Public Attitudes, Awareness and Fears Related to the Spread of COVID-19 in Bulgaria

First University Hospital „St. John The Baptist“ – Sofia

Department of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Public Health „Prof. Tzecomir Vodenitcharov

МD, PhD, DSc”, Medical University – Sofia

Acta Medica Bulgarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to radical lifestyle changes worldwide, particularly in the Republic of Bulgaria, and was a factor for global changes...

Public Attitudes, Awareness and Fears Related to the Spread of COVID-19 in Bulgaria

Published Online: May 14, 2023

Page range: 60 - 65

Received: Oct 30, 2022

Accepted: Dec 22, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2023-0020

Keywords
COVID-19, public attitudes, awareness

© 2023 D. Penchev et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Public Attitudes, Awareness and Fears Related to the Spread of COVID-19 in Bulgaria

Published Online: May 14, 2023

Page range: 60 - 65

Received: Oct 30, 2022

Accepted: Dec 22, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2023-0020

KeywordsCOVID-19, public attitudes, awareness

© 2023 D. Penchev et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
COVID-19, public attitudes, awareness