# Exploring the Pandemic: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Bangladeshi Immigrants in Kuopio, Finland, During COVID-19 > Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 among Bangladeshi immigrants living in Kuopio. ## Introduction COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan in late 2019, rapidly spread across the globe, disrupting everyday life and exposing inequalities in healthcare access. By April 2022, more than 500 million cases were recorded worldwide. Migrants, particularly those living in high-density housing or employed in precarious work, faced heightened vulnerability. Finland also saw significant COVID cases among immigrants. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare reported that over one fourth of infections were among individuals whose mother tongue was not Finnish, Swedish, or Sámi. Among these groups, Bangladeshi immigrants form a small but growing community, arriving mainly for studies, work, and family reasons. This study examined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of the Bangladeshi immigrant community in Kuopio, Finland, regarding COVID-19 to better understand their experiences and guide future health interventions. ## Methodology This study utilized a qualitative descriptive design with a phenomenological approach to uncover the socio-cultural, economic, and political realities of daily practices during the pandemic. * **Participants and recruitment:** Eleven Bangladeshi immigrants (7 men, 4 women), aged 24 to 42, who had lived in Finland for 1 to 12 years. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling and community networks. * **Data collection:** Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted in Bangla and English, covering knowledge, attitudes, and practices. * **Analysis:** A manual thematic analysis was applied, involving open-coding and clustering into subthemes and major themes. * **Ethics:** Written and verbal informed consent was obtained, and ethical approval was granted by the University of Eastern Finland. ## Findings ### Knowledge Participants were generally aware of COVID-19, primarily through social media channels like Facebook and WhatsApp. While they understood basic transmission routes and hygiene measures, specific procedural knowledge—such as exact social distancing requirements—was sometimes vague. Gender differences were noted: women often reported stricter adherence and actively reminded family members, while men in precarious employment faced more barriers to consistent implementation. ### Attitudes * **Risk Perception:** Fear of death and personal loss, often triggered by the death of relatives in Bangladesh, significantly increased vigilance. * **Religious Beliefs:** Many viewed the pandemic as a spiritual test or punishment from God, which provided comfort but also influenced perceptions of personal vulnerability. * **Healthcare Trust:** Trust in the Finnish healthcare system was generally high, though there was concern regarding potential system overload during peak infection periods. ### Practices * **Gendered Roles:** Women tended to implement more family-focused protective measures. Men, particularly those in public-facing jobs, faced dilemmas between income and safety. * **Community Bonds:** Strong social cohesion led to frequent gatherings where masks were not always used, reflecting a tension between social reliance and public health recommendations. * **Vaccination:** Vaccination was widely accepted, though it sometimes led to a false sense of security and reduced adherence to other measures like mask-wearing. ### Livelihood and Stress The pandemic caused significant economic instability and psychological strain. Participants reported feelings of boredom, loneliness, and helplessness, exacerbated by the inability to visit family in Bangladesh. ## Discussion and Conclusion The study highlights that while participants possessed solid knowledge, it did not always translate into consistent practice due to situational constraints, occupational demands, and social factors. The "comfort zone" phenomenon—where individuals felt safe within their diaspora community but cautious with others—reflects a complex level of acculturation. The findings suggest that health interventions for immigrant populations must address socio-cultural realities, gender norms, and emotional well-being. Effective communication should continue beyond vaccination campaigns to ensure that preventive measures remain a priority. ## References * Alaloul, F., AbuAlrub, R., Alrawashdeh, H. & Al-Dwaikat, T. 2021. Public knowledge, attitude, practices, and level of anxiety toward the COVID-19 pandemic among people living in Oman. Nursing Forum, 05 May 2021, 104926. * Finell, E., Tiilikainen, M. & Jasinskaja-Lahti, I. 2021. Lived experience related to the COVID-19 pandemic among Arabic-, Russian- and Somali-speaking migrants in Finland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, 2601. * Hintermeier, M., Gencer, H. & Kajikhina, K. 2021. 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