Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh

Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun; Mahamudul Haque; Shahin Alam

doi:doi:10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

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Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh

Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun

, Mahamudul Haque

, Shahin Alam^*

Published in Communication and Linguistics Studies (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Received: 2 June 2025 Accepted: 4 July 2025 Published: 24 July 2025

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Abstract

This study explores public knowledge, practices, and understanding of COVID-19 science communication messages in Bangladesh, based on a survey of 1,600 respondents. The findings indicate that while knowledge and behavioral compliance with public health measures—such as mask-wearing, handwashing, social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and lockdown—were generally high, a significant portion of the population faced difficulties in fully understanding the meaning of scientific messages behind these practices. For example, although 90% of respondents wore masks and 91.56% practised proper handwashing, over 80% reported difficulties in understanding the associated health messages. This gap between practice and understanding highlights critical issues in the design and delivery of science communication during the pandemic. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and locally relevant health messages that resonate with diverse segments of the population. It also calls for more strategic use of mass media, interpersonal communication, and public engagement to improve comprehension and trust. The findings advocate for science communication to be treated as a central component of public health policy and emergency response planning in Bangladesh.

Published in	Communication and Linguistics Studies (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11
Page(s)	59-68
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Science Communication, Knowledge, Practice, Understanding

References

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APA Style

Khatun, M. D. A., Haque, M., Alam, S. (2025). Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 11(3), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

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ACS Style

Khatun, M. D. A.; Haque, M.; Alam, S. Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh. Commun. Linguist. Stud. 2025, 11(3), 59-68. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

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AMA Style

Khatun MDA, Haque M, Alam S. Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh. Commun Linguist Stud. 2025;11(3):59-68. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

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@article{10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11,
  author = {Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun and Mahamudul Haque and Shahin Alam},
  title = {Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh
},
  journal = {Communication and Linguistics Studies},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {59-68},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cls.20251103.11},
  abstract = {This study explores public knowledge, practices, and understanding of COVID-19 science communication messages in Bangladesh, based on a survey of 1,600 respondents. The findings indicate that while knowledge and behavioral compliance with public health measures—such as mask-wearing, handwashing, social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and lockdown—were generally high, a significant portion of the population faced difficulties in fully understanding the meaning of scientific messages behind these practices. For example, although 90% of respondents wore masks and 91.56% practised proper handwashing, over 80% reported difficulties in understanding the associated health messages. This gap between practice and understanding highlights critical issues in the design and delivery of science communication during the pandemic. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and locally relevant health messages that resonate with diverse segments of the population. It also calls for more strategic use of mass media, interpersonal communication, and public engagement to improve comprehension and trust. The findings advocate for science communication to be treated as a central component of public health policy and emergency response planning in Bangladesh.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh

AU  - Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun
AU  - Mahamudul Haque
AU  - Shahin Alam
Y1  - 2025/07/24
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11
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AB  - This study explores public knowledge, practices, and understanding of COVID-19 science communication messages in Bangladesh, based on a survey of 1,600 respondents. The findings indicate that while knowledge and behavioral compliance with public health measures—such as mask-wearing, handwashing, social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and lockdown—were generally high, a significant portion of the population faced difficulties in fully understanding the meaning of scientific messages behind these practices. For example, although 90% of respondents wore masks and 91.56% practised proper handwashing, over 80% reported difficulties in understanding the associated health messages. This gap between practice and understanding highlights critical issues in the design and delivery of science communication during the pandemic. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and locally relevant health messages that resonate with diverse segments of the population. It also calls for more strategic use of mass media, interpersonal communication, and public engagement to improve comprehension and trust. The findings advocate for science communication to be treated as a central component of public health policy and emergency response planning in Bangladesh.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3985-8501
Mahamudul Haque

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4682-5492
Shahin Alam

Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-6072-5844

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APA Style

Khatun, M. D. A., Haque, M., Alam, S. (2025). Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh. Communication and Linguistics Studies, 11(3), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

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ACS Style

Khatun, M. D. A.; Haque, M.; Alam, S. Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh. Commun. Linguist. Stud. 2025, 11(3), 59-68. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Khatun MDA, Haque M, Alam S. Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh. Commun Linguist Stud. 2025;11(3):59-68. doi: 10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11,
  author = {Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun and Mahamudul Haque and Shahin Alam},
  title = {Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh
},
  journal = {Communication and Linguistics Studies},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {59-68},
  doi = {10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cls.20251103.11},
  abstract = {This study explores public knowledge, practices, and understanding of COVID-19 science communication messages in Bangladesh, based on a survey of 1,600 respondents. The findings indicate that while knowledge and behavioral compliance with public health measures—such as mask-wearing, handwashing, social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and lockdown—were generally high, a significant portion of the population faced difficulties in fully understanding the meaning of scientific messages behind these practices. For example, although 90% of respondents wore masks and 91.56% practised proper handwashing, over 80% reported difficulties in understanding the associated health messages. This gap between practice and understanding highlights critical issues in the design and delivery of science communication during the pandemic. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and locally relevant health messages that resonate with diverse segments of the population. It also calls for more strategic use of mass media, interpersonal communication, and public engagement to improve comprehension and trust. The findings advocate for science communication to be treated as a central component of public health policy and emergency response planning in Bangladesh.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring Public Knowledge, Practices, and Understanding of COVID-19 Science Communication in Bangladesh

AU  - Mst. Dil Afroza Khatun
AU  - Mahamudul Haque
AU  - Shahin Alam
Y1  - 2025/07/24
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11
T2  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
JF  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
JO  - Communication and Linguistics Studies
SP  - 59
EP  - 68
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2380-2529
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cls.20251103.11
AB  - This study explores public knowledge, practices, and understanding of COVID-19 science communication messages in Bangladesh, based on a survey of 1,600 respondents. The findings indicate that while knowledge and behavioral compliance with public health measures—such as mask-wearing, handwashing, social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and lockdown—were generally high, a significant portion of the population faced difficulties in fully understanding the meaning of scientific messages behind these practices. For example, although 90% of respondents wore masks and 91.56% practised proper handwashing, over 80% reported difficulties in understanding the associated health messages. This gap between practice and understanding highlights critical issues in the design and delivery of science communication during the pandemic. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive, accessible, and locally relevant health messages that resonate with diverse segments of the population. It also calls for more strategic use of mass media, interpersonal communication, and public engagement to improve comprehension and trust. The findings advocate for science communication to be treated as a central component of public health policy and emergency response planning in Bangladesh.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download