Acceptability and challenges of online higher education in the covid-19 era in Zambia

Kayombo, Kelvin Mukolo; Mwiinga, Brian

doi:10.5958/2249-7137.2021.00568.1

Cited by 3 publications

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“…[ 3 ]. For university students, additional disruptions to academic life such as lack of access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) off-campus prevent participation in e-learning classes, thus causing a widening socio-economic divide in higher education and jeopardising students’ academic achievements and future careers [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

et al. 2023

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Background Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can impact young people’s motivations to follow health advice. The study aims to assess the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 health-protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood. Methods The study was a cross-sectional, online survey of Zambian university students. Participants were also invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore views about COVID-19 vaccination. Invitation emails were sent explaining the study aims and directed students who self-identified as having low mood in the past two weeks to an online survey. Measures included COVID-19 preventive behaviours, COVID-19-related self-efficacy, and Hospital and Anxiety Depression scale. Results A total of 620 students (n=308 female, n=306 male) participated in the study, with a mean participant age of 22.47±3.29 years (range 18–51). Students reported a mean protective behaviour score of 74.09/105 and 74% scored above the threshold for possible anxiety disorder. Three-way ANOVA showed lower COVID-19 protective behaviours in students with possible anxiety disorder (p=.024) and those with low self-efficacy (p<0.001). Only 168 (27%) said they would accept vaccination against COVID-19, with male students being twice as likely to be willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination (p<0.001). Of 50 students interviewed. 30 (60%) expressed fears about the vaccination and 16 (32%) were concerned about a lack of information. Only 8 (16%) participants expressed doubts about effectiveness. Conclusion Students who self-identify as having symptoms of depression have high levels of anxiety. The results suggest that interventions to reduce anxiety and promote self-efficacy might enhance students’ COVID-19 protective behaviours. Qualitative data provided insight into the high rates of vaccine hesitancy in this population.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

et al. 2023

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“…[3]. For university students, additional disruptions to academic life such as lack of access to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) off-campus prevent participation in elearning classes, thus causing a widening socio-economic divide in higher education and jeopardising students' academic achievements and future careers [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing COVID-19 Health Protective Behaviours in Zambian University Students with Symptoms of Low Mood

Ncheka

Menon

Davies

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can impact young people’s motivations to follow health advice. The study aims to assess the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 health-protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood. Methods The study was a cross-sectional, online survey of Zambian university students. Invitation emails were sent explaining the study aims and directed students who self-identified as having low moods in the past two weeks to an online survey. Measures included COVID-19 preventive behaviours, COVID-19-related self-efficacy and Hospital and Anxiety Depression scale. Results A total of 620 students (n = 308 female, n = 306 male) participated in the study, with a mean participant age of 22.47 ± 3.29 years (range 18–51). Students reported a mean protective behaviour score of 74.09/105 and only 168 (27%) said they would accept vaccination against COVID-19, with male students being twice as likely to be willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination (p < 0.001). Over half the students (54%) scored above the threshold for depression and nearly three-quarters (74%) scored above the threshold for possible anxiety disorder. Three-way ANOVA showed lower COVID-19 protective behaviours in students scoring above the threshold for anxiety (p = .024) and those with low self-efficacy (p < 0.001). Gender was non-significant. Conclusion Students who self-identify as having symptoms of depression have high levels of anxiety. The results suggest that interventions to reduce anxiety and promote self-efficacy might enhance students’ COVID-19 protective behaviours. Further qualitative research is needed to understand the high rates of vaccine hesitancy in this population.

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Understanding the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic literature review

Hamad

2022

Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning

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The study intends to understand the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the COVID'19 pandemic. The PRISMA approach reduces the selection of journal articles and review papers according to the research aims and the inclusion criteria. The journal articles and review papers were extracted and stored in M.S. Excel and Google Scholar, Academic. Microsoft, Semantic Scholar, Elsevier, and Emerald Insight databases searched relevant documents using formulated keywords. A statistical technique was applied using M.S. Excel to analyze data, including an independent t-Test to determine the differences among teachers and students. The review revealed the evidence that the majority of the studies were primarily focused on the individual developing countries and result from other developing countries not considered. In addition, the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during the covid-19 pandemic were inadequate skills and training, inadequate Internet/Infrastructure, lack of supporting resources and lack of online student engagement and feedback. Finally, the independent t-test reveals no statistically significant difference in the transition to online teaching and learning challenges during the covid-19 pandemic. Both teachers and students encounter similar challenges. The systematic review raised concerns that higher learning needs to effectively implement strategies and support teachers and students in getting into online teaching and learning.

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Acceptability and challenges of online higher education in the covid-19 era in Zambia

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

Factors Influencing COVID-19 Health Protective Behaviours in Zambian University Students with Symptoms of Low Mood

Understanding the foremost challenges in the transition to online teaching and learning during COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic literature review

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