Assessing the Level of Knowledge about Ebola Virus Disease among College Students

Abstract

Objective: Ebola virus disease is becoming a public health emergency of international concern, but the study of knowledge about Ebola virus disease among college students is limited. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge about Ebola virus disease among college students for offering the strategies to health education of Ebola virus disease.
 Methods: The stratified cluster sampling method was used and the investigation with self-administration and anonymous questionnaire included knowledge of Ebola virus disease and HIV/AIDS was conducted among 1200 college students who were enrolled from three colleges in Wuhu, China from May to July in 2015.
 Results: The correct answer rate of epidemic area of Ebola virus disease was the highest (71.37 %), the transmitting vector was the lowest (13.14 %). The average awareness rate of Ebola virus disease (0.381 ± 0.256) was significantly lower than that of HIV/AIDS (0.810 ± 0.220) (P < 0.05). The awareness rate of Ebola virus disease were significantly different in specialties, grades and registered residences (P < 0.05). And in HIV/AIDS, there were also significant differences in specialties, grades (P < 0.05). The medical students’ awareness rate of Ebola virus disease was generally higher than non-medical students’, freshmen and junior and above were higher than sophomore, and there was a decline trend in students from urban, town to rural (P < 0.05).
 Conclusion: The awareness rate of Ebola virus disease was lower comparing to HIV/AIDS among colleges students. It should strengthen the health education about Ebola virus disease toward different characteristics of college student.