Knowledge, Practice and associated factors towards the Prevention of COVID-19 among high-risk groups: A cross-sectional study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease-19 is a highly transmittable virus that continues to disrupt livelihoods, particularly those of low-income segments of society, around the world. In Ethiopia, more specifically in the capital city of Addis Ababa, a sudden increase in the number of confirmed positive cases in high risk groups of the community has been observed over the last few weeks of the first case. Therefore, this study aims to assess knowledge, practices and associated factors that can contribute to the prevention of COVID-19 among high-risk groups in Addis Ababa. Methods A cross-sectional in-person survey (n=6007) was conducted from 14-30 April 2020 following a prioritization within high-risk groups in Addis Ababa. The study area targeted bus stations, public transport drivers, air transport infrastructure, health facilities, public and private pharmacies, hotels, government-owned and private banks, telecom centers, trade centers, orphanages, elderly centers, prison, prisons and selected slum areas where the people live in a crowed. A questionnaire comprised of four sections (demographics, knowledge, practice and reported symptoms) was used for data collection. The outcomes (knowledge in the transmission and prevention of COVID-19 and practices) were measured using four items. Multivariable logistic regression was applied with adjustment for potential confounding. Results About half (48%, 95% CI: 46,49) of the study participants had poor knowledge on the transmission mode of COVID-19 whereas six out of ten (60%, 95% CI: 58,61) had good knowledge on prevention methods for COVID-19. The practice of preventive measures towards COVID-19 was found to be low (49%, 95% CI: 48,50). Factors that influence knowledge on COVID-19 transmission mechanisms were female gender, older age, occupation (health care and grocery worker), lower income and the use of the 8335 free call centre. Older age, occupation (being a health worker), middle income, experience of respiratory illness and religion were significantly associated with being knowledgeable about the prevention methods for COVID-19. The study found that occupation, religion, income, knowledge on the transmission and prevention of COVID-19 were associated with the practice of precautionary measures towards COVID-19. Conclusion The study highlighted that there was moderate knowledge about transmission modes and prevention mechanism. Similarly, there was moderate practice of measures that contribute towards the prevention of COVID-19 among these priority high-risk communities of Addis Ababa. There is an urgent need to fill the knowledge gap in terms of transmission mode and prevention methods of COVID-19 to improve preventions practices and control the spread of COVID-19. Use of female public figures and religious leaders could support the effort towards the increase in awareness.

COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Their Associated Factors Among Dessie City Residents, Northeast Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…This is comparable with the finding from Addis Ababa city where 85% and 83% mentioned hand washing and social distancing as a COVID-19 prevention measures, respectively. 7 Another online survey conducted in Ethiopia also documented a 90% prevention knowledge of maintaining social distance and frequent hand washing, which is in line with our finding. 14 Avoiding handshaking is the third most popular prevention method cited by participants (54.7%), followed by staying at home (44.6%).…”

“…This result shows that participant’s knowledge on COVID-19 is far broader than any time previously. 7–11 and shows that coronavirus risk communication and awareness creation campaign across the country have made a positive impact on the public knowledge of the disease. This finding is much higher than other studies in the northern part of the country those reported 42.9% and 60.7% knowledgeable participants.…”

“…In the meantime, the most commonly known mode of transmissions is direct contacts (94.3%), respiratory droplets (52.1%), airborne (37.7%), and indirect contacts (33.3%), which is also comparable with a previous study done in Addis Ababa. 7 Furthermore, a good proportion of participants knew that being elderly (72.4%) and a concomitant chronic illness (60.6%) are among the poor prognostic factors. This result is higher than the finding from Kenya 15 where 64% and 26% of the participants identified the elderly and peoples with weak immune systems as the most high-risk groups to develop severe illness.…”

Health Communication, Knowledge, Perception and Behavioral Responses to COVID-19 Outbreak in Dessie, Kombolcha and Kemissie Towns, Amhara Region, Northeast Ethiopia: A Mixed-Method Study

“…Teens and young adults are ignorant of COVID-19 preventive measures for a variety of reasons, including underestimating the risk, believing they are not at risk and a lack of accountability. 46 The finding is in line with other studies conducted in Ethiopia, 30 , 47 and India. 48 …”

Knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices towards COVID-19 and associated factors among adult hospital visitors in South Gondar Zone Hospitals, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The preventive practice was measured using 10 items of questions and those who respond as yes were given 1 point while no was marked as 0. The total prevention practice score ranges from 0–10 and a score with a cut-off ≥ 8 (80%) was considered as good practice while <8 was taken as a poor practice [ 24 , 25 ].…”