INCIDENCE OF COVID-19 AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OF TERNOPIL NATIONAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY: A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY

Abstract

Summary. SARS-CoV-2 became a global pandemic challenge for billions of people by reaching people of diffe­rent nationalities and age groups. Ukraine lists 80470 foreign students who are enrolled into university studies. Ternopil National Medical University (TNMU) includes 2414 foreign students who are enrolled in university studies with the biggest majority of Indian students.
 The aim of the study – to assess the incidence of COVID-19 in students and identify the possible predisposing factors for disease appearance among the foreign students of TNMU.
 Materials and Methods. The study included 641 medical students of TNMU from different countries. The questionnaire included 8 questions to evaluate the presence of risk factors among TNMU foreign students and identify the percentage of students who were already exposed to COVID-19.
 Results. The amount of students that proved PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection since the start of the pandemic equaled 7.17% (n=46). An evident contact with COVID-19 case prior to the personal disease appearance was proved by only 11.85 % of students (n=76). PCR-confirmed ca­ses in families of TNMU foreign medical students equaled 14.35% (n=92). 
 Conclusions. General incidence of COVID-19 among foreign students of TNMU is low. It is influenced by multiple factors including healthy lifestyle, small amount of smokers, and absence of chronic respiratory problems, current lockdown measures, good physical and mental health status.