COVID-19 Prevention Practices Research Articles

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Ethiopia: a latent class analysis

BackgroundDespite evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a major challenge for vaccine uptake. The objective of this study was to classify latent typologies of vaccine hesitant adults in Ethiopia and identify predictors of the latent classes.MethodsWe employed a cross-sectional household survey among 1,112 individuals aged 18 and above who were partially vaccinated (one dose) or not vaccinated at the time of the survey. Data was collected in August 2022. We collected information on participant socio-demographics, COVID-19 knowledge, prevention practices, disease history, and vaccine hesitancy. Latent class analysis was used to classify individuals into categories of vaccine hesitancy. We conducted multinomial logistic regression to test the associations between latent typologies and different demographic and COVID-19 related characteristics of study participants.ResultsUsing latent class analysis we found a four-class solution for vaccine hesitancy typologies. The identified classes were strong vaccine acceptors (30%); vaccine acceptors with some concerns (7%); vaccine sceptics (13%); and vaccine rejectors (50%). In adjusted models with vaccine sceptics as the referent group, those with high COVID-19 vaccine knowledge were significantly more likely to belong to the strong vaccine acceptors class compared to those with low vaccine knowledge (adj. RRR: 17.36, 95% CI: 10.94–27.55). Better COVID-19 prevention practices were also significantly associated with belonging to the vaccine acceptors with some concerns class than the vaccine sceptics class (adj. RRR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.09–4.16). Those who had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine were significantly more likely to belong in the vaccine acceptors class than the vaccine sceptics class compared to those who had no dose (adj. RRR: 6.82, 95% CI: 3.06–15.21).ConclusionsHalf of the study participants were in the vaccine rejectors class. Individuals in the vaccine sceptics and rejector classes evidenced lower vaccine knowledge and worse COVD-19 prevention practices and were less likely to have been partially vaccinated. Future program interventions should focus on improving knowledge around the vaccine, decrease rumors and misconceptions, and target individuals who may be more amenable to changing their vaccination attitudes or behaviors like vaccine sceptics or acceptors with some concerns.

Assessing the Benefit of Two Detection Approaches in Screening COVID-19 Using SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic Tests among Intercity Public Bus Travelers.

The movement of people contributes to the spread of COVID-19 between communities. Hence, we evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of offering intercity bus travelers testing prior to their departure. We conducted baseline and endline surveys to map COVID-19 prevention practices in travel agencies in western Cameroon. As interventions, buses were randomly assigned to three study arms: 1) offering systematic COVID-19 rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) to all passengers (arm A); 2) offering testing to suspected cases (arm B); or 3) no testing (arm C). All travelers were called 7-10 days after their trip to identify potential cases. Fifty-five (90.2%) of the 61 travel agencies that were reached consented to participate in a baseline survey. Although only 27 (49.1%) of the agencies implemented at least one of the recommended COVID-19 preventive measures, 39 (70.9%) agreed to host a testing station. Six agencies were selected, and 669 buses were enrolled, including 223, 224, and 222 in arms A, B, and C, respectively. A total of 31,484 departing passengers were approached and 9,594 (30.5%) agreed to participate: 1,177 (12.3%) in arm A, 4,086 (42.6%) in arm B, and 4,331 (45.1%) in arm C. In all, 1,731 tests were performed, including 1,177 in arm A and 554 in arm B. Fourteen (0.8%) tests were positive, and two participants (14.3%) agreed to postpone their travel. Offering testing with antigen RDTs in travel agencies is feasible and acceptable. One-third of passengers consented, and testing did not delay any travels. Although this approach can detect COVID-19 cases, actions are needed to increase the proportion of positive cases postponing their travels.

A Study to Assess the Knowledge on Practice Towards Prevention of Covid-19 among Nursing Officers at GIMS Gadag

Background: Nursing officers are pivotal in COVID-19 prevention. This study assesses their knowledge and practices regarding COVID-19 prevention at GIMS Hospital, Gadag. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among [number] nursing officers at GIMS Hospital, using a structured questionnaire covering demographics, COVID-19 knowledge, and preventive practices. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 25.5% of nursing officers demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, symptoms, and prevention, though gaps were noted. 74.5% adhered to preventive practices like hand hygiene, mask-wearing, and social distancing. Factors such as experience, training, and PPE access were significantly associated with better knowledge and practices (p<0.05). Conclusion: Enhanced education, training, and resources are essential to improve COVID-19 prevention knowledge and practices among nursing officers.

Using health belief model constructs to understand the role of perceived disease threat and resilience in responding to COVID-19 among people who use drugs: a cluster analysis.

The Health Belief Model (HBM) has been successfully applied to understanding adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. It has not, however, been used to understand behavior in people who use drugs (PWUD). The aim of this study was to use the HBM to better understand COVID-19 perceptions among PWUD and understand how resiliency affects those perceptions. A cross-sectional survey was completed from September to December 2021 with PWUD (n = 75) who utilize services at a large harm reduction organization in Philadelphia. Segmentation analysis was done using a k-means clustering approach. Two clusters emerged based on perceived COVID-19 personal impact and resiliency (Less COVID impact/High resilience (NoCOV/HR) and High COVID impact/Low resilience (COV/LR). Differences in responses by cluster to perceptions of COVID-19 and individual pandemic response grouped by HBM constructs were assessed using Student's t-test and chi squares. Significant differences in HBM constructs were seen between clusters. Those in the COV/LR cluster were more likely to think they were susceptible to getting COVID-19 and less likely to believe they knew how to protect themselves. The NoCOV/HR cluster believed they were able to protect themselves from COVID-19 and that they were able to easily understand messages about protecting themselves. Understanding how PWUD conceptualize disease threat and using HBM can better inform interventions to improve future pandemic response. Findings suggest that resilience is key to protecting PWUD from future infectious disease outbreaks. Interventions aimed at increasing resiliency among PWUD may improve preventative behavior and decrease disease burden in this vulnerable population.

Implications of COVID-19 prevention on the occurrence of childhood diarrhea in the Semen Bench district, Bench Sheko zone, southwestern Ethiopia.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that occurred in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and has spread to several countries. Although interventions in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for COVID-19 are likely a pre-existing response to childhood diarrhea, evidence of the effects of COVID-19 preventative strategies on childhood diarrhea has been lacking. This study aimed to assess the implications of COVID-19 prevention for the occurrence of childhood diarrhea in rural communities of Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 May 2020 to 30 July 2020 involving selected households in the Semen Bench district, Bench Sheko zone, southwestern Ethiopia. A single population proportion formula was used to obtain a total of 768 sample sizes. Data were collected from selected households using a simple random sampling technique. Epidata 3.1 was used to enter the data and then exported to Stata 14 for analysis. Descriptive statistics along with binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors of COVID-19 knowledge and practices related to childhood diarrhea. The chi-squared test was used to check the association between COVID-19 prevention and childhood diarrhea reduction. A total of 720 (93.75%) households participated in the study to achieve the study objectives. Approximately 55% of the participants had a good understanding of COVID-19 prevention, while only 48.5% had good COVID-19 prevention practices. The prevalence of childhood diarrhea was 19.3% which was more common among households with poor practices of COVID-19 prevention. The respondents with poor COVID-19 prevention knowledge were 42% (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.398, 0.847, P = 0.005) less likely to develop childhood diarrhea than those who had good COVID-19 prevention knowledge. Households with poor practices for COVID-19 prevention were 75.1% more likely to develop childhood diarrhea than those who had good preventive practices for COVID-19 prevention (AOR = 1.751, 95% CI: 1.193, 2.571, P = 0.004). The lower risk of childhood diarrhea is significantly related to good COVID-19 prevention practices. However, households with no formal education and a lack of WASH facilities have a higher likelihood of having childhood diarrhea in the household. COVID-19 preventative strategies help reduce the prevalence of diarrhea in children. More research using prospective study designs and advanced statistical models is needed to better understand the implication of COVID-19 preventative efforts in reducing childhood diarrhea.

Factors Associated to Community Practices Toward the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study in Indonesia.

COVID-19 still continue to spread and affects most nations globally to date. In this context, community knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 are the most important for controlling and preventing the infectious pandemic disease. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with community practices related to COVID-19. Cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 residents of Sumedang District, Indonesia. Selection of the sample using stratified random sampling. KAP toward COVID-19 was measured using the WHO questionnaire which is valid and reliable. The data were analyzed using the Rasch model, Pearson correlation, and linear regression. This study revealed that most respondents tend to answer correctly on the sociality and disease transmission knowledge (+2.08 logit; SE 1.63), incorrectly in conceptual knowledge (logit measure -2.05; SE 0.45), tended to have a positive attitude (+1.6 logit; 0.54) and practice (+1.63 logit; SE 0.61). Based on the results of the Wright map, the most challenging statement for respondents was to use masks. Knowledge and attitude were significantly associated with the practice of COVID-19 prevention (p<0.001). Attitude is the dominant factor influencing society practice towards COVID-19 (Stand. Estimate= 0.2737; 95% CI=0.1608-0.378;p<0.001) and knowledge play an important role in improving COVID-19 prevention behaviour. New insight from this research shows that even attitude is the most dominant factor, yet this study also indicated that knowledge is critical for positive attitudes of society to support COVID-19 prevention practices. Since, knowledge is the basis for positive attitudes in preventing the transmission of Covid 19. Therefore, health education that explicates concepts, sociality and disease transmission is important to boost attitudes of the society in the practice of Covid 19 prevention.

Knowledge, risk perception and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination among internally displaced persons in complex humanitarian emergency setting, Northeast Nigeria

BackgroundOwing to crowded and unsanitary conditions, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. Adoption of COVID-19 preventive measures among this population is premised on accurate information, adequate knowledge, and risk perception. We assessed COVID-19 knowledge and risk perception and investigated the association between risk perception and COVID-19 preventive measures, including vaccination among IDPs in Northeast Nigeria.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study during July–December 2022 and sampled 2,175 IDPs using stratified sampling. We utilized a 12-point assessment tool to evaluate COVID-19 knowledge. Participants who scored ≥ 6 points were considered to have adequate knowledge. We used a 30-item Risk Behavior Diagnosis Scale to assess COVID-19 risk perception and evaluated each item on a 5-point Likert scale. Participants were divided into risk perception categories by the median of Likert scale scores. We performed weighted logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with risk perception. Pearson’s chi-squared with Rao-Scott adjustment was used to determine the relationship between risk perception and COVID-19 preventive measures.ResultsOf 2,175 participants, 55.7% were 18–39 years old, 70.9% were females, and 81.7% had no formal education. Among the IDPs, 32.0% (95% CI: 28.8 – 35.0) were considered to have adequate COVID-19 knowledge, and 51.3% (95% CI: 47.8 – 54.8) perceived COVID-19 risk as high. Moreover, 46.3% (95% CI: 42.8 – 50.0) had received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 33.1% (95% CI: 29.8 – 36.0) received two doses. Adequate knowledge (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.10, [95% CI: 1.46 – 3.03]) and post-primary education (AOR = 3.20, [95% CI: 1.59 – 6.46]) were associated with risk perception. Furthermore, high risk perception was significantly associated with wearing face masks (χ2 = 106.32, p-value < .001), practicing hand hygiene (χ2 = 162.24, p-value < .001), physical distancing (χ2 = 60.84, p-value < .001) and vaccination uptake (χ2 = 46.85, p-value < .001).ConclusionsThis study revealed gaps in COVID-19 knowledge, risk perception, and vaccination uptake but demonstrated a significant relationship between risk perception and COVID-19 preventive practices. Health education and risk communication should be intensified to improve knowledge, elicit stronger risk perception, and enhance COVID-19 preventive practices.

Attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 preventive measures in diverse settings of Mozambique: a qualitative study

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first broke out in Wuhan, China, on 29 December 2019; since then, it has taken hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide. Although adopting different containment measures, it spread rapidly over the world. In Mozambique, the government declared a state of emergency in March 2020, associated with a number of preventive measures to reduce the spread and delay the peak of virus’ infections. This paper seeks to analyze the attitudes and practices related to COVID-19 preventive measures during first period of state of emergency in Mozambique in both in rural and urban settings. Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional and qualitative study was conducted in six urban and five rural settings in Mozambique. In total, 295 semi-structured interviews were conducted with community members, of which 23 were face-to-face and 272 through telephone interviews. Interviews were digitally audio recorded, verbatim transcribed, and entered into an Excel matrix followed by a structured data content analysis. The Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines for reporting qualitative studies were performed. Results: In general, participants reported that it was necessary to change their habits, reducing activities and their mobility, such as: going out to work, for business, and visiting family, to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. In addition, some participants reported adopting several COVID-19 preventive measures in public spaces and at home, such as: wearing a mask, washing their hands, and social and physical distancing. Conclusions: Although the majority of participants reported adopting most of COVID-19 preventive measures at home and in public spaces, much work is still needed to improve the knowledge of COVID-19 preventive measures and practices. The results of our study suggest a greater awareness of residents and users of public places about established standards and preventive procedures concerning COVID-19.

How Depression and Anxiety Impact Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention Practices in Urban Liberia.

Understanding the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 prevention practices is crucial but challenging considering COVID-19's impact on mental well-being. Liberia, a West African country, had well-documented rates of depression and anxiety prior to COVID-19. Liberia responded aggressively to COVID-19 while case counts remained low; thus, it is an ideal setting to study the relationship of mental health and COVID-19 prevention practices. A validated cross-sectional survey was administered to 250 randomly selected residents of Montserrado county, Liberia in June 2021, asking about their mental health and adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. The survey included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess for anxiety and depression, respectively. Responses were analyzed using Spearman correlation and regression. Scores indicative of depression were present in 43% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 37-49) of participants; scores indicative of anxiety were present in 41% (95% CI: 34-47). Self-reported adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices was middling and varied greatly by behavior. Higher scores for depression and anxiety were significantly associated with lower adherence to COVID-19 prevention practices. Results indicate that while the spread of COVID-19 has certainly affected mental health, it is likely that pre-existing mental health conditions affected the spread of COVID-19 through lower adherence to prevention practices. Policymakers should consider investing in mental health services as an important step in managing future epidemics, and the needs of people with poor mental health when designing epidemic responses, particularly in low-income countries where the burdens of adherence are likely to be greater.

Healthcare Providers' Adherence to COVID-19 Prevention and Control Practices in Health Records and Information Management, Ghana.

The impact of contracting coronavirus on healthcare providers (HCPs) affects their ability to combat the infection. The virus can be transmitted through droplets from sneezing, coughing, and yelling, making it essential for HCPs to plan ahead when dealing with patients with respiratory symptoms. The need to assess healthcare providers' perceived adherence to COVID-19 Prevention and Control Practices (PCP) in Health Records and Information Management is vital for optimizing healthcare operations and ensuring the safety of both patients and providers. This study assesses healthcare providers' perceived adherence to COVID-19 PCP in Health Records and Information Management. Subjects and Method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from 1268 HCPs working in eight randomly selected hospitals across five regions in Ghana. The survey was carried out from May 15, 2022, to August 13, 2022. Simple random sampling was used to choose these eight facilities from a total of 204 hospitals. Within each facility, HCPs from various departments were selected using simple random sampling. The EpiInfo 7 software's StatCalc tool was used to choose a total sample size of 1268 from an estimated 4482 HCP-PR from the eight hospitals. Compliance with COVID-19 PCP was assessed using a 3-point scale, ranging from one (Yes always) to three (No). Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used to examine the statistical reliability of the variables in the dataset. Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 overall, suggesting strong reliability. Bartlett's test for equal variances was used for comparative analysis of health facility and overall mean COVID-19 PCP in different areas of health facilities. IBM SPSS (version 23) statistical software was used for the data analysis process. A total of 1268 HCP-PR participated in the survey, resulting in a 99.6% response rate. Findings reveal that 760 healthcare professionals who handle patients' records (HCP-PR), constituting 60%, consistently followed COVID-19 protocols in the registration and clinic preparation zones. Another 390 individuals (30.7%) adhered to these protocols occasionally, while 119 (9.4%) failed to comply. Similarly, in the filing area, 739 respondents (58.3%) consistently adhered to COVID-19 protocols, 358 (28.3%) occasionally did so, and 170 (13.4%) did not follow the protocols at all. Regarding handling health records cautiously, 540 participants (42.5%) always did, 448 (35.3%) did so sometimes, and 280 (22.2%) neglected these precautions. Additionally, 520 respondents (41.0%) consistently followed COVID-19 precautions when handling computers and other equipment, 393 (31.0%) did so occasionally, and 355 (28.0%) did not adhere to these precautions. The majority of respondents showed good compliance with COVID-19 protocol in the registration and clinic preparation areas. However, in the filing area, just over four out of every seven respondents consistently adhered to COVID-19 PCP. Additionally, four out of every seven participants did not comply with COVID-19 PCP when handling patients' records. Analysis reveals diverse adherence to COVID-19 PCP, and statistical tests show variable performance, highlighting standout health facilities.

Vaccination Perspectives and Preventive Practices against COVID-19 among In-school Adolescents in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract Introduction: The ongoing covid-19 pandemic has affected all including adolescents. While the knowledge about preventive practices seems to have improved steadily among adolescents. Their perception of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing the infection seems to have been less explored. This study assessed the adolescents’ perception of COVID-19 vaccination and factors associated with the preventive practices for COVID-19 infection. Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A multistage sampling technique was employed. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 467 respondents. Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with COVID-19 preventive practices among respondents. The association was determined using a 95% confidence interval and a p-value less than 5% was taken as statistically significant. Results: More than half of our respondents (58.2) were females. The mean age ± SD of the respondents was 15.0±1.8 with about two-thirds (69.8%) being in the middle adolescence category. About two-thirds of the respondents had good knowledge about COVID-19. Only half of the respondents had a positive perception of the COVID-19 vaccine. The predictors of good preventive practices for covid-19 infection were perception about the COVID-19 vaccine and good knowledge of COVID-19 infection (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: The study concludes that there is a need to improve adolescents’ perception towards the COVID-19 vaccine and the practice of its prevention in schools. Efforts towards improving COVID-19 perception among adolescents are likely to lead to increase vaccine coverage and enhance prevention of COVID-19 spread.

Assessing the Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among People Living with HIV/AIDS: A Scoping Literature Review

Background: The administration of the COVID-19 vaccine at some points in the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in the spread, risk of complications, and death from coronavirus infection. However, in the face of hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccination springing from the novelty of the vaccines and safety concerns, vulnerable population to COVID-19 infection such as people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were showing higher hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines than the general population. This scoping review aims to identify factors COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among PLWHA. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to identify and summarize studies from all over the world on COVID-19 vaccine uptake/hesitancy among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) Extension for scoping reviews was used. Articles written in English, peer-reviewed, published within the years 2021-2023, and conducted in any part of the world with sample population being PLWHA, and with an outcome of uptake/hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine were included. Results: Fourteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The primary study settings were clinic and hospital-based and online self-reported. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was as high as 90.8% in an online survey done in the US and as low as 27.5% in a facility-based survey in China. The most common factors mentioned associated with COVID-19 vaccination were the fear of side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, concerns about the safety of the vaccine, medical mistrust, vaccine novelty, disclosure of HIV status, and perceived interference with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Male gender, race, good knowledge of COVID-19 prevention practice, having a CD4 count &gt; 200 cells (p=0.032) and lower or undetectable viral load (p&lt;0.001) were identified as predictors of COVID-19 uptake.

An Analysis of Various Factors Underlying Covid-19 Prevention Practice and Strategy in Jigjiga Town, Northeast Ethiopia.

COVID-19, a severe respiratory illness, is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The pandemic has devastated public health, economies, and social structures worldwide. In Ethiopia, the government and health authorities have implemented various COVID-19 prevention strategies to contain the spread of the virus. This study aims to investigates the factors influencing the implementation and effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention strategies in Jigjiga Town, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2022 to December 2022, involving 593 participants in Jigjiga town. Multi-stage sampling techniques were used, and data was collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, attitude, knowledge, prevention practices, misconceptions, and COVID-19 prevention strategies. A multivariate model was developed to control for confounding, using variables suitable for multivariate logistic regression analysis with p-values less than 0.25. A variable is considered significant in multivariable logistic regression analysis if its p-value is less than 0.05. The study found that only 12.2% of participants used COVID-19 prevention strategies. Those with a bachelor's degree or higher had a strong association with prevention strategies (AOR: 20.08, 95% CI: 2.13-188.85). Participants informed about COVID-19 prevention were 6.886 times more likely to use strategies (95% CI: 2.975-15.938). People who received the COVID-19 vaccine were 1.14 times more likely to engage in reasonable preventive measures compared to those who did not get vaccinated. The study reveals low COVID-19 prevention practices among participants, with only 12.2% utilizing preventive strategies. The covariate, the kinds of information received on COVID-19 prevention mechanisms, participants with a favorable attitude toward COVID-19, educational level, mask-wearing, social distancing, vaccination, hand hygiene, public health communication, and household income were significantly associated with COVID-19 prevention strategies. The COVID-19vaccination promotes preventive practices, reduces infection risk, protects against severe illness, and decreases community spread.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among healthcare workers in Katsina state: a cross-sectional study in Northwest Nigeria

ObjectivesHealthcare workers were prioritised to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Administration of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria was challenging because of a lack of trust in vaccine safety and vaccine...

COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices among government and private bank workers in Ethiopia.

Bank workers are among the many service-sector employees who are at risk of COVID-19 infection. Individual's adherence to control measures is affected by their COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Since KAP is an important cognitive key in public health prevention and promotion, this study aimed to identify COVID-19 KAP-related gaps among bank workers in Dessie City, Ethiopia and to guide banks and health authorities in taking corrective actions. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1st to 30th, 2021 among 413 bank workers. A binary logistic regression was applied to determine association of independent variables with outcome variables using three different models. Variables at 95% confidence interval (CI) with a p < 0.25 from bivariate analysis were transported to three different multivariable logistic regression models and then variables with a p-value of 0.05 from the multivariable analysis of each model were declared as significantly associated with the outcome variables. The results of this study show that 84.7% [95% CI: 81.1-88.1] of bank workers had good knowledge, 50.4% positive attitude, and 50.6% [95% CI: 45.8-55.0] good practice towards prevention of COVID-19. The only variable significantly associated with knowledge in this study was positive attitude (AOR = 8.89; 95%CI: 3.34-23.64). Being ≥35 years old (AOR = 2.46; 95%CI: 1.25-4.84) and getting information on COVID-19 (AOR = 3.81; 95%CI: 1.84-7.91) were among factors significantly associated with attitude towards COVID-19 prevention, whereas being female and ≥ 35 years old (AOR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.29-5.06) and (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.15-6.51), respectively were factors associated with good preventive practice towards COVID-19. Considering those significant factors responsible for determining COVID-19 KAP level of respondents, health education program and information dissemination are recommended, including appropriate strategies by policy makers and bank managers to develop effective interventions for COVID-19 transmission in banks.

Vaccine Adherence and Behavioral Changes of Adults Regarding Prevention of COVID-19: A Community Survey Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

Considering the current context of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, people should equally comply with both vaccines and non-therapeutic health protective behaviors. This study investigated public adherence to vaccination, behavioral changes against COVID-19, and their determinants in Bangladesh during the pandemic. The study was conducted during March and April 2022 among 940 Bangladeshi adults selected by multi-stage sampling, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using questionnaires. Significant determinants and their relationships were described through hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Nearly half of the subjects (48.2%) showed poor vaccine adherence and COVID-19 prevention practices. During the pandemic crisis, the majority of the respondents (86.7%) used face masks, but only 12.7% of the respondents used them regularly. Less than half (44.9%) received COVID-19 vaccines regularly. Along with some sociodemographic factors, knowledge (p &lt; .001), attitude (p &lt; .01), and intention (p &lt; .001) regarding COVID-19 prevention were significant in predicting vaccine adherence and healthy practices in a hierarchical regression. Self-control was highly significant in SEM, showing the highest effect (p &lt; .001). Policies based on the TPB model could be adopted to improve preventive behaviors against COVID-19.

Intersection of Perceived COVID-19 Risk, Preparedness, and Preventive Health Behaviors: Latent Class Segmentation Analysis.

COVID-19 risk perception is a factor that influences the pandemic spread. Understanding the potential behavioral responses to COVID-19, including preparedness and adoption of preventive measures, can inform interventions to curtail its spread. We assessed self-perceived and latent class analysis (LCA)-based risks of COVID-19 and their associations with preparedness, misconception, information gap, and preventive practices among residents of a densely populated city in Nigeria. We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted among residents (N=140) of Onitsha, Nigeria, in March 2020, before the government-mandated lockdown. Using an iterative expectation-maximization algorithm, we applied LCA to systematically segment participants into the most likely distinct risk clusters. Furthermore, we used bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models to determine the associations among knowledge, attitude, preventive practice, perceived preparedness, misconception, COVID-19 information gap, and self-perceived and LCA-based COVID-19 risks. Most participants (85/140, 60.7%) had good knowledge and did not perceive themselves as at risk of contracting COVID-19. Three-quarters of the participants (102/137, 74.6%; P<.001) experienced COVID-19-related information gaps, while 62.9% (88/140; P=.04) of the participants had some misconceptions about the disease. Conversely, most participants (93/140, 66.4%; P<.001) indicated that they were prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the participants (94/138, 68.1%; P<.001) self-perceived that they were not at risk of contracting COVID-19 compared to 31.9% (44/138) who professed to be at risk of contracting COVID-19. Using the LCA, we identified 3 distinct risk clusters (P<.001), namely, prudent or low-risk takers, skeptics or high-risk takers, and carefree or very high-risk takers with prevalence rates (probabilities of cluster membership that represent the prevalence rate [γc]) of 47.5% (95% CI 40%-55%), 16.2% (95% CI 11.4%-20.9%), and 36.4% (95% CI 28.8%-43.9%), respectively. We recorded a significantly negative agreement between self-perceived risk and LCA-based segmentation of COVID-19 risk (κ=-0.218, SD 0.067; P=.01). Knowledge, attitude, and perceived need for COVID-19 information were significant predictors of COVID-19 preventive practices among the Onitsha city residents. The clustering patterns highlight the impact of modifiable risk behaviors on COVID-19 preventive practices, which can provide strong empirical support for health prevention policies. Consequently, clusters with individuals at high risk of contracting COVID-19 would benefit from multicomponent interventions delivered in diverse settings to improve the population-based response to the pandemic.

RESIDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE TOWARD COVID-19 DURING THE NEW PERIOD IN PHONG DIEN DISTRICT, CAN THO CITY

Background: COVID-19, a global health threat for over two years, has extensive and widespread effects. Due to the ever-changing nature of the Coronavirus, new variants are continually appearing, and more contagious variants emerge (such as Delta or Omicron variants, etc.) if we neglect to prevent the Covid-19 disease. A recent World Health Organization report shows that good hand hygiene and simple, low-cost prevention practices can prevent more than 70% of infections of Covid-19. Therefore, strategies to practice personal hygiene, vaccination, avoid overcrowding and wear masks outdoors are still recommended for disease control and prevention. Our study aims to provide the public with accurate, objective, and scientific knowledge on COVID-19 and its prevention. Objectives: 1. Assess the current status of people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the Phong Dien district in the new period. 2. Determine some factors related to people's disease prevention practice. Materials and methods: 1632 participants in cross-sectional descriptive research. Collect data by directly interviewing the subjects through a set of prepared questionnaires. Results: The percentage of people with good general knowledge is 9.6%, positive attitude at 89.9%, and good general practice is 32.5%. Most people know the cause of Covid-19 (99.1%); the lowest knowledge is that eating a healthy diet can fight Covid-19, accounting for 11.1%. Regarding COVID-19 prevention practices, 52.0% of people have time to wash their hands ≥20 seconds, and most of them wash their hands more than 90% of the time after touching surfaces such as door locks, elevator buttons when coughing, sneezing, etc. The content about good attitudes accounted for 85.3% to 96.4%. Subjects who have been infected with COVID19 good practices is 1.5 times higher than those who have never been infected with COVID-19 (p=0.02), families with ever infected with COVID-19 people have good practices 1.3 times higher than families without people infected with COVID-19 times (p=0.05). People with good knowledge and a positive attitude have an excellent practice rate 2.7 times higher than the other group, p&lt;0.05. Conclusions: more attention should be paid to the role of COVID-19 epidemic prevention in the new normal period.

Perceived Effectiveness of COVID-19 Preventive Practices and Behavioral Intention: Survey of a Representative Adult Sample in the United States.

Using existing models of behavioral health promotion, specifically the Extended Parallel Process Model, previous research has identified factors that may impact engagement in preventive health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic such as perceived threat, perceived susceptibility to the threat, perceived severity, and perceived efficacy. This study aims to examine the role of perceived effectiveness of COVID-19 preventive behaviors, perceived susceptibility, perceived threat, and perceived severity of COVID-19 in participants' intentions to engage in Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-recommended individual health behaviors in the first year of the pandemic. In October 2020, a representative sample of 506 US adults completed a web-based survey through the RAND American Life Panel. The study primarily found that participants who perceived that CDC-recommended health practices were effective had stronger intentions to engage in those practices. The second strongest correlate was participants' perceived severity of COVID-19 across the United States. Perceived effectiveness of recommended practices accounted for the largest variance in behavioral intention. However, analysis of individual behaviors indicated a mismatch in the behaviors perceived to be the most effective (avoiding sick people and mask-wearing) and those participants indicated intention to engage in (throwing away used tissues, avoiding sick people, and coughing into their elbows) in the next 30 days. The authors recommend tailoring public health messaging to address the perceived threat of COVID-19 and self-efficacy. Thus, health promotion efforts should emphasize the effectiveness of CDC-recommended practices while highlighting the pandemic's severity. Additionally, rebuilding trust in public health messaging and messengers is necessary to increase perceived self-efficacy. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, health messaging must continue to promote and build trust in CDC-recommended health practices and educate regarding the efficacy of vaccination and other preventive behaviors.

COVID-19 prevention and rehabilitation related knowledge and practices among Egyptian post-COVID-19 patients.

Even with the mild form of COVID-19, people need to practice the proper preventive measures to achieve health, safety and control spread of infection. Few studies assessed sound disinfection and rehabilitative knowledge. This study aims to assess the self-reported, knowledge of specific disinfection measures among post-recovery COVID-19 patients and identifying the most requested knowledge items regarding the prevention and post COVID rehabilitation measures. This is an exploratory cross-sectional study using an electronically open survey. A pre-tested e-questionnaire was employed for data assembling. The sample size was calculated and a total of 417 people completed the questionnaire. Knowledge score was calculated for preventive and disinfection measures during and after COVID 19 infection. It comprised three sections: socio-demographics, study participants' knowledge regarding precautions, disinfection, and rehabilitation measures, as well as sources of knowledge about COVID-19. All participants infected with COVID-19 (82%) reported self-isolation for ten days after confirming the infection, with only 18% required hospitalization. Regarding the information needed by the participants, the highest requests were for the rehabilitation information after COVID-19 and preventive measures. Females under 30 years old and those with a college education or higher were significantly more likely to request rehabilitation information after COVID-19 (P-value 0.05). Nevertheless, males were significantly more interested in information regarding preventive measures; They were over 30 years old and had education below university (P-value 0.05). Participants (above 30 years old) had significantly higher knowledge of preventive and disinfection measures during and after COVID-19 infection (P = 0.030). After the COVID-19 experience, most participants demonstrated a great desire for rehabilitation information and proper preventive measures. This paves the way for delivering self-management and rehabilitation knowledge and emphasizing the significance of various prevention modalities.