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

Coronavirus disease (COVID-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...

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Published in:	PloS one Vol. 16; no. 3; p. e0248420
Main Authors:	Defar, Atkure, Molla, Gebeyaw, Abdella, Saro, Tessema, Masresha, Ahmed, Muhammed, Tadele, Ashenif, Getachew, Fikresilassie, Hailegiorgis, Bezawit, Tigabu, Eyasu, Ababor, Sabit, Bizuwork, Ketema, Deressa, Asefa, Tasaw, Geremew, Kebede, Adisu, Melese, Daniel, Gashu, Andargachew, Eshetu, Kirubel, Tayachew, Adamu, Wossen, Mesfin, Hassen, Abduilhafiz, Habebe, Shambel, Assefa, Zewdu, Abayneh, Aschalew, Abate, Ebba, Tollera, Getachew
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 11-03-2021 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Adolescent Adult Analysis Biology and Life Sciences Communicable Disease Control Coronaviruses COVID-19 COVID-19 - epidemiology COVID-19 - prevention & control Cross-Sectional Studies Disease prevention Disease transmission Editing Electronic mail Ethiopia - epidemiology Female Health Facilities Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Health sciences Humans Knowledge Male Medicine Medicine and Health Sciences Methodology Methods Middle Aged Nursing Pandemics Pediatrics People and Places Poverty Areas Prevention Prisons Public Facilities Public health Risk Risk Factors Risk groups SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Social Sciences Supervision Transportation Viral diseases Viruses Young Adult Ethiopia China Addis Ababa Ethiopia
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Summary:	Coronavirus disease (COVID-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, practice and associated factors that can contribute to the prevention of COVID-19 among high-risk groups in Addis Ababa. 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 crowded areas. A questionnaire comprised of four sections (demographics, knowledge, practice and reported symptoms) was used for data collection. The outcomes (knowledge on the transmission and prevention of COVID-19 and practice) were measured using four items. A multi variable logistic regression was applied with adjustment for potential confounding. 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. The study highlighted that there was moderate knowledge about transmission modes and prevention mechanisms. Similarly, there was moderate practice of measures that contribute towards the prevention of COVID-19 among these priority and 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 prevention 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.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0248420