Knowledge and practices toward prevention of COVID-19 among students of Baptist High School Lafia, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

A novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province China, in December 2019, which was declared as pandemic virus by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 is infectious disease and almost lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome.^[1] The virus pandemic is a big problem for humanity health and can lead to death in special people with background diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes mellitus.^[2] COVID-19 is defined as an illness caused by a novel coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; formerly called 2019-nCoV). The infectious start from the common cold to more serious diseases, like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.^[3]

However, following the WHO declaration countries around the world, including Nigeria, have been learning on response plans to respond to the pandemic and contain the virus. Following the confirmation of its first case of COVID-19, it was around 1:00 am on Fri. 28 Jan. 2020, Nigeria announced Sub-Saharan Africa’s first confirmed case of the coronavirus disease COVID-19, and the confirmation led to activation of National Coronavirus Emergency.^[4] The Government has been vigilantly monitoring the situation and developing specific measures that are in line with the WHO guidelines in dealing with the outbreak. These includes suspending all flights, closing all gathering places, except grocery store and pharmacies. The government imposed a curfew to restrict people movements.^[3]

Moreover, globally as of July 30, 2021, there have been 196,553,009 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 4,200,412 deaths, reported to the WHO. As of July 29, 2021, a total of 3,839,816,037 vaccine doses have been administered. In Nigeria, from January 3, 2020 to July 30, 2021, there have been 172,821 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2141 deaths, reported to the WHO. As of July 26, 2021, a total of 3,938,945 vaccine doses have been administered.^[5] The COVID-19 transmission is through direct contact with infected person or airway droplets. Therefore, preventive measures play an important role to determine the public readiness to assent to behavioral change measures from health experts and have been recommended to control the spread of the disease.^[6] Those patients who are confirmed with COVID-19 have clinical sign and symptoms such as sore throat, cough, fever, and shortness of breath within 14 days of the incubation period.^[7]

In addition, COVID-19 vaccines are available for use, current evidence about the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines relies mainly on data from one to three randomized control trials and vaccine safety surveillance system in several countries around the globe. Three reviews regarding safety of COVID-19 vaccine were found.^[8] Study shows that early detection is significant in human health and will help to define COVID-19 in its entirely, which is prerequisite to its effective management.^[9] Another study shows that assessing public health knowledge is also important in identifying gabs and strengthening ongoing prevention efforts.^[3] Hence, the investigator felt that the needs and desire to carry out a study to assess the knowledge and practices towards prevention of COVID-19 among Students of Baptist High School Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS

The age range of the respondents was between 12 and 14 years, 15 and 17 years, and ≥18 years which accounted for 18 (36%), 18 (36%), and 14 (28%), respectively. In terms of gender males were the minority representing 15 (30%) while females were the majority of the participants representing 35 (70%). According to class of study 18 (36%) were in JSS 1–3, and 32 (64%) were in SSS 1–3. Other demographical data are resented in [Table 3].

Of the 50 respondents, majority 45 (90.0%) had adequate knowledge, 4 (8.0%) of the respondents had moderate knowledge, while only minority 1 (2.0%) had inadequate knowledge of COVID-19 [Table 4].

Of the 50 respondents, 23 (46.0%) had high level of practices and 27 (54.0%) had low level of practices toward prevention of COVID-19. There was statistically significant relationship between level of knowledge regarding COVID-19 and selected socio-demographic variables such as family history of COVID-19 [Table 5].

DISCUSSION

Reuben et al. conducted a study on knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 in North Central Nigeria. Snowball sampling technique was used to select 589 samples, data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that the majority of the respondents (99.5%) had good knowledge while 79.5% had negative attitudes toward prevention of COVID-19.^[10]

In another study conducted by Ekpenyong et al. (2020) on assessment of knowledge, practice and guidelines toward the novel COVID-19 among eye care practitioners (ECPs) in Nigeria, data were obtained from 823 ECPs through emails and social media networks using self-administered questionnaire during lockdown. The results showed that optometrist showed higher COVID-19 related knowledge than other ECPs (P < 0.001), particularly those working in private sector.^[11]

The key findings of this study showed that the socio-demographic variables showed that the age range of the respondents are between 12 and 14 years, 15 and 17 years, and ≥18 years which accounted for 18 (36%), 18 (36%), and 14 (28%), respectively. In terms of gender males are the minority representing 15 (30%) while females are the majority of the participants representing 35 (70%). According to class of study 18 (36%) are in JSS 1-3, and 32 (64%) are in SSS 1–3. In religion practice, 40 (80%) practice Christianity, while 10 (20%) practice Islam. The occupational status of their father 26 (52%) are employee, 15 (30%) are business men, 9 (18%) are farmers, in comparison to their occupational status of their mother, 21 (42%) employee, 21 (42%) business women, and 8 (16%) full time house wives. Majority of the participants 46 (92%) belong to nuclear family while minority 4 (8%) of them belong to extended family. The respondent’s sources of information are family and friends, school authority, mass media, and health personnel accounted for 6 (12%), 6 (12%), 34 (68%), and 4 (8%), respectively. Finally, majority of the 46 (92%) respondents has no family history of COVID-19, while minority 4 (8%) has family history of COVID-19.

The study results showed that, out of 50 (100%) respondent majority 45 (90.0%) have adequate knowledge, 4 (8.0%) had moderate knowledge, while only minority 1 (2.0%) had inadequate knowledge of COVID-19. Therefore, the H_0:1 hypothesis is rejected while H_1:1 hypothesis is accepted. This is in conformity with a study conducted by Reuben et al., where snowball sampling technique was used to select 589 samples, data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that the majority of the respondents (99.5%) had good knowledge while 79.5% had positive attitudes toward prevention of COVID-19.^[10]

Minority 23 (46.0%) had high level of practice but majority 27 (54.0%) had low level towards prevention of COVID-19. Therefore, the H_0:1 hypothesis is accepted while H_1:1 hypothesis is rejected. This is in conformity with a study conducted on knowledge and perception toward universal safety precaution during early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nepal. Data were collected from 871 participant using structured questionnaire through web-based, from March 29 to April 7, 2020. Data analysis revealed that the median knowledge of the participants was 10.0 (±3.0 IQR). The overall score knowledge was high.^[12]

The result shows that there was statistical significance between knowledge regarding COVID-19 and selected socio-demographic variables such as family history of COVID-19. Hence the H_1:2 hypothesis is accepted while H_0:2 hypothesis is rejected. This is in conformity with a study conducted by Ekpenyong et al. Data were obtained from 823 ECPs through emails and social media networks using self-administered questionnaire during lockdown. The results showed that Optometrist showed higher COVID-19 related knowledge than other ECPs (P < 0.001), particularly those working in private sector.^[11]

CONCLUSION

The results revealed that majority of the respondents had adequate knowledge, and positive practice toward prevention of COVID-19. There was statistically significance between their knowledge and practice with their selected socio-demographic variables (age and family history of COVID-19).