Violence against girls during COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors in Gondar city, North West Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, the magnitude of violence against girls during COVID-19 in the study area is not known. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the violence and associated factors during COVID-19 pandemic among Gondar city secondary school girls in North West Ethiopia. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2021. Data were collected from four public and two private Gondar city secondary schools. Investigators used stratified simple random sampling to select participants and the investigators used roster of the students at selected schools. Investigators collected the data using self-reported history of experiencing violence (victimisation). Investigators analysed data using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. Investigators invited a total of 371 sampled female students to complete self-administered questionnaires. The proportion of girls who experienced violence was 42.05% and psychological violence was the highest form of violence. Having a father who attended informal education (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.08-3.51), ever use of social media 1.65 (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.02-2.69), ever watching sexually explicit material (AOR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.24-3.36) and use of a substance (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI 1.17-3.15) were significantly associated variables with violence. Almost for every five girls, more than two of them experienced violence during the COVID-19 lockdown. The prevalence of violence might be under reported due to desirability bias. Therefore, it is better to create awareness towards violence among substance users, fathers with informal education and social media including user females.

Application of Health Belief Model for the assessment of COVID-19 preventive behavior and its determinants among students: A structural equation modeling analysis.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a new pandemic that poses a threat to people globally. In Ethiopia, where classrooms are limited, students are at higher risk for COVID-19 unless they take consistent preventative actions. However, there is a lack of evidence in the study area regarding student compliance with COVID-19 preventive behavior (CPB) and its predictors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess CPB and its predictors among students based on the perspective of the Health Belief Model (HBM). METHOD AND MATERIALS: A school-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from November to December 2020 to evaluate the determinants of CPB among high school students using a self-administered structured questionnaire. 370 participants were selected using stratified simple random sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analyses to evaluate the measurement and structural models proposed by the HBM and to identify associations between HBM variables. A T-value of > 1.96 with 95% CI and a P-value of < 0.05 were used to declare the statistical significance of path coefficients. RESULT: A total of 370 students participated with a response rate of 92%. The median (interquartile range) age of the participants (51.9% females) was 18 (2) years. Only 97 (26.2%), 121 (32.7%), and 108 (29.2%) of the students had good practice in keeping physical distance, frequent hand washing, and facemask use respectively. The HBM explained 43% of the variance in CPB. Perceived barrier (ß = - 0.15, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (ß = 0.51, p <0.001) were significant predictors of student compliance to CPB. Moreover, the measurement model demonstrated that the instrument had acceptable reliability and validity. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: COVID-19 prevention practice is quite low among students. HBM demonstrated adequate predictive utility in predicting CPBs among students, where perceived barriers and self-efficacy emerged as significant predictors of CPBs. According to the findings of this study, theory-based behavioral change interventions are urgently required for students to improve their prevention practice. Furthermore, these interventions will be effective if they are designed to remove barriers to CPBs and improve students' self-efficacy in taking preventive measures.

Acceptance and willingness to pay for COVID-19 vaccine among school teachers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination is one of the strategies to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and cost are important factors affecting its uptake. However, little is known about acceptance and willingness to pay (WTP) for the vaccine. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess acceptance and WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine and its associated factors among school teachers. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among school teachers. A stratified simple random sampling technique was employed to select the participants. The contingent valuation method was used to assess each respondent's willingness to pay for the COVID-19 vaccination. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify significant factors associated with WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine. A p value of less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used to declare statistical significance. RESULT: A total of 301 school teachers participated with a response rate of 99.6%. The mean age of participants was 39.5 (SD ± 8.7 years). The mean WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine is US$ 4.98 (± US$ 1.6). Less than half (40.8%) of participants were willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine whereas only 36.9% (95% CI, (31.6%, 42.5%)) of them were WTP for the vaccine. Being male (AOR = 3.23; 95% CI, (1.70, 6.14)), being a private school teacher (AOR = 3.27; 95% CI, (1.76, 6.10)), having high perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 (AOR = 2.69; 95% CI, (1.38, 5.24)), having high perceived seriousness of COVID-19 (AOR = 4.04; 95% CI, (1.80, 9.1)), and having high perceived benefit of COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 3.0; 95% CI, (1.41, 6.34) were significant factors associated with WTP for COVID-19 vaccination. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The magnitude of acceptance and WTP for the COVID-19 vaccine was low among school teachers. Male sex, private school affiliation, high perceived risk of COVID-19, and benefit of COVID-19 vaccine were the most important factors affecting school teacher's WTP for COVID-19 vaccine. Thus, health communication programs should give due emphasis to raising teacher's perceived risk of COVID-19 and the benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine to improve their acceptance and WTP for the vaccine. Furthermore, subsidizing the cost of the vaccine may improve their WTP.

Determinant of intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine among school teachers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Scientists across the world are working on innovating a successful vaccine that will save lives and end COVID-19 pandemic. World Health Organization (WHO) is working to make sure COVID-19 vaccines can be safely delivered to all those who need them. Indeed, the successful deployment and a sufficient uptake of vaccines is equally important. Acceptance and accessibility of such vaccine is a key indicator of vaccination coverage. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the determinants of intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine among school teachers in Gondar City. METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from December, 2020 to January, 2021. A total of 301 school teachers selected using stratified simple random sampling were included. Descriptive analysis such as medians, means, proportions, standard deviations and frequencies were computed. Linear regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine. A p-value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The median intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine was 3.33 with interquartile range of 2.67-4.0. Of the participants 54.8% had scored above the median of intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine score. 54% variance in intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine was explained by the independent variables. Being affiliated with other category of religion, bachelor degree educational status, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefit, perceived barrier, and cues to action were significantly associated with the intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSION: The median score of intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine was 3.33. Socio-demographic and health beliefs influenced the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the study participant. Policy makers and stakeholders should focus on strong health promotion about risks of the pandemic, benefit, safety, and efficacy of vaccination.

Determinants of COVID-19-related knowledge and preventive behaviours among students in reopened secondary schools: cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: In Ethiopia, more than 26 million students have been out of the classroom for nearly 9 months. On 18 September, the Ethiopian Minister of Health advised the Parliament the possibility of reopening schools provided certain conditions were met. Schools are currently reopening in the country for the first time since March 2020. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the knowledge and preventive health behaviours toward COVID-19 and associated factors among secondary school students. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2020 in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 370 secondary school students were included. Bivariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression model were fitted to identify the predictors of knowledge about COVID-19. Simple and multiple linear regression analysis were done to identify factors associated with preventive behaviour. A p<0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: Only one-fourth (23.5%, 95% CI 19.5% to 28.1%) of the participants had a good knowledge about COVID-19. The mean score of preventive behaviour was 22.8±SD 6.2. Marital status, religion, father education, living arrangement and sources of information were significantly associated with knowledge about COVID-19. Being female and using health professionals as source of information increased the engagement in preventive behaviours. On the other hand, student whose father employed in non-governmental organisation and other jobs had decreased engagement in preventive health behaviours. CONCLUSION: Significant number of the students had inadequate knowledge about COVID-19 and poorly engaged in COVID-19 preventive behaviour. Thus, it is suggested to include and disseminate about COVID-19 in related academic sessions, using school clubs and minimedias. The sources of COVID-19-related information need to strengthen the dissemination of tailored, credible and timely message to enhance the knowledge and engagement of the students in preventive behaviours.