ABSTRACT
Background The incidence of corona-virus-positive persons in Africa, notably in Ethiopia, is rapidly increasing, leading to enhanced analyses. Even though the majority of people exhibit COVID-19's key symptoms, many refuse to go to the hospital to have the virus tested. This study aims to assess probable COVID-19 participants and the related characteristics among residents of Northwest Ethiopian municipal towns. Methods This project contains participants enlisted from Northwest Ethiopia municipal towns, and a cross-sectional data collection approach was employed. A total of 1,288 arbitrarily designated contestants accomplished an actively screening test questionnaire that was used to assess whether the participants were suspected of coronavirus. The statistical analysis Chi-square test and a binary logistic regression were implemented. Results Among the 1,288 designated contestants, 788 (61.2%) of them were men. About 77.5% of the participants were from orthodox religion and 12.2% live in the rural area permanently. As compared to female participants (45.9%), the number of suspected male participants (54.1%) was higher. As compared to societies in Woldya municipal town, populations in Bahir Dar (aOR = 0.101;95% CI = 0.065,0.156), Gondar (aOR = 0.072;95% CI = 0.043,0.122), and Debre Markos (aOR = 0.368;95% CI = 0.271,0.501) municipal town were less likely to be suspected of COVID-19. Equated to the employed contestants, unemployed contestants had lower odds of being suspected of COVID-19 (aOR = 0.147;95% CI = 0.1160.186). Conclusion The prevalence of suspected cases of coronavirus in Northwest Ethiopia was considerably high. The city of residence, work status, hospital use, marital status, permanent residence, and source of information were important determinants of suspected cases of coronavirus. Thus, timely diagnosis of suspected cases of coronavirus and taking the appropriate remedial action help to reduce the spread and mortality rate.
ABSTRACT
Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, are increasing rapidly following improved testing. This study is aimed at assessing the perceptions and practices towards coronavirus among the metropolitan city population of Amhara region, Ethiopia, and examining the associated factors affecting public perceptions and practices regarding coronavirus among the population of metropolitan cities. A total of 1288 randomly selected participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess perceptions and practices towards coronavirus and associated factors. The statistical analysis involved fitting a binary logistic regression model and a chi-square test. Of 1288 study participants, 788 (61.2%) and 500 (38.8%) were male and female, respectively. Their average age and monthly income were 29.2 years and 2484 birr, respectively. Preventive measures followed by the participants involved washing hands with soap and water rubbing for at least 20 seconds (55.4%) and visiting a doctor when corona symptoms show up (49.5%). Permanent rural residents had lower odds of good perception and practices regarding coronavirus (aOR=0.505;95% CI=0.15, 0.82) as compared to permanent urban resident participants. Due to misguided perceptions and practices, the prevalence of coronavirus in metropolitan city communities of Amhara region is high. The city of residence, marital status, educational level, permanent residence, and information sources were significantly associated with people's perceptions and practices towards the prevention of coronavirus. Perceptions and practices towards coronavirus had a significant positive correlation in terms of preventive measures against coronavirus. Therefore, the authors would like to recommend if substantive effort from the government and different stakeholders regarding to raising the perception and practices of communities in the cities towards the pandemic and reduce the collateral damage especially the lower income communities who cannot afford basic needs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The onset of corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic brought about multiple crises with financial, social, and political dimensions, and problems involving absence or scarcity of medication, food, and other amenities. COVID led to reports of severe hunger, stress, sexual violence, and associated complications. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of sexual violence, hunger, stress, indoor fighting, and related complications caused by the corona virus, and determining factors associated with it. METHODS: A cross-sectional design study involving a total of 1288 participants recruited from Amhara Metropolitan cities was implemented. Each participant completed a questionnaire regarding experience of sexual violence, hunger, stress, indoor fighting, and other complications faced due to COVID-19. A statistical analysis was done by fitting binary logistic regression model, independent t-test and Chi-squared test. RESULTS: From the total participants, 1288 (26.2%) were displaced, while 39.9% were unemployed due COVID-19. About half of the participants (48.8%) experienced general distress, 33.8% faced sexual violence, 18.2% experienced hunger, 8.4% faced indoor fighting. The majority (81.7%) of non-corona virus patients in government health-care institutions faced lack of treatment. For every unit increase of monthly income during COVID-19, the estimated odds of participants experiencing sexual violence decreased by 31.3% (aOR=0.687). Educational level, work status, and monthly salary before and during corona virus were important factors of hunger. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 pandemic led to considerably high prevalence of sexual violence, hunger, stress, and indoor fighting. Work status of participants was an important associated factor of hunger, stress, and indoor fighting. Sex of participants and their monthly income were significantly associated with increase in sexual violence during COVID-19. In addition to a general economic recession, a decrease in treatment of non-COVID-19 patients was noticed, particularly in government hospitals.