COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Associated Factors Among College Students in Dessie City, Northeastern Ethiopia.

Background: The COVID-19 vaccine is regarded as an effective measure for reducing the pandemic's impact. But, COVID-19 disease burden reduction efforts are being affected by the rising vaccine resistance. Objective: To assess the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among college students in Dessie city, Northeastern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was carried out among college students in Dessie town from July 1-20, 2021. The association between independent and dependent variables was assessed by binary logistic regression analysis using crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio. Variables having p values of less than 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval were regarded as potential determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Results: A total of 422 college students participated in the study with a response rate of 95.6%. More than half 226 (56.2%) of the participants had willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents who had history of chronic medical illness (AOR: 4.340, 95% CI: 1.166, 16.149), training on COVID-19 vaccine (AOR: 4.755, 95% CI: 2.606, 6.674), history of regular vaccine uptake (AOR: 2.534, 95% CI: 1.412, 4.549), perception of COVID-19 severity (AOR: 4.109, 95% CI: 2.190, 7.710), perception that COVID-19 can be prevented by vaccine (AOR: 2.420, 95% CI: 1.160, 5.049), and development of herd immunity against COVID-19 vaccines (AOR: 2.566, 95% CI: 1.431, 4.599) were factors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Conclusion: The acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among college students was low. The history of chronic medical illness, training on COVID-19 vaccine, history of vaccine uptake, perception that COVID-19 can be prevented by vaccine, perception of herd immunity development against COVID-19, and severity of COVID 19 infection were factors significantly associated with the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine. Hence, it is necessary to promote COVID-19 vaccination among college students through health education and vaccine outreach.

Survival Time to COVID-19 Severity and Its Predictors in South Gondar Zone, North-West Ethiopia: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Coronavirus disease is still a global public health emergency. Due to an inadequate healthcare system in low-income nations like Ethiopia, the pandemic has had a devastating impact. Despite this, information on the severity of COVID-19 and related difficulties in Ethiopia is sparse. Therefore, we aimed to determine the survival time to severity and predictors of COVID-19 in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A prospective follow-up study was conducted among 202 adult COVID-19 patients in the South Gondar zone treatment centers. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and then exported to Stata 16 for analysis. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate mean survival time, and Log rank tests were used to compare survival time between explanatory variable groups. A cox-proportional hazards regression model with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05 was used to identify covariates associated with the outcome variable. Results: The patients' average age was 41.2 years. With an IQR of 4-7 days, the median time to COVID-19 severity was 5 days. The overall COVID-19 severity rate was 6.35 (95% CI: 5.17-7.86) per 100 person-days observed. Senior adult age group (51-59 years) (AHR = 3.59, 95% CI: 1.05, 12.23), elderly age group (≥60 years) (AHR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.09, 12.67), comorbidity (AHR = 3.26, 95% CI: 1.48, 7.18), high blood pressure at admission (AHR = 4.36, 95% CI: 1.99, 9.54), and high temperature at admission (AHR = 5.60, 95% CI: 2.55, 12.46) were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity time. Conclusion and Recommendation: Patients with COVID-19 had a short median severity time, and factors like older age, comorbidity, high temperature, and high blood pressure were all independent predictors of severity time. Patients with high body temperature, blood pressure, comorbidity, and advanced age should be the focus of interventions to reduce progression time and improve clinical outcomes.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Misconceptions About COVID-19 Prevention Practices Among High and Preparatory School Students in Dessie City, Ethiopia.

Background: Knowledge, attitudes, and misconceptions of students about COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) prevention have been examined in relatively few studies. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions about COVID-19 prevention practices among high and preparatory school (grades 9 to 12) students in Dessie City, Ethiopia. Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study used a pre-tested structured questionnaire and direct observations from March 1 to 30, 2021 in 5 high and preparatory school students in Dessie City, Ethiopia. The sample size was proportionally allocated in each school based on the number of students registered in the first semester, stratified by grade level, and section. Data analysis employed 3 binary logistic regression models (Models I, II and III) with 95% CI (confidence interval). Bivariate analysis (crude odds ratio [COR]) and multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]) were used. Variables with P-values <0.3 in the bivariate analysis were retained in the multivariable logistic regression analysis for each model. Variables with significance levels P<0.05 in the multivariable analysis of each model was identified as significant factors. Results: The levels of good knowledge, positive attitudes, and low misconceptions were 74.8%, 60.2%, and 56.1%, respectively. After adjusting for the covariates, grade 12, positive attitude and living in households with more than 5 members were identified as factors significantly associated with good knowledge about COVID-19 prevention practices. Good knowledge of COVID-19 prevention practices, household size >5, infection prevention and control (IPC) training, and low level of misconceptions were factors significantly associated with positive attitudes, whereas students age ≥18 years, positive attitude, and IPC training were factors significantly associated with less misconceptions about COVID-19 prevention measures. Conclusion: The prevalence of good knowledge, positive attitude, and low level of misconceptions of prevention practices for COVID-19 among students was relatively low. Therefore, Dessie City Health and Education Department and each high and preparatory school should implement continuous monitoring programs to ensure high prevention awareness and promote preventive behavior towards COVID-19.

Access to and challenges in water, sanitation, and hygiene in healthcare facilities during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia: A mixed-methods evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in healthcare facilities (HCFs) have an impact on the transmission of infectious diseases, including COVID-19 pandemic. But, there is limited data on the status of WASH facilities in the healthcare settings of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess WASH facilities and related challenges in the HCFs of Northeastern Ethiopia during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2020. About 70 HCFs were selected using a simple random sampling technique. We used a mixed approach of qualitative and quantitative study. The quantitative data were collected by an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and observational checklist, whereas the qualitative data were collected using a key-informant interview from the head of HCFs, janitors, and WASH coordinator of the HCFs. The quantitative data were entered in EpiData version 4.6 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 for data cleaning and analysis. The quantitative data on access to WASH facilities was reported using WHO ladder guidelines, which include no access, limited access, and basic access, whereas the qualitative data on challenges to WASH facilities were triangulated with the quantitative result. RESULTS: From the survey of 70 HCFs, three-fourths 53 (75.7%) were clinics, 12 (17.2%) were health centers, and 5 (7.1%) were hospitals. Most (88.6%) of the HCFs had basic access to water supply. The absence of a specific budget for WASH facilities, non-functional water pipes, the absence of water-quality monitoring systems, and frequent water interruptions were the major problems with water supply, which occurred primarily in clinics and health centers. Due to the absence of separate latrine designated for disabled people, none of the HCFs possessed basic sanitary facilities. Half (51.5%) of the HCFs had limited access to sanitation facilities. The major problems were the absence of separate latrines for healthcare workers and clients, as well as female and male staffs, an unbalanced number of functional latrines for the number of clients, non-functional latrines, poor cleanliness and misuse of the latrine. Less than a quarter of the HCFs 15 (21.4%) had basic access to handwashing facilities, while half 35 (50%) of the HCFs did not. The lack of functional handwashing facilities at expected sites and misuse of the facilities around the latrine, including theft of supplies by visitors, were the two most serious problems with hygiene facilities. CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that the majority of HCFs had basic access to water, there were problems in their sanitation and handwashing facilities. The lack of physical infrastructure, poor quality of facilities, lack of separate budget to maintain WASH facilities, and inappropriate utilization of WASH facilities were the main problems in HCFs. Further investigation should be done to assess the enabling factors and constraints for the provision, use, and maintenance of WASH infrastructure at HCFs.

COVID-19 infection prevention practices among a sample of food handlers of food and drink establishments in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world, including Ethiopia. Food handlers in food and drink establishments are at high risk of exposure to the virus due to their many daily contacts with customers. Since there is a paucity of evidence about infection prevention practices and associated factors among this high-risk group in Ethiopia including in Dessie City and Kombolcha Town, this study was designed to address this gap. METHOD: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 food handlers in Dessie City and Kombolcha Town food and drink establishments in July and August 2020. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected by trained data collectors using a pretested structured questionnaire and an on-the-spot observational checklist. Data were entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to STATA version 14.0 for data cleaning and analysis. Data were analyzed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model at 95% confidence interval (CI). From the bivariable analysis, variables with a p-value <0.25 were retained into multivariable analysis. Finally, variables that had a p-value <0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with good infection prevention practices of COVID-19 among food handlers. MAIN FINDINGS: The overall rate of good practice in infection prevention among food handlers was 43.9% (95% CI: 39.2-48.4%). Among the total 401 food handlers, 79.8% had good knowledge and 58.4% had a favorable attitude about COVID-19 infection prevention. Factors significantly associated with good COVID-19 infection prevention practices were: educational status of college or above (AOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.32-3.75), food handling work experience greater than five years (AOR = 2.55; 95% CI: 1.43-5.77), availability of written guidelines within the food and drink establishment (AOR = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.52-4.75), and taking training about infection prevention (AOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.61-6.61). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that around one-third of food handlers had good infection prevention practices. Thus, to reduce COVID-19 transmission, integrated work is urgently needed to further improve food handlers' good practices, knowledge and attitude about infection prevention through providing health education, training and by making written infection prevention guidelines available in food and drink establishments.

COVID-19 Prevention Practices and Determinant Factors Among Healthcare Professionals Working in Hospitals of South Gondar Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a global public health crisis since December 2019. Health care professionals (HCP) are highly vulnerable for contracting the disease. Due to the absence of known treatment, prevention is the best option for controlling its transmission. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess COVID-19 prevention practices and determinant factors among HCP working in hospitals of South Gondar ZoneH, Northwestern Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was used from July 1 to 30, 2020 among 372 HCPs. The participants were selected on random sampling technique basis. Data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V.25) software for data cleaning and analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between independent variables and prevention practice of COVID-19. RESULTS: A total of 372 HCPs participated in the study with a response rate of 94.9%. Less than one-third 112 (30.1%) of the participants were females. About 308 (82.8%), 285 (76.6%), and 224 (60.2%) of the participants had good knowledge, positive attitude, and good prevention practice towards COVID-19, respectively. Being male (AOR =2.68; 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.50,4.81), 2-5 years working experience (AOR= 4.61; 95% CI: 1.70,12.47), greater than five years working experience (AOR= 5.86; 95% CI: 2.01,17.05), age of 31-40 years old (AOR= 2.49; 95% CI; 1.41,4.41), above 40 years (AOR= 6.94; 95% CI: 2.33-20.71), use of COVID-19 guideline (AOR= 4.79; 95% CI: 2.17-10.53), and using peers as sources of information about COVID-19 (AOR= 2.06; 95% CI: 1.07-3.94) were factors of COVID-19 prevention practices. CONCLUSION: Less than two-thirds of the participants had good COVID-19 prevention practices. Sex, work experience, age, use of COVID-19 guideline, and using peers as sources of information were factors of COVID-19 prevention practices. Hence, continuous information dissemination and experience sharing on COVID-19 prevention should be done continuously.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine and Determinant Factors Among Patients with Chronic Disease Visiting Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northeastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Despite the implementation of different COVID-19 prevention measures, the incidence of the disease continues to rise. Hence, vaccines have been taken as the best option for controlling the transmission of the disease. Although the approved COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective, multiple beliefs and misconceptions still exist influencing its acceptance. OBJECTIVE: To assess the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and determinant factors among chronic patients visiting Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northeastern Ethiopia. METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study design was used among patients with chronic diseases visiting Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from May 1 to 20, 2021 using a consecutive sampling technique. Binary logistic regression analysis using crude odd ratio (COR) and adjusted odd ratio (AOR) was performed to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. Variables having p values of less than 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered as factors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. RESULTS: A total of 416 respondents participated in the survey, with a response rate of 98.6%. About 59.4% of the respondents were willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Participants who had health insurance (AOR=1.812; 95% CI: 1.703-3.059), knew anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 (AOR=2.482; 95% CI: 1.427-4.317), having good knowledge of the COVID-19 vaccine (AOR=6.890; 95% CI: 3.900-120.17), and having a positive attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR=7.725; 95% CI: 4.024-14.830) were factors affecting the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSION: The acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine was low. Use of health insurance, knowing anyone who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, knowledge, and attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine were factors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Healthcare professionals should conduct continuous awareness creation campaigns on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine, safety, and its efficacy. Further studies like longitudinal and qualitative studies should be conducted to identify additional barriers to vaccine acceptance particularly in high-risk groups.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Practices Towards COVID-19 Among Students of Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 has been a global public health problem since December 2019. Higher education institutions are risky areas for the transmission of COVID-19. But, still there is insufficient information on the prevention of the disease in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge, attitude, and prevention practices towards COVID-19 among students of Ethiopian higher education institutions. METHODS: Institutin  -based cross-sectional study design was conducted from December 1 to 30, 2020 among randomly selected 407 undergraduate students from higher education institutions in Ethiopia. The outcome variables were knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19. Binary logistic regression models at 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the factors affecting knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19. In multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant and independently associated with outcome variables at 95% CI. RESULTS: About 75.9% (95% CI: 72.2-79.9%) of University students had a good knowledge, 62.4% (95% CI: 58.2-67.1%) had a positive attitude, and 56.8% (95% CI: 52.6-61.9%) had a good COVID-19 prevention practices. Students over the age of 30 (AOR=5.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 10.6), third-year students (AOR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.1, 8.9), and being health science students (AOR=4.4; 95% CI: 2.2, 8.9) were significantly associated with a good knowledge towards COVID-19. Urban residents (AOR=0.6; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9), having an average family monthly income of $75USD (AOR=3.5; 95% CI: 1.8-6.7), use of at least one type of social media (AOR=4.7; 95% CI: 1.7-12.9), and having a positive attitude (AOR=2.2; 95% CI: 1.3-3.5) were significantly associated with COVID-19 prevention practices. CONCLUSION: Despite three-fourths of the participants had a good knowledge, the attitude and prevention practices were low. Age, study year, College of study, presence of chronic illnesses, use of social media, family income, and residence were factors of knowledge, attitude, and prevention practices towards COVID-19. Hence, multiple information dissemination strategies using multiple media outlets should be implemented continuously.

COVID-19 Prevention Practices and Associated Factors Among Farmers in Peri-Urban Areas of Northeastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a global health threat due to its rapid spread and ability to kill millions of people. The majority of pandemic-fighting approaches rely on prevention activities, which can be influenced by a variety of factors. Farmers are more vulnerable to COVID-19, so evaluating existing prevention practices and associated factors is critical to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To assess COVID-19 prevention practices and associated factors among farmers in peri-urban areas of Northeastern Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 409 selected farmers. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews and on-the-spot-observational checklist. Data were analyzed using bivariable logistic regression model at 95% CI (confidence interval). During the bivariable analysis (crude odds ratio [COR]), varibales having a p-value of less than 0.250 were included into the multivariable analysis (adjsuted odds ratio [AOR]). Factors associated with COVID-19 preventive practices were determined using a multivariable analysis at a p-value of 0.050. RESULTS: Of 409 participants, 206 (63.6%), 157 (38.4%), and 117 (28.6%) of them had satisfactory knowledge, positive attitude, and good prevention practices about COVID-19, respectively. Age of the farmers with greater than or equal to 45 years (AOR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.7-6.1), educational status of secondary school and above (AOR: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.4-6.6), and income level of having greater than or equal to 2,001.00 Ethiopian birr (ETB) (AOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.4) were all found to be significantly associated with the COVID-19 prevention practices. CONCLUSION: Even though the majority of farmers had satisfactory knowledge, a considerable proportion of them had a negative attitude and poor COVID-19 prevention practices. Age, educational status, and income level are factors associated with COVID-19 prevention practices. Hence, health education should be given to improve the farmers' knowledge, attitudes and prevention practices to minimize the risk of COVID-19 among farmers in semi-urban areas of northestern Ethiopia.