ABSTRACT
Objectives: COVID-19 is a global health concern due to its rapid spread and impact on morbidity and mortality. Implementing preventive measures plays an essential role in curbing the spread of COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 preventive practice and associated factors in Ethiopia. Study design: This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Methods: Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, EMBASE, African Journal Online (AJOL) and Science Direct search engines were used to identify relevant articles published up to early December 2021. The Joana Brigg's Institute (JBI) checklist was used for quality appraisal. A random-effect model was fitted to calculate the pooled estimates. Higgins I2 statistics and Egger's test with funnel plots were analysed to check heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Due to significant heterogeneity, subgroup analysis by region, study population, study design and publication year, as well as sensitivity analysis, were done to assess the source of heterogeneity. Results: The pooled level of poor preventive practice for COVID-19 in Ethiopia was 51.60% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.30-62.90). Poor COVID-19 preventive practice declined from 61% in studies published in 2020 to 45% in 2021. Lack of knowledge about COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.61 [95% CI: 2.49-10.73]), a negative attitude towards COVID-19 management (AOR = 2.64 [95% CI: 1.82-3.82]), rural residence (AOR = 2.95 [95% CI: 2.12-4.12]), a low educational level (AOR = 2.93 [95% CI: 2.16-3.98]) and being female (AOR = 1.75 [95% CI: 1.27-2.40]) were significantly associated with a poor level of COVID-19 preventive practice in Ethiopia. Conclusions: The level of poor COVID-19 preventive practice in Ethiopia was relatively high. Poor COVID-19 prevention practices were significantly correlated with inadequate COVID-19 knowledge, a negative attitude towards COVID-19 management, low educational attainment, living in a rural area and being female. Creating awareness and health education programmes targeting COVID-19 prevention should be strengthened, especially in the target populations identified in this study.