Response to COVID-19 recommended preventive behavioral messages among Guraghe zone communities, South Ethiopia: using constructs of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM).

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 is a pandemic disease. Countries should take standard measures and responses to battle the effects of the viruses. However, little is known in Ethiopia regarding the recommended preventive behavioral messages responses. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the response to COVID-19 recommended preventive behavioral messages. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study design was carried out from 1 to 20, July 2020. We recruited 634 respondents by using a systematic sampling method. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package Software for Social Sciences version 23. Association between variables were explored using a bivariable and multi variable logistic regression model. The strength of the association is presented using odds ratio and regression coefficient with 95% confidence interval. A p-value of less than 0.05 was declared statistically significant. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-six (53.1%) of respondents had good response to recommended preventive behavioral messages. The general precise rate of the knowledge questionnaire was 92.21%. The study showed that merchant was 1.86 (p ≈ 0.01) times more likely respond to COVID-19 recommended preventive behavioral messages than government-employed. Respondents who scored one unit increase for self-efficacy and response-efficacy, the odds of responding to COVID-19 recommended preventive behavioral messages were increased by 1.22 (p < 0.001), and 1.05 times (p = 0.002) respectively. Respondents who scored one unit increase to cues to action, the odds of responding to COVID-19 recommended preventive behavioral messages were 43% (p < 0.001) less likely. CONCLUSION: Even though respondents were highly knowledgeable about COVID-19, there is a lower level of applying response to recommended preventive behavioral messages. Merchant, self-efficacy, response efficacy, and cues to action were significantly associated with response to recommended preventive behavioral messages. Like merchants, government employer should be applying preventive behavioral messages and also, participants' self and response efficacy should be strengthened to improve the response. In addition, we should be changed or modified the way how-to deliver relevant information, promoting awareness, and also using appropriate reminder systems to preventive behavioral messages.

Prevalence of Hypertension and Its Associated Factors Among Gimbi Town Residents, Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, sixty-two percent of cerebrovascular disease and forty-nine percent of ischemic heart disease are attributable to increased blood pressure. Half of the patients with stroke and heart disease were due to hypertension. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors in Gimbi town, Ethiopia. METHODS: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study from May to June 2017 on 471 participants in Gimbi town, western Ethiopia. A systematic sampling method was used to recruit study participants. Data collectors used structured questionnaires to gather data through face to face interview. The standardized procedure followed to measure blood pressure and anthropometric measurements by trained extension health workers. We entered data into Epi-data and exported to SPSS version 20.00 for analysis. Variables having a P-value less than or equal to 0.05 were declared as statistically significant in multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-one participants were included with a response rate of 98.85%, and 248 (52.6%) were female. The prevalence of isolated systolic and diastolic hypertension was 9.55% and 9.3%, respectively. Of 157 (33.5%) hypertensive participants, 117 (24.8%) were newly diagnosed. Age 35-55 [AOR: 2.335 95% CI (1.360-4.009)], ≥55 [(AOR: 3.566 95% CI (1.288-9.876))], occupation, government employee [(AOR: 3.072 95% CI (1.458-6.474))], merchants [(AOR: 3.177 95% CI (1.290-7.824))], ever alcohol drinker [(AOR: 2.333 95% CI (1.320-4.122))], and family history of hypertension [(AOR: 6.642 95% CI (4.068-10.843))] were found to be predictor variables for hypertension. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated a hidden high prevalence of hypertension indicating the need for stakeholders' collaboration to design and implement a mobile blood pressure screening programs at the community level.