Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Mar 2021)

Practice and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Prevention and Divine Belief Among Residents in Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Survey

  • Melese Ayele W

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 987 – 995

Abstract

Read online

Wolde Melese Ayele Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Wolde Melese Ayele Email [email protected]: Coronavirus disease-2019 is an emerging disease that threatens the world. With the absence of successful treatment precipitated by the lack of health infrastructures in developing countries including Ethiopia, efforts to enhance the attitudes and practice of people are critical for managing the pandemic. Hence, this study aimed to assess the practice, attitude towards COVID-19, and divine belief among residents in Ethiopia.Patients and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study combining qualitative design was conducted in August 2020. The qualitative design was employed to explore the respondents’ divine belief towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Chi-square analysis was computed to identify factors associated with practice against COVID-19 prevention measures. The calculated chi-square greater than the tabulated value at a degree of freedom ((row total-1) * (column total)) and P-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: In this study, a total of 508 respondents participated. The mean age of the participants was 38.4 ± 11.2 (SD) years. The overall practice of prevention measures and attitude towards COVID-19 was 53.3% (95% CI: 49.0– 57.6%) and 49.6% (95% CI: 45.3– 53.9%), respectively. Age, residency, educational status, monthly income of the household, having a child, and attitude towards COVID-19 were statistically significant predictors of COVID-19 prevention measures (P< 0.05).Conclusion: As the global threat of COVID-19 continues, it is critical to improving the respondents’ practice and attitude towards the precautionary measures, especially some religious followers.Keywords: COVID-19, practice, attitudes, divine belief, Ethiopia

Keywords