Applied Medical Research. 2021;
8(2):(113-155)
COVID-19: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Prevention and Associated Factors among Gimbi Town Residents Western F Ethiopia at an Early Phase
Keneni Ephrem Dibissa, Getahun Fetensa*, Mangistu Tamiru and Alemnesh Mosisa
Abstract
Introduction: Corona virus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) is a newly occurred respiratory disease that is resulted
from a novel corona virus.
Objective: to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards prevention of corona virus and
contributing factors among Gimbi Town residents, West Wollega, Ethiopia.
Method: Community based cross sectional study design was undertaken between May 16/2020to 20/2020
on a total of 460 using systematic random sampling face to face interview method was used for data
collection. SPSS version 25.00 was used for in which variable having p-value <0.25 in bi-variable analysis
was considered as candidate for final model. P-value ≤0.05 was taken as for significant variable. A one-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to assess the mean differences.
Result and Conclusion: A total of 460 respondents were included with a response rate of 99.8%. In this
study 64.3%, 58.5% and 48.3% of the study participants were regarded as having good knowledge, favorable
attitude and good practice respectively. Variables like educational status at ((AOR=3.12, 95%CI (1.1-8.8)),
age, at ((AOR=3.89, 95%CI, (1.19-12.65)), were independently associated with knowledge. In another way
knowledge had significant association ((AOR=2.67, 95%CI (1.76-4.06)) with attitude, while age had association
with practice at ((AOR=3.37, 95%CI (1.29-8.78)) in final model.
More than half of respondents have good knowledge and satisfactory attitude that was not similarly
implemented into practice. This reveals that efforts are needed in behavioral change for practice and
enforcing the law to improve the practices of the community.
