Mediation effect of attitude and factors associated with practice towards corona virus disease-19 transmission prevention among students, Southern Ethiopia: - Generalized structural equation modeling approach.

Abstract

Abstract Background: - Ethiopia has taken unprecedented preventive and precautionary steps to monitor spread of COVID 19, safeguard people and ensure their well-being against novel corona virus disease. Numerous organizations, including schools like prep and high schools, have been affected by the viral epidemic. A generalized structural equation modeling approach was used in this study to identify factors associated with COVID-19 preventative practice (GSEM). Because knowledge, attitudes, and practices are latent constructs measured by survey items, GSEM is a suitable method for this study's variables. GSEM is suitable for answering the study's research questions due to its capacity to examine mediation with latent variables. This study sought to determine the extent and correlates of preparatory and high school students' knowledge, attitude, and practice of Corona virus disease-19. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 29 – April 08, 2021. A total of 1003 students from eight different schools were participated in the research. Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) was employed to examine the relationship between variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Result and Conclusion: In this study, age [adjusted β = 0.151], gender [adjusted β = 0.586], residence [adjusted β = 0.471], education [adjusted β = 0.38], comorbidity [adjusted β =1.144], and attitude [adjusted β = 0.880] positively predicted COVID-19 prevention practices both directly and indirectly, while knowledge only indirectly [adjusted β = 1.037] predicted practices. Age had direct [adjusted β = 0.108] and indirect [adjusted β = 0.043] positive effects. Females and urban residents adhered more to precautions than males and rural residents. Father's education of college and above predicted better practices compared to unable to read and write. Comorbidity had direct [adjusted β = 1.024], indirect [adjusted β = 0.120], and total positive effects. Positive attitude was significantly associated with better adherence to preventive practices. Therefore, because having better knowledge does not translate into good COVID-19 preventive and control practices. Rather, intervention aimed at a positive attitude would benefit controlling strategies of the pandemics.