Self Risk Perception and Knowledge of CoVID-19 among Young People in in two selected Wallaga zones, West Oromia (Preprint)

Abstract

Abstract Background: The rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health crisis. However, as the CoVID-19 is a new pandemic infectious disease, how people, particularly young people, perceive self risks to COVID -19 and associated factors is not well understood .

Objective: The general objective of this study was to assess the perceived self -risk perception; health behaviours related to CoVID-19 and associated factors among young people (18-24yrs) in selected Wollega zones

Methods and materials: A community based cross sectional study design was conducted from July to August, 2021. The study was conducted in 10 selected districts of Horo Guduru Wallaga and East Wollega Zones (four from Horo Guduru Wallaga and 6 from East Wallaga Zone) and two zonal capitals, Nekemte and Shambu. The total sample size was 630 young people aged 18-24 years. This sample size was proportionally distributed to the selected study areas based on their population size. Data collection tool was developed from different literature in English and translated to Afan Oromo, the regional language, and was pretested on young people with similar demographic characteristics out of the study areas. Data collectors were recruited from each site and were trained for two days. Data was collected by house–to- house survey. Descriptive, covariate and multivariate analysis was done after data was cleaned for error.

Result: Almost all (99.7%) of the respondents have ever heard about corona virus and 97.1 % reported that they know the modes of transmission of corona virus. However, only less than fifty percent (46.6%) of the study participants mentioned droplet as major mode of transmission of corona virus. The majority knew the sign and symptoms of COVID-19 and that it is preventable. Age and awareness level of participants on the cause of CoVID-19 was significantly associated with self-risk perception.

Conclusion: Even though, almost all young people have ever heard about corona virus, there is a knowledge gap in the mode of transmission and prevention methods of Corona virus. Age and awareness level on the cause of CoVID-19 disease was positively associated with self-risk perception.