Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Practices Towards COVID-19 Among Students of Ethiopian Higher Education Institutions

Gete Berihun,1 Zebader Walle,2 Daniel Teshome,3 Leykun Berhanu,1 Masresha Abebe,1 Ayechew Ademas,1 Adinew Gizeyatu,1 Awoke Keleb,1 Asmamaw Malede,1 Getaneh Atikilt,2 Abraham Teym,4 Metadel Adane1 1Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 2Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia; 3Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia; 4Department of Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gete Berihun Email geteberihun@gmail.comIntroduction: COVID-19 has been a global public health problem since December 2019. Higher education institutions are risky areas for the transmission of COVID-19. But, still there is insufficient information on the prevention of the disease in this setting.Objective: To assess knowledge, attitude, and prevention practices towards COVID-19 among students of Ethiopian higher education institutions.Methods: Institutin -based cross-sectional study design was conducted from December 1 to 30, 2020 among randomly selected 407 undergraduate students from higher education institutions in Ethiopia. The outcome variables were knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19. Binary logistic regression models at 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the factors affecting knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19. In multivariable analysis, variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant and independently associated with outcome variables at 95% CI.Results: About 75.9% (95% CI: 72.2– 79.9%) of University students had a good knowledge, 62.4% (95% CI: 58.2– 67.1%) had a positive attitude, and 56.8% (95% CI: 52.6– 61.9%) had a good COVID-19 prevention practices. Students over the age of 30 (AOR=5.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 10.6), third-year students