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Browsing Covid 19 by Subject "Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Covid-19"

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    Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on Covid-19 Among Tertiary Level Students in Blantyre Urban
    (Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, 2022-06-02) Nyalungwe, Jimmy; Kapatamoyo, Clement; Ngwira, Pater; Silumbu, Lusekelo
    This is a quantitative cross-sectional study aimed at analyzing the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practices related to COVID-19 transmission and its prevention among tertiary level students in Blantyre urban. The study will specifically estimate the level of knowledge on COVID-19 among tertiary level students, assess their attitude and practices related to COVID-19 and also identify determinant factors that influence knowledge, attitude and practices towards COVID-19 among the students. The study will employ a two-stage sampling technique consisting of the selection of schools and students. The participating institutions will be selected using a simple cluster sampling approach, with participants from the schools being selected using a convenience method. Two institutions will be selected and used for the study with an appropriate sample size of 102 participants. Data will be collected through questionnaires and will be managed using password protected computers and analyzed using Microsoft excel spreadsheet and presented in form of graphs, proportions and tables. This study is expected to find disparities in knowledge, attitude and practices among the tertiary level students related to COVID-19 transmission and how those differences influence its prevention. The results will be presented on the 4th year research dissemination day in 2022/2023 academic year through student’s presentations. Results will also be submitted to College of Medicine Research Ethic Committee, the Health Sciences Research Committee. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY BROAD OBJECTIVES 1. To analyze the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practices related to covid 19 transmission and its prevention. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 1. To estimate the level of knowledge on COVID-19 among university school students 2. To assess attitudes and practices on COVID-19 among university school students 3. To identify determinant factors that influence knowledge, attitudes and practices related to COVID-19 4. To explore students’ perceptions on covid 19 vaccination METHODOLOGY TYPE OF STUDY DESIGN This is a quantitative cross sectional study design. Quantitative study because quantitative data collection instruments fit diversity and produce results that are easy to summarize, compare and generalize. A cross sectional study design will be used because multiple variables will be studied at the same time and data will be collected at one point in time. STUDY POPULATION This study will include KUHES and MUBAS students Inclusion criteria:Students that are above 18 years old will be eligible to participate in this study, irrespective of the year or program of study that they are enrolled in. Exclusion criteria: All those that are below 18 years of age and are not part of the designated institutions. STUDY PLACE The study will take place in KUHES and MUBAS Schools in Blantyre urban. We chose KUHES and MUBAS for the following reasons: • Students from these two institutions are a unique target population for our study because of their diversities in their cultural, social and traditional backgrounds. • They represent a group with different knowledge on health issues as KUHES is a medical university and MUBAS is not. • They can also be a source of increased health awareness and health education not only for themselves but also for those around them as they take part in the dissemination of pandemic-related knowledge supporting the prevention and control of the pandemic. • Ease of access and proximity as the two universities are near therefore reducing transport costs and minimizing our budget. SAMPLE SIZE The sample size for the study was calculated using the formula below: n=z2p(1-p) /e2 where: n = sample size for the study z = the coefficient at a given level of confidence, which we set, at 90% level of confidence, Z=1.65. p = the Prevalence, since it is unknown, we set it to 50% e = Margin of error (allowed error) which we set to 8.2% Calculations: n = 1.652 (0.5) (1-0.5) 0.0822 n = 2.7225(0.5) (1-0.5) 0.0822 n = 0.6806 0.0067 n=102 Our calculated sample size will be 102 participants, of which we will divide it by two so that each of the two institutions should have half of the total number of participants. Therefore, from each of the two institutions, there will be 51 participants. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE The study will adopt a two-stage sampling technique consisting of the selection of schools and students. For the primary sampling unit, the study will use simple cluster sampling based on the list of universities in Blantyre urban, two schools will be selected (using this primary technique we already selected KUHES and MUBAS). Within each selected school, sample of students will be selected using a non-probability sampling approach, namely convenience sampling. Reasons: • We employed cluster sampling method in this study because it allows reduced economy when carrying out research. • We also used the convenience approach because it is cheap and ease of accessibility and proximity of the study participants to the researcher. STUDY PERIOD The study will be done in a period of 6 weeks with first week being dedicated for seeking permission to conduct the study at the designated schools, then 3 weeks for data collection and analysis. After that a week will be dedicated for report preparation and submission and the other final week for dissemination of the results of the research at the students’ presentations. DATA COLLECTION Data will be collected by the investigators from the designated schools in a period of 2 weeks. Self-administered questionnaires will be used to obtain data from participants. It includes multiple choice questions and Likert scales. DATA MANAGEMENT, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION Data will be transcribed from the questionnaires into Microsoft excel sheet and epi info 7. It is from the excel sheet and epi info 7 where all analysis will be derived to calculate descriptive statistics such as counts and percentages to show socio- demographic characteristics. Pearson product moment correlation will be used to establish relationships between knowledge, attitudes and practices. Data results will be presented in form of pie charts, tables and graphs. DISSEMINATION OF RESULTS The results of our research will be presented at the end of our 4th year research rotation in the 2022/2023 academic year. Copies will be submitted to COMREC, the Health Sciences Research Committee, College of Medicine Library, URPC and Malawi Medical Journals.