Knowledge, attitude, and practices towards COVID-19: a cross-sectional study among nursing and midwifery students in Jalingo, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection rate and mortality among Nigerian health care workers appear to be on the increase. Aside from health workers, it has caused millions of infections and deaths worldwide. This study determined the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of nursing and midwifery students towards COVID-19 in a North-Eastern Nigerian state.Methods: A total of 156 respondents were involved in this institutional-based cross-sectional study, conducted after the lockdown period. A total of 17 questions were used to assess the KAP with knowledge appraised with 12 questions, attitudes with 2 questions, and practices with 3 questions.Results: The majority of the students (53.80%) possessed a good level of knowledge regarding COVID-19, while 40.4% had fair knowledge regarding COVID-19 with only 5.80% having poor knowledge of COVID-19. The mean knowledge of COVID-19 in this study was 9.40±1.353 with an overall 78% correct answer rate. A vast majority of the respondent (82.7% and 98.1%) had strong confidence in Nigeria and believed that the pandemic will soon be over, respectively. Only a few avoided large gatherings of people (30.8%) with the vast majority reporting to have worn a mask when going out (84.6%) and washing their hands with running water and soap frequently as recommended (73.1%). In multiple logistic regression analyses, the COVID-19 knowledge score (OR: 0.39-0.40, 95%CI: 0.26 – 0.62, P<0.05) was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of negative preventive practices towards COVID-19.Conclusions: The participants in this study showed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices toward COVID-19. There is still a need to strategize and implement periodic educational interventions and training on infection control practices among healthcare workers including students.

Attitude and practices among nursing students toward COVID-19 prevention

“…Also a similar study was conducted in North Eastern Nigeria [ 9]. concerning the knowledge, attitude, and practices of nursing and midwifery students about COVID-19 displayed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices.…”

“…A study was conducted in a North-Eastern Nigerian state to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of nursing and midwifery students towards COVID-19 displayed decent knowledge, positive attitudes, and decent practices [9]. While a study among Chinese healthcare students (including nursing) revealed that the students had favorable attitudes toward disease treatment but were poor knowledge about COVID-19 and preventative practices with respect to containing the spread of the disease [10].…”