Knowledge, Response, and Perceived Risk Towards Coronavirus Disease 2019 Among Village Health Teams in Kassanda District, Uganda
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Date
2023-09-07
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Uganda Christian University
Abstract
Introduction: Despite the recent progress in COVID-19 vaccine development and implementation, COVID-19 remains a threat to the global healthcare systems. VHTs are key in the management of the pandemic and thus important in the system knowledge, response, and perceived risk towards coronavirus disease.
Study Objective: To assess the level of knowledge and associated factors, response activities, and perceived risk of COVID-19 among Village Health Teams in Kassanda district
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, involving mixed methods of data collection. A sample of 273 VHTs participated in the study. Data entry and cleaning was done using Ms Excel 2016 and analyzed with STATA version 14.0. Quantitative data analysis was done at univariate level to generate frequencies, proportions and percentages., bivariate and multivariate analysis was done to generate Odds Ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals and p- values were used to infer statistical associations between the predictor and outcome variables. Logistic regression was conducted providing crude and adjusted odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: A total of 273 respondents were involved in this study. Of these, more than half 54.6% (149/273) of the participants were female, about half 49.1% (134/273) had attained O’level education. More than three quarters 84.6% (231/273) of the VHTs had high level of knowledge. Secondary education (adj. OR = 2.6, 95% CI; 1.25, 5.61 p = 0.01), and source of training being District Health Team (adj. OR = 7.7, 95% CI; 3.16, 18.85 p<0.001) were factors found to be associated with the level of knowledge of VHTs on COVID-19. The response activities of VHTs that were involved in the COVID-19 response in Kassanda district were community sensitization, follow up of Covid 19 positive cases and support home-based care for mild cases.
Conclusion: The level of knowledge of VHTs on COVID-19 was high. The factors associated with the level of knowledge of VHTs on COVID-19 was secondary education and source of training being District Health Team. The response activities of VHTs carried out during the Covid 19 pandemic was community sensitization, follow up of Covid 19 positive cases and support home-based care for mild cases.
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Masters dissertation