Factors associated with COVID-19 knowledge among Ghanaians: A national survey

Reduction in diarrhea cases following implementation of COVID-19 hand hygiene interventions in Ghana: A causal impact analysis

BACKGROUND

The human hand has constant contact with the environment, hence requires regular hand hygiene. Hand hygiene has gained recognition because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is a largely effective, affordable preventive measure against infectious diseases. This study used both national and sub-national analyses to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 handwashing guidelines on instances of diarrhea in Ghana.

METHODS

Data on diarrhea cases spanning February 2018 and March 2022 were retrieved from the District Health Information Management System (DHIMS 2) using a data extraction guide. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The difference in diarrhea cases between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods was measured using a two-sample t-test across Ghana's 16 administrative areas. Causal Impact package in R statistical software was employed to determine the impact of the introduction of COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols on diarrheal disease.

RESULTS

A total of 5,645,533 diarrheal cases reported between February 2018 and March 2022 through the routine MIS (DHIMS2) were examined. Fifty-three percent of the cases occurred before the introduction of the hand hygiene protocol. Descriptive statistics indicated a statistically significant decrease in average diarrheal cases during the hand hygiene implementation era (13,463 cases reduction, p<0.001). Sub-national analyses revealed significant reductions in various regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and Volta (p<0.05). Causal impact analysis confirmed 11.0% nationwide reduction in diarrheal cases attributed to the COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the effectiveness of COVID-19 hand hygiene protocols in reducing diarrheal morbidity in Ghana, with varying regional impacts. These findings advocate for the sustenance of investments and commitments made at the COVID hand hygiene protocols, particularly in this era where the pandemic appears controlled.

Factors associated with Covid-19 vaccine acceptance among persons with disabilities: A cross-sectional study in Ghana

BACKGROUND

While COVID-19 has had a wide-ranging impact on individuals and societies, persons with disabilities are uniquely affected largely due to secondary health conditions and challenges in adhering to protective measures. However, research on COVID-19 and vaccine acceptance has primarily focused on the general population and healthcare workers but has specifically not targeted PwDs, who are more vulnerable within societies. Hence, this study assessed PwDs knowledge of COVID-19 and factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among PwDs in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Respondents were sampled systematically and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed with STATA version 16.0. Descriptive analysis was done using means and proportions. The chi-square test and Logistic regression were used to assess Covid-19 vaccine acceptance among the respondents.

RESULTS

250 PwDs were recruited for the study. A higher proportion of the respondents were females, physically impaired, and between 30-50 years. The majority (74%) of the PwDs had average knowledge about Covid-19. Factors such as age, educational level and type of disability were significantly associated with PwDs' knowledge of COVID-19. The acceptance rate for COVID-19 among PwDs was 71.2%. Age, religion, knowledge of COVID-19, and educational level were significantly associated with Covid-19 vaccine acceptance. Persons with disabilities with low and average knowledge of COVID-19 were 95% and 65%, respectively, less likely to accept the vaccine compared to those with high knowledge of COVID-19 (AOR = 0.05, 95%CI: 0.01, 0.21; AOR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.12, 1.03). Older people and those with higher education were more likely to accept the vaccine compared to younger people and those with no or less education.

CONCLUSION

Persons with disabilities have average knowledge of COVID-19 and a greater percentage of them were willing to accept the vaccine. The study identified age, religion, knowledge of COVID-19, and educational level as contributing factors to their willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. This suggest that PwDs will lean positive toward COVID-19 vaccine programs and as such, vaccination programs should target them.

Knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, and prevention: Evidence from health and demographic surveillance in Southern Mozambique

Understanding community members' knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and prevention is essential for directing public health interventions to reduce disease spread and improve vaccination coverage. Here, we describe knowledge of COVID-19 transmission, prevention, and symptoms among community residents in Mozambique. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 33,087 households in a Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Manhiça, Mozambique. Participants were recruited in April 2021 before the Delta variant wave to the peak of Omicron cases in February 2022. Principal components analysis was used to create scores representing knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, and prevention. Multiple imputation and quasi-Poisson regression were used to examine associations between demographic characteristics and sources of COVID-19 information, and knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, and prevention. We examined whether sources of COVID-19 information mediated the relationship between educational attainment and knowledge of symptoms, transmission, and prevention. Across this rural community, 98.2%, 97.0%, and 85.1% of respondents reported knowing how COVID-19 could be prevented, that SARS-CoV-2 can cause disease, and how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted, respectively. The most recognized COVID-19 symptoms were cough (51.2%), headaches (44.9%), and fever (44.5%); transmission mechanisms were saliva droplets (50.5%) or aerosol (46.9%) from an infected person; and prevention measures were handwashing (91.9%) and mask-wearing (91.8%). Characteristics associated with greater knowledge of symptoms, transmission, and prevention included having at least primary education, older age, employment, higher wealth, and Christian religion. Respondents who had experienced COVID-19 symptoms were also more likely to possess knowledge of symptoms, transmission, and prevention. Receiving information from television, WhatsApp, radio, and hospital, mediated the relationship between educational attainment and knowledge scores. These findings support the need for outreach and for community-engaged messaging to promote prevention measures, particularly among people with low education.

COVID-19 Vaccination Booster Dose: Knowledge, Practices, and Intention among Pregnant/Planning to Get Pregnant and Lactating Women

Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, booster dose against COVID-19 was recommended for this special population in Jordan. However, vaccine hesitancy/refusal remains the main obstacle to providing immunity against the spread of COVID-19. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the intention of pregnant/planning to get pregnant and lactating women towards receiving a booster dose against COVID-19 and its associated factors. A questionnaire was given to Jordanian pregnant/planning to get pregnant and lactating females. A total of 695 females were enrolled in the study. Older age, having a chronic disease, high education, high income, and high perceived risk of COVID-19 were significantly associated with higher knowledge about COVID-19. High perceived risk of COVID-19 was significantly associated with better practice. Participants who anticipated they might contract COVID-19 in the next six months, had high perceived risk of COVID-19, had high knowledge, had received the COVID-19 vaccine based on conviction, and smokers had higher intention to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. In order to increase pregnant and lactating women's intention to receive a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, public health organizations should consider developing comprehensive health education campaigns.