Albanian university students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 infection and vaccine: A cross-sectional study
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health concern worldwide. Given that, students represent a subgroup of the population with an impact on the pandemic. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Albanian students about COVID-19, and to prov...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection in Developing Countries |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17587 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health concern worldwide. Given that, students represent a subgroup of the population with an impact on the pandemic.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Albanian students about COVID-19, and to provide a database to plan and implement preventive evidence-based interventions.
Methodology: An online survey was conducted among Albanian university students during April-May 2022, to collect information on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID-19, through a structured questionnaire.
Results: A total of 906 students, 72.8% females, were included in it. 93.4% of participants knew the ways of transmission of COVID-19; 92.5% had information about preventive measures, but only 30% knew about quarantine and 37.0% knew vaccination as a preventive measure. Regarding attitudes, 54.8% of participants believed that COVID-19 infection is very dangerous. 46.5% have a negative attitude toward covid vaccines. Almost all respondents (93.7%) apply regular hand washing as a preventive measure; 82.8% cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing; but only 28.2% always use a mask indoors.
Conclusions: Albanian university students had good knowledge, positive attitudes, and appropriate preventive practices against COVID-19, but the study found that some limitations in terms of information and misconceptions still exist. Raising awareness and providing adequate information, education, and more effective communication programs will have a positive impact on increasing knowledge, improving attitudes, and supporting the required student behavior change.
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| ISSN: | 1972-2680 |