Abstract:
BACKGROUND: preventive actions for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were
among the means to tackle the transmission of the virus. However, reluctance to implement
the recommended preventive measures has been reported to be a major problem everywhere
including Worabe prison Southern Regional State of Ethiopia
OBJECTIVE: To assess the practice of COVID-19 prevention and associated factors among
prisoners in Worabe town, southern Ethiopia, in 2022.
METHODS: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from Jun 1–30, 2022
among 444 prisoners in Worabe town prison. Simple random sampling techniques were used
to select study participants. Data were collected by using pre-tested structured self administered questionnaires and entered into Epi Data version (3.1) entry software and
exported to SPSS version 26 software. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to
identify factors related to COVID-19 prevention practice among prisoners. For statistical
significance factors with p-value less than 0.05, an Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95%
Confidence Interval (CI) was calculated and interpreted
Result: Two hundred thirty-five participants [53%, 95% CI: 27 - 39%] had good COVID-19
prevention practices. Being male [AOR=0.297, 95%CI (0.15-0.58)], being history of alcohol
intake [AOR=3.79, 95%CI:( 1.656- 8.675)], being Unfavorable attitude [AOR=0.429, 95%CI
(0.27-0.68)], being knowledgeable about prevention[AOR=1.81, 95%CI (1.12- 2.92)],
Information source [AOR=1.84, 95%CI (1.12-3.02)], and Stay at room [AOR=4.06, 95%CI
(2.56-6.43)] were all factors associated with good COVID- 19 prevention practice
Conclusion: COVID-19 prevention practices were low among prisoners in the study settings.
Prisoners’ Sex, history of alcohol intake, being overall attitude, overall good knowledge of
prevention, Information source and Stay at room were all associated with COVID-19
preventive measures practices among prisoners. Prisoners may need to improve the way and
habit of practicing prevention methods towards COVID-19.
