Level of Implementation of Non-Pharmacological Interventions to Prevent COVID-19 Infection and Associated Factors among adult residents in Assosa town, Benishangul Gumuz Region North West Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are public health measures that aim to prevent and/or control Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) transmission in the community. NPIs are also known as community mitigation strategies. The scientific evident NPIs are; Personal protective measures, Environmental measures, Social distancing measures, and Travel-related measures. There are no well-known levels and factors influencing their implementations at community level as there are no previous complete studies eversince for current COVID-19 pandemic assailing the fortheworld. Objective: To assess level of implementation of Non-Pharmacological Interventions to Prevent COVID-19 Infection and Associated Factors among adult residents in Assosa town, Benishangul Gumuz Region, North West Ethiopia. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 24 to June 11/2021 among 418 adult residents using simple random sampling technique. Structured questionnaire and observational checklists was used to collect data. Data were entered in to Epi Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 to perform various analyses. Bivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify candidate variables at p-value of <0.25 and then multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors associated with NPIs. In multivariable model, adjusted odds ratios together with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to assess strength of association and to declare statistical significance at p-value of < 0.05. Results: A Sample of 418 respondents were interviewed with response rate of 100%. The overall level of non-pharmacological interventions implementation to prevent COVID-19 infection among respondents was 62.3%, 95%CI (0.219, 0.280). Good level of knowledge about COVID- 19 (AOR= 5, 95%CI(2.1, 29.61), Moderate level of knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR=3, 95%CI(2.13, 36.5), Positive attitude (AOR=2, 95%CI(1.62, 25.6), wealth index (Second quintile: AOR=2, 95%CI(1.15, 25.3), Third quintile: AOR=3, 95%CI (1.13, 19.1), Fourth quintile: AOR=2.3, 95%CI(2.1, 12.3), Fifth quintile: AOR=2.4, 95%CI(1.9, 12.6), Diploma level of ii education AOR=2.3, 95%CI(1.5, 6.92) and Degree level of education AOR=1.3, 95%CI (1.1, 9.2) were significantly associated with implementation of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: The overall adherence to non-pharmacological interventions to prevent COVID-19 infection implementation is low compared to World Health Organization recommendation. In addition, Knowledge, Attitude, Wealth index and Educational level were factors independently associated with non-pharmacological interventions implementation to prevent COVID-19 infection. Recommendations: I recommend Federal Ministry of Health, Regional Health Bureau and other stakeholders to deal with and support update of knowledge, capacity building, and review of previous programs and approach of new strategies, requesting their consideration of the importance of human health in the earth, multi-sectoral and multi-lateral cooperation against COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore our community members to realize scientific evidence and follow medical advices provided by health care provider. Finally researchers` further mode of study.