Practice of Covid-19 Prevention Measure Inconsistence Definitions

Introduction

According to WHO COVID-19 prevention measures include hand washing, wear mask, keeping distance, ventilated room, avoid crowding, and covering nose during coughing, avoid contact with animals and avoid consumption of raw meat [1,2]. Poor practices of hand hygiene, overcrowding and handshaking leads to increased spread of virus over short period [3]. A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine that provide acquired immunity against coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2)) [4]. The WHO and the US CDC recommend individuals wear mask in public areas where there is an increased risk of transmission and where social distancing are difficult to maintain [5,6]. Crowded indoor spaces should be avoided [7]. The WHO recommends ventilation and air filtration in public spaces to help clear out infectious aerosols [8-10]. The WHO also recommends that individuals wash hands with soap and water for twenty seconds, after going to toilet or when hands are dirty, before eating and after blowing nose [11]. Individuals may apply social distancing methods by staying home, decrease travel, avoiding crowding, using no-contact meetings, and physically distancing from others [12]. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recommends a healthy diet, physically activity, managing psychological stress, and getting enough sleep [13]. Different studies in various countries used different definitions to measure people’s prevention practice of COVID-19.

Inconsistence Definitions

Study in Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia Used Six questions to assessed practice of COVID-19 prevention measure and those who scored less than mean were measured as having poor practice and those who scored a mean point above as having a good practice [14]. Study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia used four items to assessed practice of COVID-19 prevention measure A score 75% and above as having a good practice and score 50% and below indicated a poor practice [15]. Study in Amhara region, Ethiopia: assessed A health workers practice of COVID-19 prevention measure, using a value of those scored 75% and above was grouped as “good practitioner” and who scored below 75% was grouped as “poor practitioner” [16]. Study in Chinese residents: assessed A health workers practice of COVID-19 prevention measure by asking 2 things one for went to an overcrowded area and two wearing a mask when going out in recent days [17].

In another study: practice of COVID-19 prevention measure was assessed using Ten practice related questions with sixteen responses were asked. Those having scored ≥ mean by categorizing the clients as having good practice those who score less than the mean was classified as having poor practice [18]. As stated above different studies used different definitions to measure people’s prevention practice of COVID-19 and this makes the analysis difficult as well as difficult to compare prevention practice of COVID-19 across countries.

Conclusion

We recommend researcher to develop a validated tool to measure prevention practice of COVID-19 and to study prevention practice of COVID-19 using health belief model or qualitative methods this is important to understand the real people’s prevention practice of COVID-19.

References

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• Amsalu, Alemu G, Zinabie S, Nigus K, Alekaw S, et al. (2021) Practice of COVID-19 Prevention Measures and Associated Factors Among Residents of Dire Dawa City, Eastern Ethiopia: Community-Based Study. J Multidiscip Healthc 14: 219-228.
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