Risk Perception and Behavioral Response of Teachers to COVID-19 in Southern Ethiopia, 2021.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious illness which was first identified in Wuhan China. The mode of transmission of COVID-19 is mainly from person-to-person by respiratory transmission and from contact with contaminated surfaces. Teachers may have a significant higher number of social interactions than other professions, putting them at greater risk of contracting the virus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the risk perception and behavioral response of teachers to COVID-19 in Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods: The study was conducted in Gamo zone from February to march, 2021. An Institution-based-cross sectional study design was employed and multi stage sampling technique was utilized to select 634 study participants. The data were collected using Kobo collect survey tool through interviewer administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 25. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to identify factor associated with risk perception and behavioral response. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance; in multivariable analysis, variables with a value less than 0.05 with 95% confidence interval were considered as statistically significant.

Results: About 79.1% and 75.1% of the teachers had high risk perception and good protective behavior, respectively. Having children ((AOR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.15-2.94), COVID-19 update (AOR=3.7, 95% CI: 1.66-8.59) and good protective behavior (AOR= 1.98, 95% CI: 1.18-3.34) were associated with high risk perception. On the other hand, educational status (AOR=9.42, 95% CI: 4.94-17.96) and availability of personal protective equipment (AOR=5.85, 95CI:2.27-15.02) were associated with good protective behavior.

Conclusion: Although majority of the teachers had good protective behavior, some protective measures were not frequently adopted. There were few individuals who had low risk perception; this could be a potential cause for the occurrence of school outbreak. Therefore, the stakeholder should provide adequate resource and training on COVID-19 to enhance their risk perception and to promote adoption of protective methods.