Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Access to timely and valid information about COVID-19 plays a crucial role
in improving the adoption of safety measures and minimizing the spread of the disease.
The risk of developing dangerous symptoms of COVID-19 may be increased in people
who have a chronic health condition. However, a large proportion of chronic patients have
limited access to information about COVID-19.
Objective: This research study aimed to assess information seeking about COVID-19
and associated factors among chronic patients in Bahir Dar city public hospitals,
Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.
Method: An institutional-based cross-sectional study supplemented with qualitative data
was conducted from April 8 to Jun15, 2021. A total of 423 chronic patients were selected
using systematic random sampling techniques. A pretested structured questionnaire and
an in-depth interview guide were used to collect the data. The data were entered using
EPI data 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. For variables with p-values
<0.2 in binary logistic regression were considered to multivariable logistic regression
analysis. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with
95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported to declare the statistical significance and
strength of association. Variables with a p-value<0.05 were considered statistically
significant. Qualitative data analysis was done using a thematic approach. Finally, it was
triangulated with quantitative findings.
Result: The proportion of information seeking about COVID-19 in the last 6 months
among chronic patients was 44.0% (100% response rate). Living in urban [AOR=4.4, 95%
CI (2.01, 9.58)], perceived susceptibility [AOR= 3.4, 95%CI (1.98, 5.70)], perceived
severity [AOR=1.7, 95%CI (1.04, 2.91)], self-efficacy [AOR=4.3, 95%CI (2.52, 7.34)] and
health literacy [AOR=1.8, 95%CI (1.10, 3.03)] were found to be the factors influencing
information seeking about COVID-19.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The overall proportion of information seeking about
COVID-19 among chronic patients was low. Living in urban, health literacy, self-efficacy,
perceived susceptibility and perceived severity were significantly associated with
information-seeking about COVID-19. Focusing on increasing their level of health literacy
and self-efficacy can improve information seeking about COVID-19.
IX
Keywords: Information seeking, COVID-19, Chronic patients, Bahir Dar city,
Ethiopia.
