INFORMATION SEEKING ABOUT COVID-19 AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHRONIC PATIENTS IN BAHIR DAR CITY PUBLIC HOSPITALS, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA, 2021.

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.