COVID-19-related anxiety and knowledge toward its preventive measures among patients with chronic medical illness on follow-up in public hospitals of Bale, East Bale, and West Arsi zones, Ethiopia

Ahmed Yasin; Tesfaye Asefa; Abule Takele; Genet Fikadu; Biniyam Sahiledengle; Birhanu Tura; Addisu Gemmechu; Mohammed Awel Abduku; Demisu Zenbaba; Edao Tesa; Alelign Tasew; Yohannes Tekalign; Adem Abdulkadir; Kenbon Seyoum; Garoma Morka; Adem Esmael; Gemechu Ganfure; Zinash Teferu; Eshetu Nigussie; Alemu Girma; Tadele Regasa; Kebebe Bekele; Abdi Tesema; Makida Kemal; Heyder Usman; Gebisa Haile; Asfaw Negero; Daniel Atlaw; Safi Haji; Mohammedaman Mamma; Damtew Solomon; Habtamu Gezahegn

doi:10.1177/20503121211066682

COVID-19-related anxiety and knowledge toward its preventive measures among patients with chronic medical illness on follow-up in public hospitals of Bale, East Bale, and West Arsi zones, Ethiopia

SAGE Open Med. 2022 Jan 8:10:20503121211066682. doi: 10.1177/20503121211066682. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Ahmed Yasin¹, Tesfaye Asefa¹, Abule Takele¹, Genet Fikadu¹, Biniyam Sahiledengle¹, Birhanu Tura¹, Addisu Gemmechu¹, Mohammed Awel Abduku¹, Demisu Zenbaba¹, Edao Tesa¹, Alelign Tasew¹, Yohannes Tekalign¹, Adem Abdulkadir¹, Kenbon Seyoum¹, Garoma Morka¹, Adem Esmael¹, Gemechu Ganfure¹, Zinash Teferu¹, Eshetu Nigussie², Alemu Girma², Tadele Regasa², Kebebe Bekele², Abdi Tesema², Makida Kemal², Heyder Usman², Gebisa Haile², Asfaw Negero², Daniel Atlaw², Safi Haji², Mohammedaman Mamma², Damtew Solomon², Habtamu Gezahegn²

Affiliations

¹ School of Health Sciences, Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale Goba, Ethiopia.
² School of Medicine, Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital, Bale Goba, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, also known as 2019-nCoV cluster of acute respiratory illness with unknown causes, which occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China, was first reported to World Health Organization country office as of December 30, 2019. People with medical illness are at a higher risk for coronavirus disease, and the pandemic influences mental health and causes psychological problems, particularly in those with chronic medical illness. Hence, this study aimed to assess coronavirus disease 2019-related anxiety and the knowledge on its preventive measures among patients with medical illness on follow-up in public hospitals of Bale, East Bale, and Arsi zones.

Objective: To assess coronavirus disease 2019-related anxiety and knowledge toward coronavirus disease 2019 preventive measures among patients with chronic medical illness on follow-up in public hospitals of Bale, East Bale, and West Arsi zones.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected hospitals of Bale and West Arsi zones, Southeast Ethiopia. A total of 633 study participants were included in this study, and data were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. A descriptive summary was computed. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify the associated factors.

Results: Overall, the prevalence of anxiety among chronic patients in this study was 6.3% (95% confidence interval: 4.6%-8.5%) and 420 (66.35%) had good knowledge on the preventive measures of coronavirus disease 2019. Factors significantly associated with anxiety among chronic patients were being educated (95% confidence interval: adjusted odds ratio = 0.26 (0.09-0.74)), being male (95% confidence interval: 2.69 (1.11-6.53)), and use of mask (95% confidence interval: 0.11 (0.05-0.26)).

Conclusion: The prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019-related anxiety among chronic patients was high and being males, uneducated, and not using face mask was significantly associated with coronavirus disease 2019-related anxiety.

Keywords: Covid-19; anxiety; chronic patients.