A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Knowledge of COVID-19 among Undergraduate Students in North-Central Ecuador

David Ortega-Paredes, César Marcelo Larrea-Álvarez, Santiago Isaac Jijón, Karen Loaiza, Miroslava Anna Šefcová, Gabriel Molina-Cuasapaz, Pedro Barba, Christian Vinueza-Burgos, Esteban Fernandez-Moreira, Hégira Ramírez and Marco Larrea-Álvarez
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David Ortega-Paredes: Unidad de Investigación de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos y Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (UNIETAR), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador
César Marcelo Larrea-Álvarez: Research Unit Life Science Initiative (LSI), Quito 170102, Ecuador
Santiago Isaac Jijón: School of Biological Science and Engineering, Yachay-Tech University, Hacienda San José, Urcuquí 100650, Ecuador
Karen Loaiza: Research Unit Life Science Initiative (LSI), Quito 170102, Ecuador
Miroslava Anna Šefcová: Research Unit Life Science Initiative (LSI), Quito 170102, Ecuador
Gabriel Molina-Cuasapaz: Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi, Latacunga 050101, Ecuador
Pedro Barba: Carrera de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias Agropecuarias y Ambientales, Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ibarra 100105, Ecuador
Christian Vinueza-Burgos: Unidad de Investigación de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos y Resistencia a los Antimicrobianos (UNIETAR), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170129, Ecuador
Esteban Fernandez-Moreira: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Enrique Ortega Moreira, Carrera de Medicina, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Km 2.5 vía Samborondón 0901952, Ecuador
Hégira Ramírez: Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170517, Ecuador
Marco Larrea-Álvarez: School of Biological Science and Engineering, Yachay-Tech University, Hacienda San José, Urcuquí 100650, Ecuador

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Adherence to preventive measures is influenced by people’s knowledge, attitudes and practices towards a disease; therefore, assessing knowledge of COVID-19 is critical in the overall effort to contain the outbreak. This cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduates ( n = 3621) of different programs and different levels of education associated with universities in north-central Ecuador. The form consisted of 32 questions covering demographics, symptoms, detection, treatment, transmission, prevention and knowledge of the virus. The rate of correct answers was 75.5% (21.1 ± 5 out of 28), with differences observed regarding program of study, educational level and location of institution (? = 0.05), although effect size analyses showed that these differences could not be considered large. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that lower scores were associated with initial stages of education, careers related to social sciences and location of institution. Participants possessed sufficient knowledge about detection, transmission and prevention, although they overestimated fatality rate and were less confident about the characteristics of the virus and the effectiveness of traditional medicine. Consequently, future educational programs must place emphasis on addressing deficient knowledge. Certainly, improving COVID-19 literacy will promote the appropriate application of protective measures aimed at preventing the virus’ spread.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2 virus; knowledge; awareness; undergraduate students; Ecuador (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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