North Americans pride ourselves in having the very best of almost all things. Our schools are generally well-endowed and their teachers meet high standards. Our hospitals are the envy of most, although our response to COVID is a mystery to many. Today we ask how well our COVID standards compare with others in terms of coping with the pandemic.
How COVID Standards Compare in Terms of Behavior
We fully understand the gig about leading a horse to water, is as alive and well as it was when we were kids. Therefore, we decided to use a study of knowledge, attitudes, and misconceptions prevailing among Ethiopian students about COVID-19 to compare. This report appeared in Dove Press on May 10, 2022, although the authors released their findings on August 7, 2021.
The preparatory and high school students in the sample all came from Dessie City in Ethiopia. This has a population of some 200,000, and is situate 250 miles north of Addis Ababa. As far as we can fathom the city economy depends on agricultural activity surrounding it.
Study Findings
The study confirms good knowledge levels, positive attitudes, and low misconceptions at 74.8%, 60.2%, and 56.1% respectively. Notably, positive attitudes and good self-protection correlate with living in households with more than 5 members. Generally speaking, positive attitudes appear to flow from low misconceptions.
Study Conclusions
“The prevalence of good knowledge, positive attitude, and low level of misconceptions of prevention practices for COVID-19 among students is relatively low,” the researchers report. “Dessie City Health and Education Department, and each high and preparatory school, should implement continuous monitoring programs.”
“Misconceptions about disease risk and prevention can facilitate the transmission of human diseases. Whereas good knowledge, perceptions, health behaviors and attitudes can facilitate their control” the report adds. From where we sit, our situation seems similar in North America. Would somebody please give that horse a bowl of water?
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