International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
Abanobi, C. C. (Ph.D)1, Nwaozor, Christopher Zenoyi2, Okonye, Clementina Obiageri3
1Department of Educational Psychology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
2Department of Educational Psychology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
3Department of Educational Psychology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
Abstract: This study investigated undergraduates’ knowledge and practice of COVID 19 preventive measures in tertiary institutions in Delta State. Three research questions and six null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. 1,460 undergraduates in various tertiary institutions in Delta State comprised the study sample. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled ‘Knowledge and Practice of COVID 19 Preventive Measures among Undergraduates Questionnaire (KPCPMUQ)’. The KPCPMUQ was validated by measurement and evaluation experts. The reliability coefficient of KPCPMUQ was 0.81. Mean and standard deviation statistics were used to answer the research questions. T-t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Delta State to a high extent have knowledge of COVID 19, and the extent of undergraduates’ knowledge of COVID 19 in tertiary institutions in Delta State did not differ significantly based on gender and school type. Undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Delta State to a high extent have knowledge of COVID-19 preventive measures, and, the extent of undergraduates’ knowledge of preventive measures of COVID 19 in tertiary institutions in Delta State based on gender and school type did not differ significantly. Undergraduates in various institutions in Delta State to a low extent practice COVID-19 preventive measures, and, the extent of undergraduates’ practice of COVID 19 preventive measures in tertiary institutions in Delta State did not differ significantly based on gender and school type. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others that the Federal and State governments should make health policies and enforce same to ensure strict compliance to COVID-19 preventive measures in the society. Authorities of tertiary institutions should assist government agencies to ensure that undergraduates strictly comply with NCDC COVID-19 regulations for educational institutions in Nigeria.
Keywords: Covid-19, undergraduates, knowledge, practice, preventive measures
I.INTRODUCTION
There have been fundamental changes to society with the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) global pandemic (Oleribe et al, 2020). COVID- 19 has been a major public health concern since December 2019 when it was 1st detected in Wuhan, China. The infection has no immediate treatment and vaccine,