COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response of Chronic Disease Patients in Public Health Facilities.

BACKGROUND: The Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) causes a unique threat and a great challenge to chronic disease patients. Apart from its severity for all communities, a chronic disease patient is highly vulnerable to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess preparedness and response against the COVID-19 among chronic diseases patients who had follow-up at healthcare facilities.
METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the North Shoa Zone from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020. A pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The study participants were selected by simple random sampling technique. The data were entered into the Epi-data and exported to SPSS for cleaning and analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify the factors associated with the COVID-19 preparedness and response.
RESULTS: A total of 410 (97%) patients were responded to face to face interview administered questionnaire. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents had good knowledge, 54% were well prepared, and 63% had a good response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Male participants, news media (TV & Radio), social media, tuberculosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with a good preparedness. Informal education, news media (TV & Radio), and having hypertension were significantly associated with good response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic among chronic disease patients was low. Male participants, source of information, educational status, and having chronic diseases were significantly associated with the COVID-19 prevention preparedness and response. It should be continued to provide awareness creation for chronic patients through news media (TV and radio) and social media to increasing the preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

A COVID-19 pandemic is a group of viruses belonging to the family of Coronaviridae, which infects both humans and animals.1 Human coronavirus can cause a mild illness similar to a common cold. In contrast, others cause more severe diseases such as MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).2 The current COVID-19 starting from Wuhan city on December 31, 2019, spread too many other countries.3 Since May 05, 2020, more than 3,517,345 infected cases with 243,401 confirmed deaths were reported globally. In America, a total of 1,477,447 infected cases and 79,590 deaths have been reported. In Europe, a total of 1,566,684 infected cases with 145,602 confirmed deaths. In Africa, 32,570 infected cases and 1,112 deaths have been reported, whereas in Ethiopia, 665 infected cases with 22 deaths.4

The most common clinical features of the COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, or diarrhea. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and sometimes death.5

The COVID-19 infected all age groups, presenting 80% of patients who had developed mild to moderate symptoms or including non-pneumonia and pneumonia cases, 13.8% have severe symptoms, and 6.1% are critical or respiratory failure, septic shock, and/or multiple organ dysfunctions.6 About 2.4% of the total reported cases were an individual’s under-19 years old, and a very small proportion of those aged have developed severe (2.5%) or critical symptoms (0.2%). The severity of the virus is more common in the aged population.7

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is as chronic conditions that do not result from an acute infectious process and hence are not communicable with a longer duration, which a complete cure is rarely achieved and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors.8 These noncommunicable disease includes cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, chronic neurological disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, and other non-infectious conditions.9,10

According to different reports, the COVID-19 is more severe among chronic disease patients. A meta-analysis study addressing the prevalence of chronic disease patients infected with COVID-19 indicated that hypertension, diabetes, respiratory system disease, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic disease patients were more susceptible to the COVID-19.11 Other studies found that hypertension and diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic disease which infected by COVID-19 pandemic and has high records of deaths.10,12

Preparedness and response of the COVID-19 are crucial for minimizing the risk of infection and transmission through community and health-care facilities. However, evidence-based evaluations of chronic disease patients targeted to preparedness and responses of the COVID-19 are rare in the low resourced countries, particularly in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the preparedness and response to the COVID-19 among chronic diseases patients who had follow-up at healthcare facilities. Again, this study’s results are important to develop appropriate and rapid intervention among chronic disease patients in the North Shoa Zone of Oromiya regional state.

Methods

Study Design, Period, and Setting

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 in North Shoa Zone healthcare facilities. The North Shoa Zone has 13 woredas and two town administration with a total area of 10,322.48 Km square. It has 369 public health facilities in the catchment area (two general hospitals, three primary hospitals, 65 health centers, and 297 health posts). The healthcare facilities provide for more than 1.6 million populations in the North Shoa Zone of Oromiya region.

Source and Study Population

The source populations were all chronic disease patients who had follow-up at North Shoa healthcare facilities in the North Shoa Zone. Those chronic disease patients who had follow-up at selected healthcare facilities were the study population.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

All patients whose ages greater than 15 years and who have chronic disease (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS) follow-up at the selected health facilities for more than six months were included. In contrast, chronic disease patients who were severely ill were excluded from this study.

Sample Size and Sampling Procedure

The single population proportion formula was used to come up for the final sample size with the following assumption. Due to a lack of published data, we considered a proportion of 50% (0.5) and a 5% (0.05) margin of error with a 95% level of confidence interval (two-sided alpha =0.05). After considering a 10% non-response rate, the final sample size was 423. The study was conducted in three hospitals and four health centers. We selected these healthcare facilities purposely because they have a high number of patients with chronic diseases. The number of study participants allocated proportionally to each healthcare facility based on the number of patients attended each hospital and health center for one month obtained from chronic disease patients department registration books (Figure 1). The first participant was selected by lottery method.

Figure 1

Schematic presentation of sample size allocation in the North Shoa Zone healthcare facilities, Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Data Collection Instruments and Techniques

A pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire was adapted by reviewing different literature.13,14 The questionnaire was initially prepared in the English language, translated to Afan Oromo and Amharic, and then back-translated to the English by language experts to check its consistency. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic and economic characteristics, knowledge, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The data were collected by seven BSC public health officers through face to face interviews and supervised by four MPH public health experts. Before the actual data collection process, the data collectors and supervisors were trained for three days about the study’s aim and purpose, disclosing and ethical aspects of the study, and data collection technique.

The data collection instruments were pre-tested at Shano hospital among a sample of 21 (5%) chronic patients. The questionnaire was checked for completeness and its inconsistency by the supervisor. Accordingly, after discussion with data collectors and supervisors, a necessary measure was taken, and modification was done before actual data collection. We collected data from noncommunicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory disease, and other communicable chronic diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

The knowledge, preparedness, and response were measured using 12, 11, and 16 questions, respectively. The outcomes were calculated, taking the mean scores as a cut-off point after testing each outcome’s results’ normality distribution. The scores greater than the mean score were considered a good preparedness, knowledgeable, and good response, whereas below the mean scores were considered a poor preparedness, not knowledgeable, and poor responses to the COVID-19. The questionnaires’ reliability was checked with Cronbach’s alpha 0.873 for knowledge, 0.781 for responses 0.752 for preparedness.

Data Processing and Analysis

After data collection, each questionnaire was checked for completeness and consistency of the respondent’s information. The collected data was entered into the Epi-data manager version 4.4.1 to minimize errors. Then the data were exported to SPSS version 23 for cleaning, editing, and analysis. The data were checked for missed values. Descriptive analysis, like frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation, tables, and graphs were used to present the results. Bivariable and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify the factors associated with preparedness and response towards COVID-19 prevention. Variables with P-value ≤ 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis to control the confounding effect variables. Statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05. The test’s model goodness was checked by Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness fit, and the p-value for the model fitness test was 0.935 and 0.786 for preparedness and responses, respectively.

Ethical Consideration

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The Salale University Ethical Review Committee approved the ethical clearance of written consent for above 18 years of age and assent form for under 18 years of age from parents/guardians on April 27/2020 with Ref. No. SLUERC/035/2020. A support letter was obtained from the North Showa Zone health bureau, and official permission was obtained from the selected hospitals and health centers. Written consent was obtained from the study participants whose age ≥18 years, and assent was obtained from parents/guardians for 15 to18 years old to confirm the participation after explaining the study’s objective. Study participants’ privacy and confidentiality were maintained by excluding their names from the questionnaire and keeping their data in a password locked computer.

Results

Socio-Demographic and Economic Characteristics of Respondents

In this study, 410 chronic disease patients participated with a response rate of 97%. The participants’ majorities were male 215 (52.4%) and aged more than or equal to 45 years old 175 (42.6%). Greater than half of the respondents resided in rural areas (50.7%). More than half 212 (51.7%) of participants were not attending formal education. More than two-third of the respondents were married 295 (72.0%). Nearly two-thirds of the study participants were unemployed and earned less than or equal to 2000 Ethiopian Birr monthly income (Table 1).

Table 1

Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants Who Had Follow-Up in the North Shaw Zone Healthcare Facilities, Oromia Region, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410)

Variables	Number of Participants	Percent (%)
Sex
Male	215	52.4
Female	195	47.6
Age
15–24	36	8.8
25–34	97	23.7
35–44	102	24.9
≥45	175	42.6
Residence
Urban	202	49.3
Rural	208	50.7
Level of education
Informal education	212	51.7
Formal educated	198	48.3
Marital Status
Married	295	72.0
Single	115	28.0
Family size
1–5	323	78.8
6 and above	87	21.2
Religion
Orthodox	349	85.1
Protestant	42	10.3
Wakefata	3	0.7
Muslim	16	3.9
Ethnicity
Oromo	357	87.1
Amhara	43	10.5
Tigre	2	0.5
Gurage	8	1.9
Occupational status
Unemployed	270	65.85
Employed	140	34.15
Family monthly income (in Birr)
≤2000	268	65.4
2001–5000	104	25.4
5001–8000	38	9.2

Source of Information

Regarding sources of information, participants heard about the COVID-19 pandemic for the first time from news media (TV and Radio) (36.8%) followed by social media/internet (23.4%) and health-care providers (18.5%) (Figure 2). The majority of the respondents trusted news media (TV and Radio) (32.7%), health-care providers (33.7%), family, and friends (16.8%) (Figure 3).

Figure 2

The COVID-19 source of information for the first time among chronic disease patients who had follow-up in the North Shoa Zone healthcare facilities, Oromia region, Ethiopia from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410).

Figure 3

The trusted source of information among chronic disease patients who had follow-up in the North Shoa Zone healthcare facilities, Oromia region, Ethiopia, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410).

Knowledge Toward COVID-19

In this study, the mean knowledge score for the study participants with standard deviation was 12.11 ±2.7. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents had a piece of good knowledge about COVID-19. Most of the study participants heard about COVID-19 (96.4%), know the transmission of the disease (89.8%), and mode of transmission (50.2%). More than two-thirds of the study respondents knew the disease’s main signs and symptoms. Around 51% of respondents knew the virus did not have the medication. Conversely, the majority of the respondents knew the main COVID-19 prevention method like; wearing masks and gloves 366 (89.3%), rubbing hands with alcohol and sanitizer 328 (80.0%), washing hands with soap and water 354 (86.4%), social distance 350 (85.4%) and physical distance 354 (86.3%). More than two-thirds of the study participants knew that the most at-risk populations were chronic diseases (78.8%) and elder person (75.6%). From chronic disease patients who had a follow-up, 72% of the study respondents knew how to protect themselves from the virus (Table 2).

Table 2

Knowledge of COVID-19 Among Chronic Disease Patients Who Had Follow-Up in the North Shaw Zone Healthcare Facilities, Oromia Region, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410)

Knowledge Variables	Yes (%)	No (%)
Do you heard about COVID-19?	395(96.4%)	15(3.6%)
Does the COVID-19 is transmitted from one person to another?	368(89.8)	42(10.2)
Does the COVID-19 have a treatment?	206(50.2)	204(49.8)
Washing hands with water and soap can eliminate the COVID-19.	354(86.4)	56(13.6)
Rubbing hands with alcohol or sanitizer eliminate COVID-19?	328(80.0)	82(20)
Wearing a mask and glove reduce transmission of COVID-19?	366(89.3)	44(10.7)
The disease can be transmitted directly through contact with infected individuals (handshaking, hugging, kissing)	356(86.8)	54(13.2)
Do you think people with chronic disease at risk for COVID-19?	323(78.8)	87(21.2)
Do you think the elder person’s higher risk to get the COVID-19?	310(75.6)	100(24.4)
Do you know maintaining a physical distance prevents COVID-19?	354(86.3)	56(13.7)
Do you know COVID-19 is prevented by social distance/limiting participation on Idir, Ikub, wedding, funeral, and senbete?	350(85.4)	60(14.6)
What are the main symptoms of COVID-19? Select from the following?
Fever	348(84.9)	62(15.1)
Cough/Sneeze	337(82.2)	73(17.8)
Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties	204(49.8)	206(50.2)
Sore throat	134(32.7)	276(67.3)
Muscle pain	94(22.9)	316(77.1)
Headache	139(33.9)	217(66.1)
Minimum-Maximum	0–17
Main ±SD	12.11±2.7
Knowledgeably	267(65.1%)
Not knowledgeably	143(34.9%)

Preparedness Towards COVID-19 Prevention

In this survey, we found the mean score and standard deviation of the study participants for preparedness were 6.63 ±2.9. Fifty-four percent of respondents were well prepared to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the respondents were stocked alcohol or sanitizer (72.9%), frequently reduces hospital visiting (64.6%), and posted an emergency phone number at home (35.4%). Two hundred sixty-one (63.7%) of the study participant’s medication were refilled every three months. Around 53% of the study participants had stocked sufficient amounts of food to reduce the vesting market frequency. One hundred ninety-four participants were prepared isolation room for the COVID-19 suspected person (Table 3).

Table 3

Preparedness Toward COVID-19 Prevention of Chronic Diseases Patients Who Had Follow-Up in the North Shaw Zone Healthcare Facilities, Oromia Region, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410)

Preparedness Variables	Yes (%)	No (%)
Do you have water and soap at your house get to prevent COVID-19?	328(80)	82(20)
Do you stock alcohol or sanitizer to prevent COVID-19?	299(72.9)	111(27.1)
Do you stock mask and glove to prevent COVID-19?	95(23.2)	315(76.8)
Do you stock sufficient medication for your chronic illness?	261(63.7)	149(36.3)
Do you have an emergency phone number in a visible area in the house?	145(35.4)	265(64.6)
Do you stock blench to prevent COVID-19?	188(45.9)	222(54.1)
Do you stock dustbin for soft tissue disposal?	238(58)	172(42.0)
Will your family allow time to prepare and preventive measures?	269(65.6)	141(34.4)
Do you reduce the frequency of visiting the hospital during COVID-19?	265(64.6)	145(35.4)
Do you stock sufficient food to reduce frequency marketing?	217(52.9)	193(47.1)
Do you prepare an isolation room for suspected family members?	194(47.3)	216(52.7)
Minimum – maximum	0–11
Mean ±SD	6.63±2.9
COVID-19 prevention, preparedness
Good preparedness	219(53.4)
poor preparedness	191(46.6)

Response to the COVID-19 Prevention

In this cross-sectional study, we found the mean score and standard deviation of the study participants for the response to the COVID-19 prevention were 11.69 ±3.10. From the total study participants, 62% of the respondents had a good response to COVID-19 prevention. The majority of the participants practice the COVID-19 prevention by staying home (72.9%), avoiding outdoor food consumption (72.9%), avoiding handshaking (89.5%), and avoiding public transportation (75.6%). One-third of the participants used traditional medicine and vitamins to prevent COVID-19. Three hundred thirty-three of the participants wore masks, and 74% of the respondents used alcohol or sanitizer to prevent the disease. The majority of respondents were promoting preventive practice by teaching their family (82%), a friend (82.9%), and neighbors (76.1%). Around 67% of the participants were posted hand washing procedures at home. Three hundred twenty-nine of the study participants also show the method to wear masks, hand rubbing, and hand washing procedures to their families (Table 4).

Table 4

Response Against the COVID-19 Prevention Among Chronic Disease Patients Who Had Follow-Up in the North Shaw Zone Healthcare Facilities, Oromia Region, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410)

Response Variables	Yes (%)	No (%)
Do you avoid going out of your home to prevent the COVID-19?	299(72.9%)	111(27.1%)
Do you avoid consuming outdoor food to prevent contracting COVID-19?	300(73.2%)	110(26.8%)
Do you avoid handshaking, hugging, and Kissing to avoid the COVID-19?	367(89.5%)	43(10.5%)
Do you avoid using public transportations to avoid contacting COVID-19?	310(75.6%)	100(24.4%)
To prevent COVID-19, Do you frequently wash your hands with soap?	357(87.1%)	53(12.9%)
Do you pay more attention to your hygiene than usual to prevent COVID-19?	334(81.5%)	76(18.5%)
Do you use herbal products and traditional medicine to prevent COVID-19?	163(39.8%)	247(60.2%)
To prevent COVID-19, do you take a vitamin or immunity boost supplements?	161(39.3%)	249(60.7%)
Do you start using masks to prevent COVID-19?	338(82.4%)	72(17.6%)
To prevent COVID-19, do you use disinfectant solutions/alcohol/sanitizer?	302(73.7%)	108(26.3%)
To prevent the COVID-19, do you avoid unnecessary vacations?	272(66.3%)	138(33.7%)
Do you teach about COVID-19 prevention methods for your family members?	336(82%)	74(18%)
Do you teach about COVID-19 prevention methods for your friends?	340(82.9%)	70(17.1%)
Do you teach about COVID-19 prevention methods for your neighborhood?	312(76.1%)	98(23.9%)
Do you post a hand washing procedure in your house for your family members?	274(66.8%)	136(33.2%)
Do you show hand washing/mask/glove using procedures for your family?	329(80.2%)	81(19.8%)
Minimum-Maximum	0–16
Mean ±SD	11.69±3.10
Response against COVID-19 prevention
Good response	256(62.4%)
Poor response	154(37.6%)

Factors Associated with Preparedness and Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was computed. Variables with P-value < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were entered into multivariable logistic analysis to predict factors associated with a good preparedness and responses at a p-value of less than 0.05.

Accordingly, male participants had 1.05 times more likely prepared than female participants [AOR=1.05; 95% CI= (1.01, 2.33)]. The study participants who have followed the news media (TV & Radio) had two times more likely prepared when compared to those who were informed by health-care providers [AOR=2.16; 95% CI= (1.35,4.02)]. The study participants who follow social media had higher odds of preparedness than their counterparts [AOR=3.09; 95% CI= (1.90, 6.63)]. Study participants who had a chronic disease like tuberculosis [AOR=2.22; 95% CI= (1.66, 3.24)], hypertension [AOR=1.49, 95% CI= (1.79, 2.78)] and diabetes mellitus [AOR=1.62; 95% CI= (1.82, 3.19)] had also higher odds of having good preparedness of the COVID-19 prevention than their counterparts (Table 5).

Table 5

Factors Associated with Preparedness Towards COVID-19 Prevention in North Shaw Zone Healthcare Facilities, Oromia Region, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410)

Variables	Preparedness		COR(95% CI)	AOR(95% CI)
	No	Yes
Age
15–24	12	24	1	1
25–34	46	51	0.55(0.25,1.23)	0.33(0.20,1.11)
35–44	52	50	0.48(0.22,1.66)	0.29(0.20,1.50)
≥45	81	94	0.58(0.27,1.65)	0.42(0.21,1.50)
Sex
Male	89	126	1.55(1.05,2.30)*	1.05(1.01,2.33)*
Female	102	93	1	1
Residence
Urban	93	109	1	1
Rural	98	208	1.04(0.71–1.54)	0.95(0.97,1.26)
Level of education
Informal education	105	107	0.78(0.53,1.16)	0.65(0.46,1.10)
Formal education	86	112	1	1
Marital Status
Married	142	153	1	1
Single	49	66	0.80(0.52,1.24)	0.56(0.391,1.19)
Occupational status
Unemployed	128	142	0.91(0.60,1.37)	0.85(0.57,1.24
Employed	63	77	1	1
Family monthly income (in Birr)
≤2000	124	144	0.99(0.50,1.97)	0.73(0.44,1.43)
2001–5000	50	54	0.92(0.43,1.95)	0.56(0.41,1.68)
5001–8000	17	20	1	1
Family size
1–5	148	175	1	1
6 and above	43	44	1.13(0.70,1.82)	1.08(0.63,1.83)
Knowledge
Poor knowledge	106	128	1.13(0.76,1.67)	1.09(0.71,1.66)
Good knowledge	85	91	1	1
Source of information
News media	61	90	2.58(1.50,4.44)*	2.16(1.35,4.02)*
Social media and internet	33	63	3.34(1.82,6.12)*	3.09(1.90,6.63*
Family/friends	41	34	1.45(0.77,2.72)	1.15(0.50,2.07)
Health care providers	56	32	1	1
Types of Chronic disease
HIV/ADIS	66	73	1	1
TB	32	40	2.53(1.99,6.53)*	2.22(1.66,3.24)*
Hypertension	32	44	2.86(1.05,7.79)*	1.49(1.79,2.78)*
Diabetes mellitus	21	39	3.14(1.16,8.53)*	1.62(1.82,3.19)*
Heart failure	18	15	4.25(1.51,11.94)*	1.05(0.46,2.39)
Cancer	6	1	1.91(0.62,5.85)	0.17(0.02,1.51)
Others	16	7	0.38(0.04,3.78)	0.36(0.13,1.02)

Notes: 1=reference, and *= statistically significant at p-value< 0.05 in bivariable and multivariable logistic regression, Hosmer and Lemeshow test = 0.935.

Participants who have informal education were responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by 49% higher than those with formal education [AOR=0.49; 95% CI= (0.30, 0.91)]. Those study participants who had to follow the news media (TV & Radio) had three timed more likely respond to the COVID-19 pandemic than those who had informed from the health-care providers [AOR=2.719; 5% CI= (1.47, 4.07)]. Those participants who have hypertension were 2.07 times more likely to respond to the COVID-19 prevention compared to the other chronic disease patients [AOR=2.07; 95% CI= (1.14, 4.02)] (Table 6).

Table 6

Factors Associated with Response to COVID-19 Prevention in North Shaw Zone Healthcare Facilities, Oromia Region, from May 5, 2020, to June 5/2020 (n=410)

Variables	Response		COR(95% CI)	AOR(95% CI)
	No	Yes
Age
15–24	12	24	1	1
25–34	39	58	0.74(0.33,1.66)	0.(35(0.23,1.56)
35–44	41	61	0.70(0.30,1.64)	0.65(0.28,1.60)
≥45	62	113	0.91(0.43,1.95)	0.85(0.41,1.86)
Sex
Male	73	142	1.38(0.93,2.06)	1.32(0.90,1.99)
Female	81	114	1	1
Residence
Urban	68	134	1	1
Rural	86	122	0.72(0.48,1.98)	0.56(0.39,1.60)
Level of education
Informal education	95	117	0.52(0.35,0.79)*	0.49(0.30,0.91)*
Formal education	59	139	1	1
Marital Status
Married	114	181	1	1
Single	40	75	1.18(0.75,1.85)	1.08(0.71,1.67)
Occupational status
unemployed	110	160	0.67(0.43,1.63)	0.51(0.41,1.03)
employed	44	96	1	1
Family monthly income (in Birr)
≤2000	98	170	0.83(0.40,1.73)	0.79(0.26,1.61)
2001–5000	44	60	0.66(0.30,1.44)	0.57(0.23,1.40)
5001–8000	12	25	1	1
Family size
1–5	114	209	1	1
6 and above	40	47	0.64(0.40,1.44)	0.55(0.37,1.14)
Knowledge
Poor knowledge	85	149	1.13(0.76,1.67)	1.11(0.71,1.64)
Good knowledge	69	107	1	1
Source of information
News media	40	111	2.76(1.60,4.820*	2.71(1.47,4.07)*
Social media and internet	37	59	1.60(0.89,2.87)*	1.24(0.63,2.43)
Family/friends	33	42	1.27(0.69,2.36)	1.05(0.60,2.08)
Health care providers	44	44	1	1

Notes: 1=reference, and *= statistically significant at p-value< 0.05 in bivariable and multivariable logistic regression, Hosmer and Lemeshow test = 0.786.

Discussion

The COVID-19 is an emerging infectious disease that poses a significant threat to public health, especially for chronic disease patients. We found that 65% of the study participants knowledgeable about COVID-19. This proportion is less than the studies conducted in Arbaminch Ethiopia,15 resident of Ethiopia,16 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,17 Iran,13 China,18 Nepal,14 and Egypt.19 The possible explanation for the difference could be due to a difference in educational level, social, cultural, economic, and personal characteristics of the study participants. On the other hand, the finding is higher than the studies conducted in Jimma University medical center visitors20 and Addis Zemen District Hospital.21 This discrepancy may be due to the differences in a tool used to assess the respondents’ knowledge.

In this study, we found that 78.8% of the respondents knew chronic disease patients have a high susceptibility to the COVID-19 pandemic. This result was lower than the studies conducted in Jimma University medical center visitors,20 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,17 Malaysia,22 and Germany.23 The possible justification for the difference could be due to a difference in study participants’ socioeconomic status. Conversely, this finding is higher than the study reported in Addis Zemen District Hospital, Ethiopia.21 The finding difference may be due to the time of data collection.

This study found that most participants had accessed information from new media (TV and radio). This finding is in line with the studies conducted in Addis Zemen District Hospital,21 Arbaminch Ethiopia,15 and Egypt.19 The possible explanation for the similarity is that most participants need easy and accessible ways of getting information. Most of the community used easily accessible media like TV and radio to obtained information about the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, this result is different from studies conducted in Iran,13 United Arab Emirates,24 and Nigeria,25 and Egypt.19 This difference may be due to the study participants’ educational level, social, cultural, economic, and personal characteristics.

This study revealed that 53.4% of the study respondents were well prepared to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. Their preparedness methods to the COVID-19 included sufficient stocking amounts of food items, alcohol/sanitizer, preparing isolation rooms for suspected family members, posted an emergency phone number at home, and refilled their medication for three months. This is a significant contribution for declared an emergency and mandated compulsory physical distancing, stay at home, frequent hand washing, and wear the masks to control the COVID-19 pandemic spread, recommended by WHO.26 This preparedness to the COVID-19 is not a fixed rule; it may be changed by advancing knowledge of chronic disease patients, coping mechanisms for prevention, and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our study found that 62.4% of respondents had a good response to COVID-19 prevention. This finding is less than the studies reported in Iran,13 and China.18 The possible justification of this inconsistency may be due to differences in information-seeking behavior, frequency of media exposure, education status, and the study participant’s anxiety related to the pandemic, which leads to the variation in the application of recommended precaution and early response to the COVID-19. The other possible difference maybe a total lock down and travel restrictions implemented by China and Iran to control the COVID-19 pandemic transmission. In opposition, this finding is higher than the study conducted in Addis Zemen District Hospital, Ethiopia.21 This discrepancy may be due to the time of data collection and tools used.

When each of the specific components of preventive practice was analyzed, our study finding indicated that 89.5% of participants avoiding handshaking and kissing to prevent COVID-19. This finding was higher than the studies conducted in Jimma, Ethiopia,20 Addis Zemen District Hospital, Ethiopia,21 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.16 This inconsistency is may be due to differences in data collection times and tools. Eighty-seven percent of the participants practice hand washing to prevent COVID-19, which was higher than the studies reported in Arbaminch,15 Jimma,20 and Addis Zemen District Hospital, Ethiopia.21 This difference may be due to the time of data collection and difference in study participants. Again, this result is lower than the studies result reported in Nepal,14 and Malaysia.22 This difference is explained by modest coverage and intermittent water supply in our study facilities.

In this study, we found that 82.4% of participants wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19, which in line with the study reported in Arbaminch Ethiopia,15 and higher than the studies reported in Addis Zemen District Hospital,21 Paraguay,27 and Malaysia.22 The discrepancy might be occurred due to the data collection period. Conversely, this finding is lower than the studies conducted in Bangladesh,28 Nepal,14 and Chinas residents.18 This lower practice of wearing a mask in Ethiopia might be due to the inability to afford and lack of strict follow-up with the local government to enforcing the policies to wear a mask.

Our study found male participants were significantly associated with good prepared to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. This contradicted the study reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which revealed that women were more practiced in preventing the COVID-19.16 The possible justification for this finding; the male population was more at risk to COVID-19 than the female due to their daily work was out of the door. As a result, the male’s chronic disease patients were more prepared and response to the COVID-19 pandemic than female participants. Again, our findings revealed that participants with informal education had significantly higher good responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. This explained by chronic disease patients who had follow-up at the healthcare facilities regularly may have updated information on the COVID-19 prevention methods from the healthcare professionals.

Different studies indicated that chronic disease patients have a high risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 infections.10,12 This study found that participants who have chronic hypertension, tuberculosis, diabetes have higher response and preparedness of COVID-19 prevention. This similar to the study result reported in China that revealed chronic hypertension disease, respiratory system disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases were more connected with the COVID-19 prevention and response.29 Patients may have higher preparedness and response to the COVID-19 infection prevention and control as recognizing their chronic disease.

We found that participants who had followed the news media (TV & Radio) and social media had higher preparedness and response to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. This was in line with the study done in Arbaminch, Ethiopia.14 In fact, social media, TV, and radio are instruments that promoted the prevention of the COVID-19 infection by demonstrating frequent hand hygiene and self-care, avoiding social gatherings (maintaining social distancing). This is a good opportunity that should be encouraged and continued to provide the current pandemic prevention and control method.

Limitation of the Study

This study has limited to the North Shoa Zone, and respondents might give socially acceptable answers, which may have desirable Social bias. The tool used to assess knowledge, preparedness, and responses were not standardized. The discussion part did not compare with other literature due to the limited number of published articles during this study conducted.

Conclusion

We found that the level of knowledge, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 among chronic disease patients was low. Male participants, source of information, educational status, and having chronic disease ware significantly associated with the COVID-19 preparedness and response. Therefore, to increase knowledge, preparedness, and response to the COVID-19 among chronic disease patients needs coordinated effort from the health professional, government, and non-government organization. The government should be continuing awareness creation on COVID-19 prevention and control methods through news media (TV and Radio) and social media by collaboration with a health professional. Effective prevention and control of the COVID-19 are achieved through increasing the populations’ knowledge and practices towards COVID-19. A health professional who works at a health facility or chronic outpatient department should be provided information about the COVID-19 pandemic for the chronic disease patients during their follow-up period and refill sufficient medication for three months to reduce the frequency of visiting the healthcare facilities.