Perceived Risk and Knowledge of COVID 19 Pandemic as Correlates of Compliance with Precautionary Behaviors Among Nigerian Secondary School Teachers

Abstract

This is a correlation study designed to determine how perceived risk and knowledge of COVID 19 pandemic predict compliance with precautionary behaviors among secondary school teachers in Ondo-State. A descriptive cross sectional design, using survey method was used to carry out the study. The study population consisted of 200 participants selected through multistage sampling technique. The instrument used was validated by an infectious disease epidemiologist while reliability coefficient of 0.72 was obtained using test- retest method. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to determine the correlation. Findings indicated that knowledge of COVID 19 pandemic have strong positive relationship with compliance of precautionary behaviors among secondary school teachers. The computed r-value (0.738) was significant at p<0.05 level of significance. Findings also shows that there was significant relationship between risk perception and compliance with precautionary behaviors against COVID 19 among the secondary school teachers with the computed r-value (0.387) statistically significant at p<0.05 level of significance. However, findings indicated that there was no significant difference between gender and risk perception of COVID 19 among the participants. The computed t-value (0.253) with degree of freedom 198 was not significant at p>0.05 level of significance for the groups. Findings also implied that there was significant relationship between gender and compliance with COVID 19 precautionary. Recommendations were made that more sensitization and awareness strategies should be scaled up to increase knowledge and improve compliance with precautionary measures to put an end to the spread of the dreaded COVID 19 disease.