COVID-19 in Somalia: adherence to preventive measures and evolution of the disease burden
Dublin Core
Title
COVID-19 in Somalia: adherence to preventive measures and evolution of the disease burden
Author
Ahmed, Mohammed A.M.
Nelson, Joseph Siewe Fodjo
Gele, Abdi A.
Farah, Abdiqani A.
Osman, Shariff
Guled, Ibraahim Abdullahi
Ali, Abdiaziz Mohamed
Colebunders, Robert
Nelson, Joseph Siewe Fodjo
Gele, Abdi A.
Farah, Abdiqani A.
Osman, Shariff
Guled, Ibraahim Abdullahi
Ali, Abdiaziz Mohamed
Colebunders, Robert
Language
English
Publication Date
20200906
Abstract
Following the COVID-19 outbreak in Somalia, strict preventive measures were implemented by the government. We assessed adherence to the government recommendations via two consecutive online cross-sectional surveys between April and July 2020. A five-point adherence score was constructed based on self-reported observance of five preventive measures (physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, mouth covering when coughing/sneezing, and avoidance of touching the face). 4124 and 4703 responses were analyzed during the first and second survey, respectively. The mean adherence score decreased from 3.54 ± 1.5 in the first survey to 3.40 ± 1.6 during the second survey; p < 0.001. More participants experienced at least one flu-like symptom during the second survey (38.2%) compared to the first (16.2%); however, the proportion of positive COVID-19 tests in the first (26.9%) and second survey (26.5%) was similar. The ordinal logistic regression model identified the following predictors for high adherence scores: female gender (odds ratio (OR) = 1.715 (1.581-1.861), p < 0.001); being a healthcare worker/student (OR = 2.180 (2.000-2.377), p < 0.001); obtaining COVID-19 information from official sources (OR = 1.460 (1.341-1.589), p < 0.001); and having postgraduate education (OR = 1.679 (1.220-2.307), p < 0.001). Conversely, obtaining COVID-19 information from social media and residing in urban settings were associated with lower adherence. Targeted and context-specific adaptations of the COVID-19 response may be required in Somalia.
Primary Classification
9.1
Secondary Classification
9.1; 21.1
Primary keywords
communicable disease control [pri]; epidemiology [pri]; health education [pri]; public health [pri]; viruses [pri]
Secondary keywords
health literacy; information dissemination; public health; questionnaire; rural population; survey; urban population
Subject
COVID-10; pandemic; social media
Journal Article
Pathogens. 2020 September 6; 9(9): 735: 11 p.
Link for Internet access
Note
Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Primary Document Type
j
Subject Captions
e
Bibliography
19 refs.
ISSN
20760817 (online)
Collection
Citation
“COVID-19 in Somalia: adherence to preventive measures and evolution of the disease burden,” Islamic Medical & Scientific Ethics, accessed January 15, 2025, https://imse.ibp.georgetown.domains/items/show/38297.