Background:
Everyone
has been affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
epidemic, including
students.
Understanding public knowledge and adherence level to
preventive measures
is vital
for prevention of COVID-19 pandemic. Aim: to assess
adherence to COVID-19 related public health measures among Minia university students
based on health belief model. Research design: a descriptive cross-sectional design was
used. Setting: Minia University, which comprises (20) faculties. Sample: A systematic
random sample consisted of 460 students Data collection Tools: 1st tool: Structured
interview questionnaire: included questions related to socio-demographic characteristics,
medical data and life style data. 2nd tool: COVID-19 Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire.
3rd tool: COVID-19 Health Belief Scale. 4th tool: Covid-19 Self-Efficacy Scale and the 5th
tool: Adherence to COVID-19 related Public Health Measures Scale. Results: less than half
of participants their age ranged from 21 – 23yrs. with mean age (21 ± 2.05 yrs.). More than
two-thirds of them were knowledgeable about COVID-19 related public health preventive
measures with mean score (21.45 ± 3.55). 60.6% of participants students were adherent to
these measures. 70.2% of participants have high perceived susceptibility to get COVID-19
while 68.4% of them have high perceived severity. 70.7% of them have high self-efficacy to
comply with those preventive measures. Conclusion: There was highly statistically
significant relation between participants level of adherence and their perceived susceptibility,
perceived severity, perceived barriers, their cues to adhere with those measures and their
self-efficacy. Recommendations: Additional research studies in Egypt should be conducted
with a broader geographic scope to assess over all community-level of adherence to
preventive measures and to identify barriers of noncompliance with these measures.