Community Perceptions, and Challenges towards Preventing COVID-19 Pandemic in Arsi and East Shoa Zones, Oromia Regional State

Abstract

COVID_19 virus become unprecedented pandemic disease after WHO declared it globally since its outbreak. In Ethiopia, the first COVID-19 case was reported on March 13, 2020. To control the spread of coronavirus, Ethiopia had declared state of emergence since the inborn of COVID-19. Then, the established taskforce has implemented initial prevention and mitigation measures. Awareness creation campaign was undertaken through mass and screaming media by professional health workers. This study was aimed to identify the level of Community perception, challenges and prevention mechanisms of COVID-19 pandemic disease in Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State. The study was undertaken from 05-18/05/2020. Research teams from college of social science and humanities, Arsi University has undertaken descriptive qualitative study using semi structured interview and participatory observation after purposefully identifying the existing campaigning sessions about COVID-19 virus. The study revealed that communities has positive perception about transmitting and prevention mechanism of COVID_19, but their attitudes and practices of applying recommended prevention mechanisms were inconsistent and irrelevant. Besides, established taskforces for COVID-19 to apply and supervise health emergency state. Therefore, though the campaign has contributed a lot in creating about awareness of COVID-19 transmitting and prevention mechanism, communities and taskforces were irresponsible to apply recommended measurements by WHO,EPHI and MoE. Accordingly, concerning bodies should have to recognize new campaign mechanisms and strictly supervise the implementations recommended prevention mechanisms by health emergence taskforces.