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.