COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices among government and private bank workers in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Bank workers are among the many service-sector employees who are at risk of COVID-19 infection. Individual’s adherence to control measures is affected by their COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). Since KAP is an important cognitive key in public health prevention and promotion, this study aimed to identify COVID-19 KAP-related gaps among bank workers in Dessie City, Ethiopia and to guide banks and health authorities in taking corrective actions. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1st to 30th, 2021 among 413 bank workers. A binary logistic regression was applied to determine association of independent variables with outcome variables using three different models. Variables at 95% confidence interval (CI) with a p < 0.25 from bivariate analysis were transported to three different multivariable logistic regression models and then variables with a p-value of 0.05 from the multivariable analysis of each model were declared as significantly associated with the outcome variables. RESULTS: The results of this study show that 84.7% [95% CI: 81.1–88.1] of bank workers had good knowledge, 50.4% positive attitude, and 50.6% [95% CI: 45.8–55.0] good practice towards prevention of COVID-19. The only variable significantly associated with knowledge in this study was positive attitude (AOR = 8.89; 95%CI: 3.34–23.64). Being ≥35 years old (AOR = 2.46; 95%CI: 1.25–4.84) and getting information on COVID-19 (AOR = 3.81; 95%CI: 1.84–7.91) were among factors significantly associated with attitude towards COVID-19 prevention, whereas being female and ≥ 35 years old (AOR = 2.56; 95%CI: 1.29–5.06) and (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI: 1.15–6.51), respectively were factors associated with good preventive practice towards COVID-19. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Considering those significant factors responsible for determining COVID-19 KAP level of respondents, health education program and information dissemination are recommended, including appropriate strategies by policy makers and bank managers to develop effective interventions for COVID-19 transmission in banks.