Understanding Knowledge and Behaviors Related To the Covid-19 Epidemic in Medical Students in Morocco

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is accompanied with increasing morbidity and mortality and has impacted the lives of people worldwide. Health care personnel including medical school students are at high risk of exposure and transmission of the coronavirus. Our aim is to study the knowledge and behavior of medical students in Morocco towards COVID-19 to have protection for themselves, their work colleagues.

Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study in November 2021 among medical students, conducted by a self-administered questionnaire, stratified sampling on years of study was performed.

Results: 300 students responded with a 75% response rate, with a mean age of 21.3 ± 1.4 years. The majority 189 (63%) were female, about 207(69 %) of the respondents had good knowledge (GK) and 174 (60%) had good behaviors (GB) using a point varying of 8 to 10 out of 10 and using a point varying of 40 to 60 out of 60 in each case. To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, 76.7% of the study participants improved their regular hand washing, and 94.7% of them used a face mask since the outbreak; There was a significant difference between hand washing with soap and water and COVID infection (p value = 0.002). The prevalence of anti-coronavirus vaccination was 87.7% (95 % CI 83.4, 90.9).

Conclusion: Medical students showed a satisfactory level of knowledge and adherence to the recommendations for protection against COVID-19 and they must also be prepared with medical awareness, an appropriate attitude and good precautionary measures In the event of an emergency