Determinants of COVID-19 prevention behavior in school students-A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The global pandemic, due to having gone on for more than 1 year, has forced countries around the world to take on new habitual adaptations. This includes Indonesia. The application of new norms and their associated adjustments has been applied in all areas that intersect with the public, such as public transportation, places of worship, offices, supermarkets, inns, and restaurants. The control of the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has been and is carried out by the government so then its spread can be controlled. In reality, on the ground, it is increasingly rampant. Controlling the spread of COVID-19 can be successful if the entire community participates in taking precautions. AIM: The research objective was to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitude, and the behavior of SMKN I students in the effort to prevent COVID-19. METHODS: The type of this research was processed using the descriptive correlative method which describes the relationship between the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of the students in an effort to prevent COVID-19. The population of this research was the students majoring in the Pharmacy and Computer and Network Engineering Departments of SMKN 1 Garut. The sample was gathered using the total sampling technique, totaling as many as 160 respondents. The instrument used in this research was a questionnaire. The data analysis method used was Chi-square. RESULTS: The results showed that the level of the students’ knowledge on the efforts needed to prevent COVID-19 was in the sufficient category (72%). Most of the students’ attitude about the prevention of COVID-19 was in the sufficient category (74%). Most of the sufferers’ behavior regarding the prevention of COVID-19 was in the good category (79%). Based on the results of the statistical tests executed using Chi-square, there was found to be a relationship between the students’ knowledge and behavior in an effort to prevent COVID-19 (p = 0.63). There was also found to be a relationship between the students’ attitude and behavior in an effort to prevent COVID-19 (p = 0.83). CONCLUSION: The conclusion was that there was a relationship between the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of the students in an effort to prevent COVID-19.