Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among undergraduate students and its psychological impact on their life: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: The association between widespread outbreaks, such as COVID-19, and psychological distress and symptoms of mental illness is common. This study aimed to assess undergraduate students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 and its psychological impact on their life. Methods: A cross-sectional study was done using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The findings revealed that 11.9% of the participants had COVID-19, and 27.7% of their relatives contracted the disease. The overall rate of correct answers for the knowledge statements was 81.6%. Only 16.5% declared that COVID-19 had an extreme effect on their studies. However, 34% reported rarely or never having felt nervous or anxious during the pandemic. Conclusion: The findings revealed that undergraduate students have good knowledge and a positive attitude towards COVID-19, while their practice was poor. Also, the pandemic had a negative psychological impact on some students, thus the need for proactive psychological and social support for students.