AWARENESS OF COVID-19 PREVENTION PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN AWGU EDUCATION ZONE, ENUGU STATE

Abstract

This study examined the awareness of covid-19 prevention protocols and guidelines among senior secondary school students in Awgu Education Zone, Enugu State. It was guided by three specific objectives with three corresponding research questions and hypotheses. The objectives sought to: determine students’ level of awareness on COVID-19 prevention protocols and guidelines; the extent to which they adhere to those protocols and guidelines; and identify the factors inhibiting students’ adherence to those protocols and guidelines in senior secondary schools in the study area. Survey research design was adopted for the study. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Mean rating was used for analysing the responses to the research questions and t-test statistical tool was used for testing the hypotheses. It was revealed, among others, that senior secondary school students are largely aware of the most COVID-19 prevention protocols and guidelines; that students adhere to some of the protocols and guidelines and disregard others. Finally, it was revealed that lack of consciousness among students about the severity of COVID-19; poor COVID-19 enforcement system within school environment; poor adherence precedent set by teachers and other staff in school environment; high student population, among other factors impede students’ adherence to the COVID-19 prevention protocols and guidelines in the study area. The study recommended, among others, that in school environment, staff (teaching and non-teaching) should religiously adhere to the protocols and guidelines, as this will encourage students to adhere to them as well.