Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15073-4

. 2023 Feb 15;23(1):336.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15073-4.

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

Joyce M Ncheka¹, J Anitha Menon^{2

3}, E Bethan Davies^{4

5}, Ravi Paul¹, Sydney O C Mwaba², John Mudenda⁶, Heather Wharrad⁷, Parisa Toutounchi⁵, Cris Glazebrook^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
² Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
³ Department of International Studies, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
⁴ Institute of Mental Health, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-Operative, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁵ Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁶ Lusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁷ School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁸ Institute of Mental Health, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-Operative, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. cris.glazebrook@nottingham.ac.uk.
⁹ Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. cris.glazebrook@nottingham.ac.uk.

PMID: 36793103
PMCID: PMC9930037
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15073-4

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

Joyce M Ncheka et al. BMC Public Health. 2023.

. 2023 Feb 15;23(1):336.

doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15073-4.

Authors

Joyce M Ncheka¹, J Anitha Menon^{2

3}, E Bethan Davies^{4

5}, Ravi Paul¹, Sydney O C Mwaba², John Mudenda⁶, Heather Wharrad⁷, Parisa Toutounchi⁵, Cris Glazebrook^{8

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
² Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
³ Department of International Studies, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
⁴ Institute of Mental Health, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-Operative, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁵ Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁶ Lusaka Apex Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia.
⁷ School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
⁸ Institute of Mental Health, NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-Operative, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. cris.glazebrook@nottingham.ac.uk.
⁹ Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. cris.glazebrook@nottingham.ac.uk.

PMID: 36793103
PMCID: PMC9930037
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15073-4

Abstract

Background: Health protective behaviours are crucial in the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, particularly in university students who typically live and study in large groups. Depression and anxiety are common in students and can impact young people's motivations to follow health advice. The study aims to assess the relationship between mental health and COVID-19 health-protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional, online survey of Zambian university students. Participants were also invited to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore views about COVID-19 vaccination. Invitation emails were sent explaining the study aims and directed students who self-identified as having low mood in the past two weeks to an online survey. Measures included COVID-19 preventive behaviours, COVID-19-related self-efficacy, and Hospital and Anxiety Depression scale.

Results: A total of 620 students (n=308 female, n=306 male) participated in the study, with a mean participant age of 22.47±3.29 years (range 18-51). Students reported a mean protective behaviour score of 74.09/105 and 74% scored above the threshold for possible anxiety disorder. Three-way ANOVA showed lower COVID-19 protective behaviours in students with possible anxiety disorder (p=.024) and those with low self-efficacy (p<0.001). Only 168 (27%) said they would accept vaccination against COVID-19, with male students being twice as likely to be willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination (p<0.001). Of 50 students interviewed. 30 (60%) expressed fears about the vaccination and 16 (32%) were concerned about a lack of information. Only 8 (16%) participants expressed doubts about effectiveness.

Conclusion: Students who self-identify as having symptoms of depression have high levels of anxiety. The results suggest that interventions to reduce anxiety and promote self-efficacy might enhance students' COVID-19 protective behaviours. Qualitative data provided insight into the high rates of vaccine hesitancy in this population.

Keywords: COVID-19 protective behaviours; Gender; Mental health; Self-efficacy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Cited by

Implementing internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (moodgym) for African students with symptoms of low mood during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative feasibilty study.
Ncheka JM, Menon JA, Davies EB, Paul R, Mwaba SOC, Mudenda J, Wharrad H, Tak H, Glazebrook C. Ncheka JM, et al. BMC Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 1;24(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s12888-024-05542-4. BMC Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 38302998 Free PMC article.

References

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1. Mathew N, Deborah I, Karonga T, Rumbidzai C. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: Narratives of self-employed women in Ndola Zambia. Health Care Women Int. 2020;41(11–12):1370–1383. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2020.1823983. - DOI - PubMed
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1. Kayombo KM, Mwiinga B. Acceptability and challenges of online higher education in the covid-19 era in Zambia Academicia. Int Multidiscip Res J. 2021;11(2):1628–1645. doi: 10.5958/2249-7137.2021.00568.1. - DOI
1. Tadese M, Mihretie A. Attitude, preparedness, and perceived self-efficacy in controlling COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among university students during school reopening. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(9):e0255121. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255121. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[1] Simulundu E, Mupeta F, Chanda-Kapata P, Saasa N, Changula K, Muleya W. First COVID-19 case in Zambia-Comparative Phylogenic analyses of SARS-COV-2 detected in African countries. Int J Infect Dis. 2021;102(1):455–459. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1480. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Simulundu E, Mupeta F, Chanda-Kapata P, Saasa N, Changula K, Muleya W. First COVID-19 case in Zambia-Comparative Phylogenic analyses of SARS-COV-2 detected in African countries. Int J Infect Dis. 2021;102(1):455–459. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1480. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Mathew N, Deborah I, Karonga T, Rumbidzai C. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: Narratives of self-employed women in Ndola Zambia. Health Care Women Int. 2020;41(11–12):1370–1383. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2020.1823983. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Mathew N, Deborah I, Karonga T, Rumbidzai C. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: Narratives of self-employed women in Ndola Zambia. Health Care Women Int. 2020;41(11–12):1370–1383. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2020.1823983. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Excess Mortality Collaborators Estimating excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic analysis of COVID-19-related mortality, 2020–21 COVID-19 Published Online March 10, 2022, 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02796-3.

[6] Excess Mortality Collaborators Estimating excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic analysis of COVID-19-related mortality, 2020–21 COVID-19 Published Online March 10, 2022, 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02796-3.

[7] Kayombo KM, Mwiinga B. Acceptability and challenges of online higher education in the covid-19 era in Zambia Academicia. Int Multidiscip Res J. 2021;11(2):1628–1645. doi: 10.5958/2249-7137.2021.00568.1. - DOI

[8] Kayombo KM, Mwiinga B. Acceptability and challenges of online higher education in the covid-19 era in Zambia Academicia. Int Multidiscip Res J. 2021;11(2):1628–1645. doi: 10.5958/2249-7137.2021.00568.1. - DOI

[9] Tadese M, Mihretie A. Attitude, preparedness, and perceived self-efficacy in controlling COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among university students during school reopening. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(9):e0255121. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255121. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Tadese M, Mihretie A. Attitude, preparedness, and perceived self-efficacy in controlling COVID-19 pandemics and associated factors among university students during school reopening. PLoS ONE. 2021;16(9):e0255121. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255121. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

Affiliations

Factors influencing COVID-19 health protective behaviours in Zambian university students with symptoms of low mood

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Similar articles

Cited by

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Medical

Miscellaneous