Intentional Non-compliance with COVID-19 Containment Measures Among Medical Students in Tertiary Learning Institutions in Kenya: Challenges and Reflections

Joyce Lugulu and Benard Oduor

 

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) emerged in China in late 2019. The World Health Organization recommended several general non-pharmaceutical containment measures to check its rapid spread. The effectiveness of these measures depends on population behavior change. Despite evidence that COVID-19 containment measures significantly slow down infection and mortality rates and reduce pressure on healthcare services, there is an indication that a significant proportion of the population intentionally refuses to comply with these measures. This study explored medical students’ adherence to COVID-19 guidelines with a focus on social and cognitive determinants of non-compliance.  The study employed a mixed method cross-sectional descriptive design and a sample size of thirty (30) purposively sampled respondents. Data was collected using self-reported questionnaires and Focus Groups and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Although participants were well informed regarding COVID-19 risks and preventive measures, there was no statistically significant correlation between adherence and knowledge about COVID-19. There was, however, a significant statistical correlation between non-compliance and social influence, perceived disease susceptibility and perceived benefits of compliance with COVID-19 containment measures. These findings suggest that there is a need for public health professionals and educators to re-imagine the present approach to healthcare promotion and education which is presently based on the possibly misguided premise that knowledge is sufficient to motivate behavior change and compliance with COVID-19 measures. Transforming health behavior will require a particular focus on non-knowledge factors including social influences which affect health behavior and compliance with disease containment measures.

Keywords:  Educated, Unlearning, Relearning, COVID-19

Corresponding author: Joyce Lugulu, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University.

 

To cite this article: Joyce Lugulu and Benard Oduor (2022).Intentional Non-compliance with COVID-19 Containment Measures Among Medical Students in Tertiary Learning Institutions in Kenya: Challenges and Reflections, Journal of African Studies in Educational Management and Leadership  Vol:14 p 58-76

 

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