Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Barrier Measures Related to COVID-19 among Students during Physical and Sports Education Classes in Colleges in the Republic of Benin in 2020

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) was considered a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020, due to its rapid and persistent global spread. In order to combat the pandemic, the WHO has recommended barrier measures that have affected the lives of people in many countries. Objectives: The present study aims to determine the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices related to barrier measures related to Covid-19 among secondary school students in the south of Benin during Physical and Sports Education (PSE) classes. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study carried out among 1000 students, including 387 girls from secondary schools in the Littoral department in southern Benin, using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The majority of the students surveyed showed average levels of knowledge (70%) and attitudes (66.6%) but a poor level of practice (0.0%) with regard to barrier measures at PSE or not. Conclusion: Awareness of the pandemic must therefore be reinforced among students in order to improve their knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to compliance with the recommended barrier measures. This will help prevent PSE classes from spreading COVID-19 in Beninese schools.