Putative factors influencing knowledge and behavioural practices of health science undergraduate students towards COVID-19 infection ahead of re-opening universities in Ghana

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus is a global pandemic affecting daily activities and delaying the reopening of several institutions such as universities. As a result, precautionary and preventive measures are being implemented to curtail the spread of the virus. However, knowledge and compliance measures are essential for adequate preparedness to reopen the universities amidst the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) along with factors influencing Health Science undergraduate students toward the COVID-19 infection pandemic in Ghana. A total of 606 students provided information regarding KAP of COVID-19 infection using an online questionnaire designed via Google forms. Results: Majority of the students 'mostly' obtained information on COVID-19 infection from social media (69.4%) followed by Television/radio/newspaper (60.4%). Majority of the students' population had adequate knowledge (92.7%), showed a good attitude (90.9%) and positive cues (90.8%) towards COVID-19 infection. Students that more often obtained information about COVID-19 infection from the news media were 2.86 and 4.01 increased odds of having a positive attitude and good practices towards COVID-19 infection, respectively. Those who obtained information from social media were significantly more likely to have adequate knowledge [OR=2.32 (1.10-7.19] but non-significantly less likely to have good practices [OR=0.57 (0.22-1.51)]. Male students had 0.53 decreased odds of having adequate knowledge of COVID-19 infection compared with female students. When compared with the sixth year students, students in the first year [OR =0.25 (95% CI: 0.10-0.62)] and second year [OR =0.33 (95% CI: 0.14-0.81)] were significantly less knowledgeable about COVID-19 infection. Students from urban settings were significantly associated with higher positive attitude towards COVID-19 infection [OR =2.04 (1.29-3.23)]. Conclusions: Increasing public health education on COVID-19 infection would increase knowledge and awareness, and create an opportunity for compliance with precautionary measures, thereby ensuring continuity of university education amidst the pandemic. © 2021 AME Publishing Company. All rights reserved.