CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Study
There is a new world health crisis threatening the public with spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-2019) (Hafeez, Ahmad, Siddqui, Ahmad & Mishra, 2020). Corona virus causes respiratory infection including pneumonia, cold, sneezing and coughing while in animal it causes diarrhea and upper respiratory diseases. Corona virus transmitted human to human or human to animal via airborne droplets. Corona virus enters in human cell through membrane ACE-2 exopeptidase receptor (Kumar, Malviya & Sharma, 2020). First case of corona virus was notified as cold in 1960. According to the Canadian study 2001, approximately 500 patients were identified as Flu-like system. 17-18 cases of them were confirmed as infected with corona virus strain by polymerase chain reaction. Corona was treated as simple non-fatal virus till 2002. In 2003, various reports published with the proofs of spreading the corona to many countries such as United States America, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and in Taiwan. Several cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by corona and their mortally more than 1000 patient was reported in 2003. This was the black year for microbiologist. When microbiologist was started focus to understand these problems. After a deep exercise they conclude and understand the pathogenesis of disease and discovered as corona virus. But till total 8096 patient was confirmed as infected with corona virus. So, in 2004, World health organization and centres for disease control and prevention declared as “state emergency”. Another study report of Hong Kong was confirmed 50 patients of severe acute respiratory syndrome while 30 of them were confirmed as corona virus infected. In 2012, Saudi Arabian reports were presented several infected patient and deaths. COVID-19 was first identified and isolated from pneumonia patent belongs to Wuhan, China.
Since December 2019, when Covid-19 emerged in Hunan seafood market at Wuhan, South China and rapidly spread throughout the world, the virus outbreak has been declared a public health emergency of International concern by World Health Organization (WHO). Throughout the world the disease has caused varying degrees of illness. Patient shows various symptoms usually fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, fatigue, and malaise among others. The disease is being cured through general treatment, symptomatic treatment, by using antiviral drugs, oxygen therapy and by the immune system (Hafeez, et al., 2020).
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an RNA virus, with a typical crown-like appearance under an electron microscope due to the presence of glycoprotein spikes on its envelope. It is not the first time that a coronavirus causing an epidemic has been a significant global health threat: in November 2019, an outbreak of coronaviruses (CoVs) with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV started in the Chinese province of Guangdong and again, in September 2012 the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-Co V appeared. There are four genera of CoVs: (I) α-coronavirus (alphaCoV), (II) β-coronavirus (betaCoV) probably present in bats and rodents, while (III) δ-coronavirus (deltaCoV), and (IV) γ-coronavirus (gammaCoV) probably represent avian species (Gennaro, Pizzol, Marotta, Antunes, Racalbuto, Veronese & Smith, 2020). The virus has a natural and zoonotic origin: two scenarios that can plausibly explain the origin of SARS-CoV2 are: (i) natural selection in an animal host before zoonotic transfer; and (ii) natural selection in humans following zoonotic transfer (Perlman & Netland, 2020, as cited by Gennrao et al., 2020). Clinical features and risk factors are highly variable, making the clinical severity range from asymptomatic to fatal (Phan, 2020, as cited by Gennrao et al., 2020).
Coronaviruses are large, enveloped, positive-stranded RNA viruses. They have the largest genome among all RNA viruses. The genome is packed inside a helical capsid formed by the nucleocapsid protein and further surrounded by an envelope. Associated with the viral envelope are at least three structural proteins: the membrane protein and the envelope protein are involved in virus assembly, whereas the spike protein mediates virus entry into host cells. Among the structural proteins, the spike forms large protrusions from the virus surface, giving coronaviruses the appearance of having crowns (hence their name; corona in Latin means crown) (International Pharmacy Federation, 2020). In addition to mediating virus entry, the spike is a critical determinant of viral host range and tissue tropism and a major inducer of host immune responses. (Li, 2016).
Coronaviruses usually affect mammals and birds, causing a variety of lethal diseases. In general, coronaviruses cause widespread respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous system diseases in humans and other animals, threatening human health and causing economic loss from mild upper to lower respiratory tract infections (IPF, 2020). Coronaviruses are capable of adapting to new environments through mutation and recombination with relative ease. (Li, 2016) As such, they can affect new hosts and tissues.
According to the International Pharmacy Federation (2020) The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs by the following mechanisms:
a. Most often, spread from person to person among close contacts (about 6 feet/1.8 metres).
b. Person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. c. These droplets can land in the mouths, noses or eyes of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
d. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). There is evidence that coronaviruses can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces for several hours or even days. (Kampf G, 2020). See also the section on “Cleaning and disinfection management”.
e. Typically, with most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest). With COVID-19, however, there have been reports of spread from an asymptomatic infected patient to a close contact. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020) (Rothe, 2020). Recent studies suggest that asymptomatic (or pre-symptomatic) patients may indeed be driving the rapid expansion of the disease (Ruiyun Li, 2020).
f. Also, patients may remain contagious up to two weeks after the remission of symptoms. According to Wölfel and collaborators, whereas symptoms mostly waned by the end of the first week, viral RNA remained detectable in throat swabs well into the second week. Stool and sputum samples remained RNApositive over even longer periods, in spite of full resolution of symptoms. (Wölfel, 2020)
g. Minimal information is available regarding COVID-19 during pregnancy. Intrauterine or perinatal transmission has not been identified. In two reports including a total of 18 pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia, there was no laboratory evidence of transmission of the virus to the neonate. However, two neonatal cases of infection have been documented. In one case, the diagnosis was made at day 17 of life after close contact with the infant’s mother and a maternity matron who were both infected with the virus. The other case was diagnosed 36 hours after birth; the source and time of transmission in that case were unclear. (McIntosh, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Special situation: Pregnant women, 2020) Much of the advice in various countries, such as UK, about pregnant women moving to socially isolate is preventive rather than based on evidence of increased risk of harm.
h. In limited studies on women with COVID-19 and another coronavirus infection, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), the virus has not been detected in breast milk; however, it is not known whether mothers with COVID-19 can transmit the virus via breast milk. Breast milk provides protection against many illnesses.
i. There are rare exceptions when breastfeeding or feeding expressed breast milk is not recommended. The CDC has no specific guidance for breastfeeding during infection with similar viruses like SARS-CoV or Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) also both coronaviruses. In a similar situation to COVID19, the CDC recommends that a mother with flu continue breastfeeding or feeding expressed breast milk to her infant while taking precautions to avoid spreading the virus to her infant. Given low rates of transmission of respiratory viruses through breast milk, the World Health Organization presently states that mothers with COVID-19 can breastfeed. (Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, 2020).
Despite the diverse discussion around Corona Virus, its origin and nature, there have been really need to investigate people’s knowledge of the cause of the virus and the possible way to prevent the transmission of the study, hence, this study.
1.2Statement of the Research Problem
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new virus which has quickly spread around the world. While initially mainly affecting Asia, Europe and North America, more people are now testing positive in Southern Africa. Misinformation and myths have been spreading from across different countries of the world. There have been diverse positions among the people as to what seems to be the cause of the novel virus and the possible ways it could be curbed.
Some people believed that sin is the major cause of the virus. Some believed that the people’s disobedient to God or the gods and goddess is the main cause of the virus, and that if the people can be sober and they would be healed and the virus would disappear.
There is another myth which says the virus is a punishment for the unfaithful rich people, and it is not a virus that affects the black people. There has also been the information that the virus was caused as a result the unhygienic way of the people of Wuhan and their consumption of animals.
There has also been the argument that the virus was manufactured by China in their laboratory which is to be used as bioweapon on other powerful countries of the world in order to gain the world power.
To prevent the disease, some believed that, praying and fasting is the ultimate way one can keep himself of the contacting the novel virus. Some people are also of the opinion that observing physical distancing, would help a great deal in preventing the spreading of the virus. While some believed that through use of nose mask and hand sanitizer is the way to guard against contacting the virus.
This shows the disparity in the knowledge of people as towards the cause of the virus could be and how best it could be prevented. Existing studies have researched into the causes and ways to prevent corona virus, but, the knowledge of the students in tertiary institution have not be recorded in the existing studies, it is against this backdrop that this study would seek to examine the knowledge of the students of Abia State University about the causes and prevention of corona virus (covid-19).
1.3Research Objectives
The main of objective of this study is to examine the knowledge of causes and prevention of corona virus (COVID-19) among students of Abia State University. The specific objectives are to:
i. examine the knowledge of students of Abia State University about the source of COVID-19;
ii. investigate the major sources of information about COVID-19 among students of Abia State University;
iii. examine the knowledge of students of Abia State University about the mode of transmission of COVID-19; and
iv. examine the knowledge of students of Abia State University on preventive behaviour toward COVID-19.
1.4Research Questions
i. What is the knowledge of students of Abia State University about the source of COVID-19?
ii. What are the major sources of information about COVID-19 among students of Abia State University?
iii. What is the knowledge of students of Abia State University about the mode of transmission of COVID-19?
iv. What is the knowledge of students of Abia State University on preventive behaviour toward COVID-19?
1.5Significance of the study
This study seeks to cover the gaps in existing studies on the knowledge of Abia State University Students on the cause and prevention of corona virus. This study would examine the knowledge of students of Abia State University about the source of COVID-19. The result of this study would also show the major sources of information about COVID-19 among students of Abia State University. The result of the study would also show the knowledge of students of Abia State University on preventive behaviour toward COVID-19. The findings of this study would also be useful as reference for similar studies.
1.6Scope of the Study
This study would make use of information gathered from the undergraduate’s students of Abia state university. The study would not include information from the post graduate studies. The study would also not include distant learning student of the institution. And ultimately student from other universities in the state would not be included. And the data shall be collected solely from primary sources using questionnaire.
1.7. Definition of Key Terms
i. Knowledge: facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject
ii. Cause: a person or thing that gives rise to an action, phenomenon, or condition.
iii. Prevention: the action of stopping something from happening or arising.
iv: Covid-19: is defined as illness caused by a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; formerly called 2019-nCoV), which was first identified amid an outbreak of respiratory illness cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.