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Awareness of Covid-19 Among Middle School Children- Lessons Learnt Over A Year Pandemic-Borne Period

Packiaraj Selvajothi1, Santiago Gnanadee .

Abstract


Background

 

The year 2020 will be reminisced in the young minds as they have come across the greatest global crisis. Though the school children have been well educated about the preventive measures against COVID 19 but the progression of this    pandemic disease remains uncertain. Hence, we wanted to assess the awareness of middle school students towards COVID 19 at its peak, 6 months and after a year period in Tamil Nadu, India through an online survey.

 

Material and methods

 

A cross-sectional web-based descriptive survey was done to evaluate COVID-19-related knowledge and awareness among middle school students in June 2020, December 2020 and June 2021, in the state of Tamil Nadu. All data were   statistically analyzed using SPSS 20.0. The significance level of tests was accepted as p<0.05.

 

Results

 

A total of 125 middle school children in the age group   between 9-13 years participated in the study. The  questionnaire was categorized into 2 platforms (General, scientific knowledge and preventive measures). Males     comprised of 57% and females 43% in our study. The males had 73%, 95 % and females 74%,87 % awareness               on   platform I and II respectively. The students   from   urban,     semi-urban, rural had 73%,76%,71%  knowledge  and awareness on platform I and 91%,93%,89% on platform II     respectively.

 

Conclusion

 

This study evaluated the knowledge and awareness of covid-19 among middle school children. Information on children's      knowledge may help health professionals develop  age-appropriate explanations of Covid 19 and bring out easily understandable simple preventive strategies.

 

Running title

Awareness of covid-19 among middle school children

 

 

 


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References


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