AN ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF STREET ELDERS TOWARDS COVID-19 IN CASE OF WOLAITA SODO CITY

Abstract

This study is conducted in Wolaita Sodo city, and street elders are the subject of the study. The study aimed to assess knowledge and perception of street elders to covid 19. Judgmental sampling technique used to select 10 respondents of the study. Descriptive research design together with survey, unstructured interview and observation research methods used in the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques are employed in the study to analyze primary and secondary data. The research found that study participants have moderate level of knowledge about symptoms, preventive strategies and transmission mode of the Covid 19. Moreover the study found that the study participants perceived covid 19 as sever disease and they perceived as they are more susceptibility to covid 19. Though they recognize their high susceptibility to covid 19 and the severity of the disease, they are unable to practice any preventive strategies due to their financial limitation, style of life in the street and lack of awareness.