Year of Publication
2022
College
Public Health
Date Available
4-22-2024
Degree Name
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Committee Member
Heather Bush, Ph.D.
Advisor
Erin N. Haynes, DrPH, MS
Co-Director of Graduate Studies
Anna Goodman Hoover, M.A., Ph.D.
Abstract
Abstract
Background: This cross-sectional study aims to identify the difference in COVID-19 mitigation strategies implementation and adherence among elementary, middle, and high schools in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, based on data from the School Staff Health and Wellness Study research at the University of Kentucky in 2020.
Methods: The sample size of the study was 6,794 participants who work at elementary, middle, or high schools in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Complete case analyses were performed, which included observation with no missingness in variables (N = 5,971). Descriptive statistics were generated, including a table indicating the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies by school type in each state, a table indicating the adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies by school type in each state, based on school staff ratings, and a table on the number of mitigation strategies implemented, stratified by school type. Statistical tests of differences (Chi-squared tests and t-tests) were performed to examine the differences in mitigation strategies implementation and adherence.
Results: The majority of mitigation strategies implementation and adherence among elementary, middle, and high schools were statistically different. All school types in 3 states had high implementation and adherence rates of mask use and hand sanitizers. Low frequencies of gloves and face shield implementation and adherence were observed in all school types in 3 states. Implementation of other mitigation strategies highly differed among elementary, middle, and high schools in 3 states.
Conclusions: Mask use and hand sanitizers were frequently implemented in schools in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, based on school staff ratings. Mitigation strategies with low frequencies of implementation and adherence in all school types of 3 states were gloves and face shields. Future studies could focus on examining the frequency of mitigation strategies implementation in different occupations in school settings.
Recommended Citation
Le, Luu, "COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies School Staff in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio" (2022). Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.). 346.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cph_etds/346
