A Cross-Sectional Study of Corona virus Disease Prevention Practices among University Staff and Students in Durban, South Africa in 2020–2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread negative effects on health, education, and the economy globally. In the absence of a cure, non-pharmaceutical preventive measures—such as regular handwashing, use of hand sanitizers, social distancing, wearing face masks, and avoiding touching the face—remain critical to limiting the spread of the virus. This study investigated COVID-19 prevention practices among staff and students at Durban University of Technology, South Africa. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected online via structured self-administered questionnaires from 5,849 participants between May 2020 and March 2021. Descriptive statistics summarized the sample characteristics, while logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between demographic factors and COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Findings indicated that male participants, single individuals, and those in the Faculty of Health Sciences were significantly more likely to follow preventive measures. Increasing age was associated with reduced compliance. Overall, the study found commendable adherence to COVID-19 preventive practices, highlighting the influence of socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, marital status, and faculty affiliation on adherence.