Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and preventive behavior toward COVID-19 among secondary school students and teachers after reopening of schools and associated factors, and to compare the two groups.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Arabia from the 1st of March 2022 to the 1st of April 2022. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among school teachers and students to measure their knowledge about COVID-19 infection.
Results: Out of 1,228 participants, 407 were teachers and 821 were school students. The overall mean knowledge score was significantly higher in teachers (mean score: 9.30) than in school students (mean score: 8.95) (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: School teachers demonstrated better knowledge and preventive behavior toward COVID-19 infection than school students. Although current research was carried out during one of the COVID-19 pandemic waves, efforts should continue to enhance the school population’s basic knowledge and preventive measures against other respiratory viruses, especially during winter.
Key words: COVID-19, knowledge, preventive behavior, teachers, school students.
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