Table 3 Independently associated factors with psychological distress among the Ethiopian population during COVID-19 pandemic, 2020

Age groups

 18–24

 25–29

 30–34

 35–39

 40–44

 45–49

 50 and above

1.34

3.13

2.69

2.62

2.91

2.46

1

0.42–4.33

1.18–8.32

1.02–7.06

0.96–7.10

1.02–8.32

0.79–7.69

0.623

0.022

0.045

0.059

0.046

0.120

1.17

3.21

3.31

3.42

4.27

3.17

1

0.28–4.82

1.03–10.00

1.10–10.01

1.12–10.41

1.35–13.56

0.90–11.18

0.826

0.045*

0.034*

0.030*

0.014*

0.072

Sex

 Male

 Female

0.93

1

0.58–1.48

0.755

0. 77

1

0.45–1.31

0. 342

Educational qualification

 Diploma

 BSc/BA

 MSc/MA

 MD-GP

 MD-resident

 Ph.D

 MD-specialist

1.10

2.38

1.59

1.55

1.29

1.60

1

0.31–3.92

0.99–5.72

0.69–3.68

0.58–4.18

0.43–3.85

0.63–4.07

0.878

0.052

0.277

0.382

0.653

0.327

1.89

2.11

1.36

1.47

1.20

1.79

1

0.43–8.32

0.76–5.85

0.52–3.52

0.46–4.65

0.34–4.28

0.60–5.33

0.398

0.152

0.528

0.514

0.773

0.295

Occupation

 Student

 No job

 Self and private employed

 Health workers

 University employed

0.77

0.79

1.43

1.23

1

0.41–1.42

0.22–2.86

0.94–2.18

0.86–1.77

0.398

0.723

0.096

0.261

0.96

0.78

1.22

0.99

1

0.42–2.20

0.18–3.43

0.73–2.06

0.61–1.60

0.925

0.743

0.447

0.957

Current place of residence

 District town

 Zonal town

 Regional town

 Administrative city

1

0.70

0.67

0.74

0.43–1.14

0.38–1.18

0.42–1.30

0.157

0.163

0.290

1

0.82

0.79

0.93

0.46–1.45

0.40–1.56

0.48–1.78

0.495

0.499

0.822

Getting information from social media

 No

 Yes

1

1.31

0.98–1.77

0.070

1

1.42

1.02–1.99

0.039*

Getting information from health care workers

 No

 Yes

0.66

1

0.45–0.99

0.044

0.71

0.45–1.12

0.146

I am confident that I can wash my hands frequently with soap and water

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

0.61

4.57

1.70

1.79

1

0.07–5.00

2.07–10.11

0.87–3.31

1.30–2.46

0.642

0.001

0.120

0.001

0.19

4.17

1.56

1.43

0.01–5.08

1.43–12.15

0.65–3.79

0.91–2.24

0.321

0.009*

0.319

0.117

Have the resource (water, soap) to wash my hands

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

2.30

3.51

1.36

1.17

1

1.07–4.94

1.99–6.21

0.61–3.05

0.84–1.63

0.033

0.001

0.451

0.343

1.45

2.62

0.98

1.20

1

0.53–3.94

1.20–5.70

0.39–2.47

0.76–1.88

0.466

0.015*

0.962

0.430

Confident that I can stay at home easily to prevent COVID-19

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

1.94

1.05

0.95

1.13

1

1.14–3.32

0.65–1.68

0.55–1.63

0.73–1.75

0.015

0.854

0.852

0.577

1.50

0.73

0.71

0.99

1

0.71–3.17

0.39–1.36

0.36–1.39

0.57–1.70

0.283

0.326

0.316

0.958

Confident that I can avoid crowed places and close contact

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

1.54

1.36

1.26

1.10

1

0.64–3.73

0.77–2.40

0.75–2.13

0.78–1.56

0.339

0.291

0.382

0.578

0.91

0.76

1.14

1.05

1

0.28–2.96

0.34–1.69

0.56–2.32

0.65–1.71

0.879

0.500

0.711

0.843

Always cover cough using the bend of my elbow

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

2.20

1.71

1.38

0.92

1

0.48–10.06

0.85–3.47

0.72–2.64

0.66–1.27

0.308

0.135

0.326

0.604

0.98

1.11

1.26

1.07

1

0.09–10.69

0.41–2.99

0.52–3.05

0.65–1.76

0.985

0.837

0.606

0.778

Avoid touching my eyes nose and mouth to prevent infection of COVID-19

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

3.92

1.04

0.95

0.89

1

1.21–12.72

0.48–2.24

0.54–1.66

0.64–1.24

0.023

0.928

0.851

0.493

3.34

0.76

0.75

0.75

0.49–22.56

0.27–2.10

0.33–1.70

0.44–1.27

0.217

0.594

0.494

0.281

Maintain at least 2-m distance between myself and any other individuals

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

1.36

1.16

1.43

0.91

1

0.45–4.06

0.67–2.02

0.86–2.36

0.64–1.31

0.587

0.585

0.165

0.629

0.73

0.66

1.28

0.79

1

0.16–3.33

0.31–1.41

0.66–2.49

0.48–1.32

0.684

0.287

0.470

0.374

Believing that COVID-19 is extremely harmful

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

1.18

0.43

0.83

0.71

1

0.66–2.11

0.22–0.85

0.44–1.55

0.51–0.99

0.571

0.015

0.552

0.043

1.38

0.55

0.70

0.70

1

0.71–2.68

0.26–1.14

0.34–1.42

0.48–1.02

0.346

0.107

0.323

0.064

Have the skill to follow recommended handwashing practices to prevent COVID-19 infection

 Strongly disagree

 Disagree

 Neither agree or disagree

 Agree

 Strongly agree

1.03

8.01

2.29

1.32

1

0.28–3.81

2.04–31.49

0.63–8.25

0.98–1.79

0.964

0.003

0.205

0.070

0.81

5.39

2.19

1.14

1

0.06–10.47

1.17–24.87

0.45–10.61

0.72–1.81

0.873

0.031*

0.331

0.569