A cross-sectional international study shows confidence in public health scientists predicts use of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions

Abstract

Background We examine the antecedents of COVID-19 phone tracking applications use, social distancing, and mask use, in the United States, Hong Kong and Japan. Methods We draw on online panel surveys of over 1000 respondents each in the USA, Hong Kong and Japan, using broadly representative quota sample selections. Results are tested by ordinal logistic regression for the two ordinal dependent variables and logistic regression for phone app use. Results Confidence in public health scientists predicts use of phone tracking applications, social distancing, and mask use, albeit statistically insignificant for tracer phone application use in Hong Kong. Trust in government predicts the use of a phone tracking application. Counterintuitively, trust in government is negatively and significantly associated with mask use and social distancing in Hong Kong and Japan. Women are more likely to wear masks and practice social distancing. Government employees are more likely to use a phone tracking application, but less likely to mask and social distance. Voting and civic participation are positively associated with trust in government and confidence in public health scientists, in all three countries. There are interesting variations across all three countries on other antecedents and controls. Conclusions Building and maintaining confidence in public health scientists provides a key tool to manage pandemics. Credible, effectively communicative – and independent – medical and scientific leaders may be central to pandemic control success. For digital measures, trust in government and privacy protection is central. Political and social factors are important to understand successful public health policy implementation.

COVID-19 vaccination and governance in the case of low, middle and high-income countries

“…Also, for these category of countries, in particular, the lack or precariousness of the necessary means for the transport and storage of vaccines should be mentioned, considering that they should be kept at very low temperatures. In certain low and middle-income countries (India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa), the production of COVID-19 vaccines was carried out [ 68 ], but many of them do not have the internal capacity to manufacture vaccines and thus rely on high-income countries or multinational companies. Moreover, they show pronounced income inequalities, deficiencies in resources, government effectiveness and regulatory quality such as policies, planning, programmes, medical personnel, organized laboratories, industries, research & development, and government funding.…”

“…Another governance problem arising in the population vaccination process in some low and middle-income countries is the poor inclusion of people most exposed to the COVID-19 (population with comorbidities and those aged over 65) in the vaccination campaigns. For this reason, governments should demonstrate transparency and good regulatory quality when they take measures and should, furthermore, rely on scientific evidence when explaining the priority vaccination of certain population categories and thus build confidence in COVID-19 vaccines [ 68 , 72 ].…”