Barriers and Drivers of Public Preventive Behavioral Responses to COVID-19 Outbreak: Evidence from Iran

Abstract

Background: When an epidemic outspreads, the society engagement seems essential to make sure of the population’s preparedness for taking individual precautions. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine public’s preventive behavioral responses to protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide a description of conceptual frameworks for deeper understanding of these behaviors. Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire was used in this online survey through social networks during March 19th to 26th, 2020 (n = 2550). A Likert scoring scale was employed to investigate barriers and drivers affecting the participants’ preventive behaviors. Using personal protective equipment and good hand hygiene practices were identified as person-based measures. Social distancing and the restriction of social and economic activities during the past two months were determined as community-based measures. Univariate logistic regression and multiple - logistic regression were used to identify and assess influencing factors. Results: The study results indicated that 2426 (95.1%) of the participants intended to restrict their social and economic activities, and 1968 (72.2%), 1637 (64.2%), and 2492 (97.7%) persons intended to observe social distancing, use personal protective equipment, and have good hand hygiene, respectively. The most important barriers for preventive behaviors were the lack of risk perception, economic and financial barriers, lack of access, and cultural barriers, respectively. The perceived benefit was among the most significant driver. Intention for person-based measures was less affected by demographic and economic characteristics in comparison with community-based measures. Conclusions: Considering the substantial impact of preventive behaviors on managing COVID-19 epidemic, this study findings have remarkable implications for governments to manage future communications as well as interventions during this ongoing outbreak and subsequent national risk events.

Comparing two Behavior Change Approaches in predicting the Intention and COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among the general population

“…Dires et al (2020) found that a majority intended to wash hands (85.5%), wear a mask (81.9%), and social distance (74.6%) to prevent COVID-19 [23]. An Iranian study by Zarei et al (2021) found that, in accordance with the ndings of the current study, 72.2%, 64.2%, and 97.7% of participants intended to observe social distance, wear personal protection equipment, and practice hand hygiene, respectively [24]. COVID-19 in Iran, speci cally Urmia, is causing high intention and CPBs due to its prevalence.…”

The Whole-of-Government, Whole-of-Society Approach in Tackling COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran: Evidence for Policymakers

“…The COVID-19 crisis was not an exception, as the NCC did not manage well to engage with the representatives of civil society and the grassroots organizations, i.e., the Supreme Council of Provinces, the Strategic Council of Non-governmental Organizations, for mitigation and control of the pandemic. Insufficient community engagement and inadequate public healthcare literacy might have created remarkable difficulties in public adherence to preventive protocols, keeping social distancing and citizens' compliance with the lockdown requirements in Iran (33)(34)(35), and the frequent inevitable, devastating waves of the pandemic after that.…”

At-risk COVID-19 Patients; Knowledge and Attitude of Those in Need of Transfer to Hospital and Consequences in Non-transferred Patients

“…Adequate awareness of a disease can always impact individuals' attitudes and practices, while negative attitudes and practices can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality (2)(3)(4). As every person may be a mobile source of infection, it is expected that improving the population's knowledge and taking the right actions to have a better attitude toward the disease would help prevent the further spread of the disease (5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”