Changes in Hand Hygiene Behaviors and Its Related Factors Among Northern Iranian Population During the First Peak and Subsidence of COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Results From PERSIAN Guilan Cohort Study (PGCS)

Abstract

Background: Considering the importance of the hand hygiene behaviors for the prevention of COVID-19 transmission, the current study was conducted to investigate the changes in hand-washing behaviors and its related factors among the northern Iranian population during the first peak and subsidence of COVID-19 pandemic period.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during two periods in Guilan (Northern provinces of Iran). First period conducted at the first peak of COVID-19 pandemic in Iran (between 03/23/2020 and 03/30/2020), and second period conducted at the first subsidence of COVID-19 pandemic in Iran (between 05/3/20 and 05/10/2020). The questionnaire was completed by 571 adult participants. Data on frequency, procedure and circumstances of hand-washing and obsessive-like behaviors were collected. Potential correlates of reduction in frequency of hand washing were analyzed by multiple logistic regression.Result: Compared to peak of COVID-19 pandemic, frequency and procedure of hand-washing and obsessive-like behaviors were significantly reduced at the subsidence of COVID-19 pandemic (all p<0.05). Females with negative family history of coronavirus disease had greater odds (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 2.19, P =0.03) of reduction in the frequency of daily hand-washing. Younger than 50 years old males and males who reduced the procedure of hand-washing had greater odds (AOR = 1.71, P =0.02 and AOR = 2.16, P =0.001, respectively) of reduction in the frequency of daily hand-washing. Conclusion: Northern Iranian populations were found to decrease their frequency and quality of hand washing and obsessive-like behaviors over time from the first peak to first subsidence of COVID-19 pandemic. Here, the factors that independently predicted reduction in frequency of hand washing in male population were younger age and reduction in procedure of hand-washing and in female population was a negative family history of coronavirus disease. Thus, special attention should be paid to maintaining the general population’s perceived susceptibility to illness, especially in younger men during the pandemic.