Abstract
Background: The expected second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has started in various regions of the world. Public health experts warned that it could be as lethal as the first wave if people did not comply with self-protective measures. Currently, there is a gap in the literature on the relationship between peoples’ assessment of the effectiveness of community-based measures regarding adherence to self-protective behaviors for COVID-19 prevention and control. This study aimed to assess the role of the perceived effectiveness of community-based measures in adherence to self-protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The cross-sectional online survey conducted from March 24 to June 22, 2020. The study sample Included 400 participants (49% male and 51% female) from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The outcome measure was compliance to four self-protective behaviors i.e., "social distancing;" "wearing facemask;" "washing hands more frequently;" and "disinfecting surfaces in homes." We computed Chi-square statistics and odds ratios (ORs) using 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The findings demonstrated that participants aged 25–34 years old were 25% less likely to comply with hand hygiene (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.33–0.95) and social distancing (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.34–0.98). Misconceptions related to COVID-19 significantly decreased compliance with self-protective behaviors by up to 27%. Participants who rated government decisions as useful were approximately 1.7 times more likely to comply with self-protective behaviors. Conclusion: Community-based measures should focus on engaging segments of the population That are currently less compliant. Health education policies should also focus on enhancing the perceived sense of control and personal responsibility and reduce anxiety levels. A continuous commitment to the implementation of preventive interventions and the clarification of misconceptions are required to combat the expected second wave.
Highlights
In December 2019, a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases was reported in Wuhan city, China
A total of (N=400) participants living in Saudi Arabia completed these online surveys distributed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic period between March 24 and June 22, 2020
The analysis demonstrates that fear/anxiety levels and risk perceptions are significantly associated with three selfprotective behaviors: wearing a facemask and disinfecting surfaces (P < 0.001), and “social distancing” (P < 0.01)
Summary
In December 2019, a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases was reported in Wuhan city, China. The immediate preventive measures recommended by WHO and other health organizations were to quarantine the infected individuals, maintain social distance, hand hygiene, and use facemasks.[1] Given the lack of progress in the creation of vaccines against the novel coronavirus, WHO guidelines were adopted and enforced by the governments in several countries around the world. These included tracing, treating, and isolating people who have the infection, curfews, and the implementation of longer lockdowns, as well as educating the public to adopt preventive measures. A continuous commitment to the implementation of preventive interventions and the clarification of misconceptions are required to combat the expected second wave
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