scholarly journals Factors Associated with COVID-19 Low Risk perception among urban dwellers in Malawi

Author(s):  
Mastano Nambiro Woleson Dzimbiri ◽  
Emmanuel Chilanga ◽  
Patrick Mwanjawala ◽  
Amanda Keller

Abstract Introduction: Malawians have yet to broadly adopt COVID-19 mitigation measures despite having overwhelming evidence about its infectivity, morbidity, and fatality. Understanding why the general population is not proactive in reducing the spread of this illness is critical to learning how to address this issue. This study explores Malawian COVID-19 risk perception and the associated constraints in the adoption of mitigations. A Health Belief Model (HBM) approach was used to understand factors that undermine COVID-19 messages to achieve behavior change.Methods: The study applied a rapid appraisal and photovoice methodology in this qualitative inquiry to better understand individual risk perception regarding COVID-19. We selected 33 participants from three major cities in Malawi. We transcribed verbatim audio interviews and videos. Transcripts were coded manually to derive key themes and concepts. Results: Religious and political beliefs strongly influenced COVID-19 risk perception. Critical religious factors included the coming of Christ, the wrath of God, and the coming of the beast. Politically, participants believed that COVID-19 lockdown measures were a ploy by the ruling party to remain in power.Conclusion: The study suggests that religious beliefs and political environment undermine self-perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 among urban dwellers in Malawi. We recommend that diverse actors in Malawi should collaborate to promote the dissemination of accurate COVID-19 discourses and reduce the severity of the pandemic’s impact on the Malawi populous.

Author(s):  
Courtney M. Cooper ◽  
Jeff B. Langman ◽  
Dilshani Sarathchandra ◽  
Chantal A. Vella ◽  
Chloe B. Wardropper

Effective risk communication strategies are critical to reducing lead exposure in mining-impacted communities. Understanding the strength of the associations between perceived risk and individuals’ behavioral intentions to protect their health is important for developing these strategies. We conducted a survey within three communities of northern Idaho, USA (n = 306) in or near a Superfund Megasite with legacy mining contamination. Survey data were used to test a theoretical model based on the Health Belief Model. Respondents had higher intentions to practice health protective behaviors when they perceived the risk of lead contamination as severe and recognized the benefits of practicing health protective behaviors. Women reported higher behavioral intentions than men, but age and mining affiliation were not significantly associated with behavioral intentions. Although managing lead hazards in communities impacted by mining is challenging due to widely distributed contamination, effective health risk messages, paired with remediation, are powerful tools to protect the health and safety of residents.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enmar Almazyad ◽  
Abeer Ahmad ◽  
Deema Jomar ◽  
Rajiv Khandekar ◽  
Samar Al-Swailem

Abstract Purpose:To assess ophthalmologists preparedness in such a critical period in the history of pandemics, a logical socio-psychological framework assessment using the health belief model (HBM) is essential to evaluate their risk perception, their willingness to actively participate in engaging in protective health behavior and acknowledge its benefits and their capability to perform adequate successful methods in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and overcome the barriers they might encounter while implementing such precautions.Methods:A cross-sectional study conducted in King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital using a questionnaire-based (HBM) was distributed to 135 ophthalmologists in the institute to evaluate their risk perception on COVID-19, and determine which components of the HBM contribute to preventive health behavior related to the COVID-19 infection.Results:The questionnaire had a reasonable response rate ( 79.3%, 107 ophthalmologists including; 48 consultants, 51 fellows, and 36 residents). The study demonstrated that this model is useful and mapped how several components were significantly correlated to actions. Most significantly, perceived susceptibility was the most important predictor of action. The second most important determinant of action was the perceived benefit.Conclusion:Pandemics such as COVID-19 are more likely to happen again in the future. Explicit attention to factors influencing motivation, such as threat perception to adopt appropriate health-related behavior to limit the spread of communicable diseases, is necessary. This study has successfully represented preparedness and risk behavior perception of ophthalmologists to the novel COVID-19 pandemic in one of the largest tertiary eye hospitals in the middle east using the health belief model.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1398
Author(s):  
Qian Zhou ◽  
Tian Tian ◽  
Jie Ni ◽  
Xiaoheng Zhao ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
...  

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to numerous tragic deaths all over the world. Great efforts have been made by worldwide nations for COVID-19 targeted vaccine development since the disease outbreak. In January 2021, the Chinese government started to provide free vaccination among nationwide communities, which was optional for citizens. As no evidence has been provided so far regarding COVID-19 vaccination acceptance since the initiation of nationwide vaccination, this study aims to investigate COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among Chinese citizens as well as its associated factors as an attempt to bridge such gap embedded in the current literature. An anonymous cross-sectional study was conducted online in March and April 2021 among adults, with the survey questionnaire designed based on the framework of the health belief model (HBM). Information on socio-demographics, risk perception, past pandemic-related experience, awareness of vaccination as well as acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination were collected. Chi-squared test and multi-level regression were performed to distinguish the acceptance between different groups as well as to identify the significant predictors. A total of 3940 participants completed the survey, with 90.6% of the participants reporting strong willingness to get vaccinated. A list of factors were found to be significantly associated with individuals’ acceptance of vaccination, including the region of residence, ethnicity, annual income, whether or not they had experienced a major pandemic event in the past, risk perception of the COVID-19 as well as the awareness of receiving vaccination. Safety concerns about the vaccine (27.7%), concerns about receiving vaccination immediately after newly developed vaccines were released into the market (22.4%) as well as concerns about the potential side effects induced by vaccination (22.1%) were identified as the primary reasons of residents’ resistance against vaccination. Overall, residents demonstrated strong willingness to receive vaccination against COVID-19 in China. However, the improvement of vaccination-related knowledge among Chinese residents should be highlighted as a critical strategy to facilitate the penetration of nationwide vaccination in order to ultimately achieve the establishment of herd immunity in China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 884 (1) ◽  
pp. 012017
Author(s):  
H Maulana ◽  
G Gumelar ◽  
G Irianda

Abstract The study of flood risk perception has been received growing attention in multi-disciplinary research and practice. Indonesia’s government approach on managing the impact of flood is highly dependence on structural engineering solutions. Few empirical attempts have systematically established to understand whether positive psychological capacity strategy helps flood survivors to overcome the negative impact of flood. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of salutogenic and social capital models on flood risk perception. A national survey was used to collect the data of flood survivors across Indonesia. A battery comprising socio-demographic information, measures of salutogenic variable (sense of coherence), social capital (sense of community and social trust), and individual risk perception on flood was administered to the Indonesian adult (N = 194). This study findings showed that the overall model successfully predicted the perceived risk dimensions. However, different routes of correlation across variables were identified. Discussion and future recommendation are presented with regard to the study finding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 127-145
Author(s):  
S. Lahiry ◽  
R. Karmakar ◽  
S. Parameswaran

Objectives. The study has a translational focus to examine the applicability of the Health Belief Model, the TriRisk model, and fatalism-belief in the context of the COVID-19 disease, specifically to test if they help us predict recommended compliance behavior. Another objective is to examine how the three components of the TriRisk model work together. Background. Amid a raging COVID-19 pandemic, governments everywhere need to deploy more targeted strategies to make social distancing effective and reduce human to human transmission of the virus. Study design. The study predicted the lockdown compliance behaviour from constructs of the TriRisk model and fatalism-belief, using multiple linear regression and mediation analysis. Participants. 357 Participants across India; age range: 15—78 years; 41.5% men and 58.5% women. Measurements. Components of the health belief model, fatalism, and recommended compliance behavior were assessed using Multi-item and single-item scales. Results. Experiential risk perception was the strongest predictor of compliance behavior, followed by perceived barriers and gender. Deliberative risk perception and affective risk perception were significantly positively correlated with compliance behavior, though not statistically significant predictors. Experiential risk perception mediated the path between cognitive risk assessment and compliance behavior. Conclusions. The present study has implications for designing and trying out compliance enhancement intervention through use of appropriate experiential risk content in designing public campaigns to increase compliance behavior.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziz Kamran ◽  
Khatereh Isazadehfar ◽  
Heshmatolah Heydari ◽  
Ramin Nasimi Doost Azgomi ◽  
Mahdi Naeim

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Genovese ◽  
C Signorelli ◽  
M Pavia ◽  
G Icardi ◽  
A Mistretta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Sars-Cov-2 is one of the latest examples of an emerging infectious disease challenging the world and it is the third case, in just two decades, of “spillover”. In light of the recent outbreak (Italy is in 2nd position), it is important to evaluate people risk perception and to support the Health Authority with effective communicative actions to avoid the spread of “infodemia”/alarmism. The aim of this study is a) to study levels of perceived threat, risk perception, severity and comparative vulnerability b) to compare risk perception with other communicable/not communicable diseases; c) provide information to increase awareness/ knowledge of the disease. Methods We performed an Italian multicentre study from 11 February 2020 and it is still in progress. The subjects in study (general population, HCWs and university students) were enrolled through the administration of a standardized questionnaire based on Health Belief Model through CAPI and CAWI methods. The summary and inferential statistical analyses will be carried out using the R software. Results We enrolled 2495 people from 11 February until 4 March 2020. All the respondents had heard of COVID19. Only 2% didn't know any symptoms and 3% answered to all the questions correctly (mean knowledge score of 13). 48% thought that he/she could acquired COVID 19 in the next 12 months and 70% stated that their concern of the disease was high(score5). Perceived capability to avoid it was rated as good/very good by 62%. The correct mask use (WHO) was reported by 64% of the sample and 47% stated all preventive actions (2% no one). Only 22% of the sample stated all actions to be taken in case of suspected acquisition of COVID19. Conclusions Italy is facing an epidemic that could have the potential to affect the entire national health system. It's so important to implement public health activities and surveillance systems in order to limit the spread of the disease and bad/disinformation. Key messages This study is the first to report on public perception of Sars-Cov-2 in all the Italy. The results indicated that the Italian population is aware of the outbreak and it is concerned about their risk. On the other hand, only half of the sample is aware about all preventive actions and not everybody knows all procedures to be taken in case of COVID 19 suspect.


Author(s):  
Courtney M. Cooper ◽  
Jeff B. Langman ◽  
Dilshani Sarathchandra ◽  
Chantal A. Vella ◽  
Chloe B. Wardropper

Understanding the strength of the associations between perceived risk and individuals’ behavioral intentions to protect their health is important for determining appropriate risk communication strategies in communities impacted by lead contamination. We conducted a survey within communities of northern Idaho, USA (n = 306) near a Superfund megasite with legacy mining contamination. We empirically test a theoretical model based on the Health Belief Model. Survey respondents had higher intentions to practice health protective behaviors when they perceived the risk of lead contamination as severe, recognized the benefits of health protective behaviors, and considered the risks of lead contamination. Women reported higher behavioral intentions than men, but age and mining affiliation did not have an association. Survey comments indicated that perceptions about the long-term environmental remediation in the region influenced risk perceptions. Understanding risk perceptions, behavioral intentions, and related factors can aid public health agencies in tailoring risk communication for increasing protective behaviors in mining-impacted communities internationally.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Du ◽  
Liyuan Tao ◽  
Jue Liu

Background: This study aimed to explore the association between risk perception and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among reproductive women in China to supplement limited studies in this area.Methods: From December 14, 2020, to January 31, 2021, an anonymous cross-sectional online survey was conducted on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children among reproductive women in China. We assessed risk perception, including perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, and benefits using the health belief model, and then classified each variable into three groups (low, moderate, and high) based on tertiles. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and knowledge of COVID-19 was also collected. The Pearson χ2-test was used to compare vaccine hesitancy among the above mentioned factors. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of risk perception related to vaccine hesitancy after controlling for the above covariates.Results: Among 3,011 reproductive women, 8.44% (95%CI: 7.44. 9.43) had COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy was observed more in women who lived in eastern China (11.63%), aged >45 years (12.00%), had a lower than high school education level (12.77%), and a low score on knowledge of COVID-19 (12.22%). Vaccine hesitancy was associated with lower perceived susceptibility (moderate: aOR = 1.72, 95%CI: 1.17–2.54, P = 0.0061; low: aOR = 2.44, 95%CI: 1.60–3.70, P < 0.0001), high perceived barriers (aOR = 2.86, 95%CI: 1.57–5.22, P < 0.0001), and lower perceived benefit (moderate: aOR = 3.29, 95%CI: 2.30–4.70, P < 0.0001; low: aOR = 4.59, 95%CI: 2.98–7.07, P < 0.0001), but not with perceived severity.Conclusions: Although the proportion of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy for children among Chinese reproductive women was <1 out of 10, to improve COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, our findings suggest that tailored public health measures are needed to increase perceived susceptibility and benefit, and decrease perceived barriers among reproductive women.


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