Access To WASH, Knowledge, Practice, and Protective Motivation Behaviour Towards COVID-19 Pandemic of Urban Marginalized Peoples
Abstract Background Urban marginalized people are most vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic because of their poor water and hygiene conditions and high-density populated environment. However, there lack WASH facilities and theory-guided behavioural health intervention programs towards the Covid-19 pandemic in these fragile communities. Methods This study used the combined Knowledge- Practice -Theory (KAP) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to predict the protective motivation behaviours of urban marginalized people against Covid-19. The phenomenological approach was applied to examine the slum communities' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected through 105 semi-structured interviews and 453 questionnaires in two slum communities in Bangkok, Thailand. Results Results showed that most Thai slum people tended to have better access WASH and healthcare services and protection behaviours towards Covid-19 than other foreign migrant slum people. Structural Equation Modelling results illustrated that knowledge directly drove marginalized peoples’ perceived vulnerability and practices, while practices influenced their perceived severity, self, and response efficacy which directly associated with their behavioural intentions. Conclusions Future pandemic prevention intervention programs should focus on vulnerability and severity through providing adequate WASH facilities and self-efficacy and response efficacy of protection motivation through enhancing community sensitization and awareness of COVID-19 protection.