Social Factors Associated With Adherence to Preventive Behaviors Related to Covid-19 Among Rural and Semi-urban Communities in Western Maharashtra, India

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22080467
AutoresSuhas Shewale (Indian Council of Medical Research), Suhas P Shewale, Suvarna Sane (Indian Council of Medical Research), Suvarna Sanjay Sane, Dhammasagar Ujagare (0000-0002-4866-9681, Indian Council of Medical Research), Dhammasagar Dnyaneshwar Ujagare, Rais Patel (Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences), Sudipto Roy (0000-0003-2097-8551), Sanjay Juvekar (0000-0002-7209-6924), Rewa Kohli (Indian Council of Medical Research), Sampada Dipak Bangar (0000-0002-4295-9856, Indian Council of Medical Research), Sampada Bangar, Asha Jadhav (Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences), Seema Sahay (0000-0001-6064-827X, Indian Council of Medical Research, autor de correspondencia)
Año2021
Volumen9
Páginas722621-722621
Fecha de publicación2021-09-08
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
EditorialFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.722621
PMID34568263
OpenAlexW3197682343
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas33

Background: To control the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, the Government of India (GoI) had taken stringent precautionary measures during the lockdown period. This study aimed to explore determinants affecting adherence to protective measures against COVID-19 infection among rural and semi-urban settings of Maharashtra, India. Methods: A cross-sectional telephonic survey among 1,016 adults from randomly selected households was conducted between June 5 and July 16, 2020. The data were explored for knowledge, awareness, practices related to protective measures, and self-risk perception. Socio-demographic and attitudinal correlates of failure to use protective measures against COVID-19 were measured. Results: In the survey, 72% of the participants were men. The mean age was 46 years (SD: 13.8). The main source of information was television (91%); however, information from healthcare providers (65%) and mass media announcements (49%) was trustworthy. Washing hands immediately with soap after returning from outdoors was reported by 95% of the respondents, always using a mask while outdoors by 94%, never attended social gatherings by 91%, always using hand sanitizer while outside by 77%, and 68% of the respondents followed all protective measures. The knowledge score [mean score 20.3 (SD: 2.4) out of 24] was independently associated with the risk of not using protective measures, with each unit increase in knowledge score, the risk of not using protective measures reduced by 16%. No source of income was independently associated with not using protective measures [AOR 1.5 95% CI (1.01–2.3)]. Conclusions: The COVID-19 public health interventions and behavior change communication strategies should be specifically directed towards the low socio-economic populations through trusted sources. The association between knowledge and practices demonstrates the importance of accurate public health communication to optimally follow preventive measures, such as structural interventions to address poverty and employment policies to address the unemployment crisis are required. Surveillance activity is needed to understand the actual behavior change among the population

Cross-sectional study · Disease · Environmental health · Hand sanitizer · Hand washing · Hygiene · Pandemic · Perception · Personal protective equipment · Risk perception · Social media · COVID-19 and Mental Health · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Demography · Medicine · Psychology