Knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, and practices of adults toward COVID-19: a population and field-based study from Iran

Behnam Honarvar, Kamran B. Lankarani, Ali Kharmandar (), Fatemeh Shaygani, Mohammadhassan Zahedroozgar, Mohammad Reza Rahmanian Haghighi, Sulmaz Ghahramani, Hossein Honarvar, Mohammad Mehdi Daryabadi, Zahra Salavati, Seyed Mohammad Hashemi, Hassan Joulaei and Marziyeh Zare
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Behnam Honarvar: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Kamran B. Lankarani: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Ali Kharmandar: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Fatemeh Shaygani: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Mohammadhassan Zahedroozgar: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Mohammad Reza Rahmanian Haghighi: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Sulmaz Ghahramani: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Hossein Honarvar: Islamic Azad University
Mohammad Mehdi Daryabadi: Islamic Azad University
Zahra Salavati: Islamic Azad University
Seyed Mohammad Hashemi: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Hassan Joulaei: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Marziyeh Zare: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

International Journal of Public Health, No 0, 9 pages

Abstract: Abstract Objectives To determine peoples’ knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, and practices to provide policymakers pieces of field-based evidence and help them in the management of the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods This population-based survey was conducted using multi-stage stratified and cluster sampling in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 1331 persons were interviewed. The questionnaires were completed by face-to-face interviews. Univariable and multivariable (linear regression) data analyses were done using SPSS. Results The participants answered 63% of questions regarding knowledge, and 78% of questions regarding practice correctly. Only, 4.8% knew about common symptoms of COVID-19 and 7.3% about warning signs that require referral to hospitals. Males, lower educated people, and elders had a lower level of knowledge and poorer practices. Knowledge was also lower in the marginalized (socially deprived) people. Knowledge and practices’ correlation was 37%. Overall, 43.6% considered themselves at high risk of COVID-19, and 50% considered it as a severe disease. This disease had negative effects on most participants’ routine activities (69.1%). The participants preferred to follow the news from the national TV/Radio, social networks, and foreign satellite channels, respectively. Conclusions Encouragement of people to observe preventive measures and decreasing social stress, especially among males, lower educated people, elders, and marginalized groups, are highly recommended.

Keywords: Knowledge; Attitude; Risk perception; Practice; Health belief model; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01406-2

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