Perceptions and preventive behaviors regarding COVID-19 after its declaration as an endemic disease: A case study of Mae Wong District, Nakhon Sawan Province
Keywords:
Perception, Health belief model, Behavior, Coronavirus Disease 2019Abstract
This study aims to examine perceived risk, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action, and preventive behaviors toward Coronavirus Disease 2019, as well as factors predicting preventive behaviors. The sample consisted of 410 individuals aged 20-59 years in Mae Wong District, Nakhon Sawan Province. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and standard deviation, along with inferential statistics using stepwise multiple linear regression.
The results showed that the majority of respondents were female (59.5%), aged 51-59 years (42.6%), married (66.8%), and had completed primary education (54.6%). Their knowledge of Coronavirus Disease 2019 was generally low. However, their perceived benefits, perceptions of risk, severity, benefits, barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action, and preventive behaviors toward Coronavirus Disease 2019 were rated at high levels. Predictive factors for preventive behaviors accounted for 38.4%, with significant factors being self-efficacy (β = 0.387, p-value < 0.001), cues to action (β = 0.321, p-value < 0.001), secondary/vocational education
(β = -0.100, p-value = 0.011), and no formal education (β = -0.094, p-value = 0.017), all statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Therefore, it is important to focus on enhancing individuals' confidence in their ability to prevent disease by promoting cues to action, including awareness of health risks and external prompts such as guidance and regular reminders.
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