Factors Associated with Preventive Behaviors towards Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) among Adults in Kalasin Province, Thailand, 2020

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic disease that has caused devastating morbidity and mortality worldwide. Social stigmatization in rural communities of Thailand prevented effective response to the pandemic. This study aimed to determine factors associated with preventive behaviors towards COVID-19 in Kalasin Province, Thailand. An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among 556 local residents aged at least 15 years old. The questionnaire was developed based on Predisposing, Reinforcing and Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation (PRECEDE) and media perception theories. Most of the residents were female (61.3%) and aged 15-70 years old (mean 37.9 years old, SD 11.7). All of the risk perception, severe perception, benefit perception, media perception, attitudes, and preventive behavior scores were at a good level whereas knowledge on COVID-19 was at a moderate level. Income (β 0.10, p 0.003), risk perception on COVID-19 (β 0.20, p<0.001), media perception (β 0.41, p<0.001), and attitudes toward COVID-19 (β 0.24, p<0.001) were associated with preventive behaviors. These findings provide predicting factors of preventive behaviors towards COVID-19. Definite health education programs, especially for increasing accessibility on COVID-19 prevention, and effective policies should be implemented, particularly for low-income groups.