Open AccessPerception against COVID-19 Threat Affecting the Behavior of Indonesia People Three Months after the Outbreak
Author(s) -
Putri Chairani Eyanoer,
Farhat Farhat,
Elvita Rahmi Daulay,
Fotarisman Zaluchu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
open access macedonian journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.288
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 1857-9655
DOI - 10.3889/oamjms.2020.5432
Subject(s) - medicine , government (linguistics) , perception , population , covid-19 , outbreak , vulnerability (computing) , environmental health , family medicine , disease , computer security , pathology , psychology , philosophy , linguistics , neuroscience , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty)
BACKGROUND: In Indonesia, a new behavior has been introduced in the community to prevent COVID-19 transmission following 3 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia, names this new concept as “the adaptation of new behavior.” However, preventive measures and health protocols encouraged by the government have not yet yielded a significant impact on reducing the COVID-19 positivity rate. This unsuccessful outcome indicates that infective circulation is still occurring caused by incompliant to the health protocol.
AIM: This study aimed to measure community perceptions against COVID-19 at the individual level.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a total of 1687 respondents was performed. Questionnaires distributed thru sharing online links which contain questions on perception of vulnerability and severity of COVID-19. Chi-square test used in analysis to determine the difference in perception with respondents’ behavior.
RESULTS: A total of 81.7% of respondents who had a perception of “susceptible to contract” performed behavior suited to recommendations and 81.2% study population had a perception of “COVID-19 is severe” executed behavior suited to the recommendation.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the establishment of government recommendations for COVID-19 infection did not guarantee the actual health practice/behavior in the community. The existing misconception of the perspective of seriousness/severity and susceptibility would prevent the country from flattening the curve.