Sewpaul Ronel, Mabaso Musawenkosi, Cloete Allanise, Dukhi Natisha, Naidoo Inbarani, Davids Adlai S, Mokhele Tholang, Zuma Khangelani, Reddy Sasiragha Priscilla
Human and Social Capabilities Division, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
Human Sciences Research Council, Centre for Community Based Research, Human and Social Capabilities, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Psychol Health Med. 2023 Jan;28(1):260-278. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2075020. Epub 2022 May 13.
Social distancing behaviour is a primary preventive measure for reducing COVID-19 transmission. Improved understanding of factors associated with adherence to social distancing is vital for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in South Africa. The study assessed adherence to social distancing and its associated factors during the state-implemented lockdown in South Africa. Data was analysed from a large-scale public survey conducted in South Africa from 8 to 29 April 2020, which was administered online and telephonically. Invitations to participate were distributed widely on local websites and social media networks, including on a data-free platform. Adherence to social distancing was measured by self-report of having engaged in close physical contact with someone outside the home. Simple and multiple logistic regression models examined the association between social distancing and potential explanatory variables. Of the 17,586 participants, 9.2% came into close physical contact with a person outside their home by hugging, kissing, or shaking hands during the past 7 days. The odds of coming into close physical contact with other people were significantly higher for males, students, and those with incorrect knowledge on physical distancing, angry attitudes about the lockdown, lack of confidence in the government response, high-risk perception, movement out of the local area, travelling to shops using public transport, households with communal water facilities and higher household size. The 25-59-year olds compared to 18-24-year olds, and the White and Indian/Asian compared to the African population groups had significantly lower odds of close physical contact with others outside the home. The study identifies subgroups of individuals for whom public health interventions to improve adherence to social distancing should be prioritised and tailored. Interventions and policies should take cognisance of the social determinants of health as well as culturally accepted greeting practices like hand shaking.
社交距离行为是减少新冠病毒传播的一项主要预防措施。更好地理解与遵守社交距离相关的因素对于减轻新冠疫情在南非的影响至关重要。该研究评估了南非实施国家封锁期间民众对社交距离的遵守情况及其相关因素。分析的数据来自2020年4月8日至29日在南非进行的一项大规模公众调查，调查通过网络和电话进行。参与邀请在当地网站和社交媒体网络上广泛发布，包括在一个无数据平台上。通过自我报告是否与家庭以外的人有过密切身体接触来衡量对社交距离的遵守情况。简单和多元逻辑回归模型检验了社交距离与潜在解释变量之间的关联。在17586名参与者中，9.2%的人在过去7天内通过拥抱、亲吻或握手与家庭以外的人有过密切身体接触。男性、学生、对物理距离知识了解错误的人、对封锁持愤怒态度的人、对政府应对措施缺乏信心的人、高风险认知者、离开当地的人、使用公共交通前往商店的人、有公共供水设施的家庭以及家庭规模较大的人，与他人有密切身体接触的几率显著更高。与18 - 24岁的人相比，25 - 59岁的人，以及与非洲人群体相比，白人和印度/亚洲人群体与家庭以外的其他人有密切身体接触的几率显著更低。该研究确定了应优先对哪些亚群体进行公共卫生干预，以提高他们对社交距离的遵守情况，并进行针对性调整。干预措施和政策应考虑到健康的社会决定因素以及像握手这样在文化上被接受的问候方式。
