College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.
Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 3;14(1):26537. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-76843-7.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life-altering experience. It compelled individuals to alter their attitudes and habits and adopt measures to prevent the risks of infection. This research discusses factors that determine adherence to these measures, with the aim of enhancing compliance in future pandemics. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball non-random sampling through an online Qualtrics survey targeting Bahraini residents, aged 18 and older. The sample included 1,008 participants, and data were analyzed using SPSS, and presented in tables and graphs. The majority of the participants were Bahraini females with a bachelor's degree, between the ages of 20-29 (43.2%). Awareness of COVID-19 transmission was high, with 87.7%. The adherence rates for preventive measures were high: mask usage at 98.8%, hygiene practices at 93.7%, and social distancing at 92.2%. Older adults aged 50 + showed the highest consistency in compliance (p = 0.001). Individuals with chronic diseases were more likely to adhere to mask use (p < 0.001). Conversely, those experiencing negative emotions about social distancing were more likely to visit crowded places (p = 0.031), indicating a psychological barrier. Mask use exhibited the highest adherence at 98.8%, while overall compliance was notably high among educated and retired individuals. Public health campaigns should target younger demographics with education about crowded spaces and address emotional barriers to social distancing. Future strategies can be tailored to promote adherence among diverse populations, enhancing community resilience against pandemics.
COVID-19 大流行是一次改变生活的经历。它迫使个人改变态度和习惯，并采取措施预防感染风险。本研究讨论了决定这些措施遵守程度的因素，旨在提高未来大流行期间的依从性。采用描述性横断面研究，通过针对巴林居民的在线 Qualtrics 调查进行雪球非随机抽样，年龄在 18 岁及以上。样本包括 1008 名参与者，使用 SPSS 进行数据分析，并以表格和图形呈现。大多数参与者是巴林女性，拥有学士学位，年龄在 20-29 岁之间（43.2%）。对 COVID-19 传播的认识度较高，为 87.7%。预防措施的遵守率较高：口罩使用率为 98.8%，卫生习惯为 93.7%，社交距离为 92.2%。50 岁及以上的老年人表现出最高的一致性（p=0.001）。患有慢性病的人更有可能遵守戴口罩的规定（p<0.001）。相反，那些对社交距离有负面情绪的人更有可能去拥挤的地方（p=0.031），这表明存在心理障碍。口罩使用率最高，为 98.8%，而受过教育和退休的人总体遵守率明显较高。公共卫生运动应针对年轻人群进行有关拥挤场所的教育，并解决社交距离的情感障碍。未来的策略可以针对不同人群进行调整，以提高社区对大流行的抵御能力。
