Challenges in Preventive Practices and Risk Communication towards COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study in Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh recently experienced a COVID-19 second wave, resulting in the highest number of new cases and deaths in a single day. This study aims to identify the challenges for COVID-19 preventive practices and risk communications and associated factors among Bangladeshi adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 involving 1382 Bangladeshi adults (aged ≥ 18-years) in randomly selected urban and rural areas from all eight divisions in Bangladesh. Descriptive data analysis was conducted to highlight the challenges for preventive practices and risk communications for COVID-19. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the sociodemographic groups vulnerable to these challenges. Lack of availability of protective equipment (44.4%), crowded living situations/workspaces (36.8%), inadequate information on the proper use of protective measures (21.9%), inadequate handwashing and sanitation facilities (17.6%), and negative influences on family/friends (17.4%) were identified as barriers to COVID-19 preventive practices. It was also found that males (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.7), rural residents (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2, 2), respondents with a low level of education: no schooling vs. ≥higher secondary (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 2.3, 5.2), primary vs. ≥higher secondary (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.7, 3.8), respondents engaged in agricultural (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.2, 2.4), laboring (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 2, 5), and domestic works (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.07, 2.5), and people with disabilities (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1, 2.6) were all likely to have difficulty in practicing effective COVID-19 protective behaviors. Respondents’ education and occupation were significant predictors of inadequate understanding of COVID-19 risk communications and was identified as a problem among 17.4% of the respondents. A substantial percentage of Bangladeshi adults have difficulty practising COVID-19 protective behaviours and have poor comprehension of risk communications, particularly in rural areas and among those with low education. This research can aid policymakers in developing tailored COVID-19 risk communications and mitigation strategies to help prevent future waves of the pandemic.

Predictors of social distancing and hand washing among adults in five countries during COVID-19

“…Lüdecke and von dem Knesebeck [ 21 ] found that in a German sample, individuals with lower educational attainment were less likely to engage in social distancing or engage in appropriate hand washing behavior—although the observed effect sizes were small to negligible. Those findings were consistent with other work [ 23 ], which found that lower educational attainment and employment in agricultural and domestic labor (compared to business sector) predicted lower levels of social distancing and hand washing among Iranian adults.…”

“…Suen and colleagues [ 10 ], for example, found that women were more likely to perform proper hand hygiene techniques compared to men. Their findings were echoed in research among Bangladeshi men who have been found to have significantly greater odds of experiencing challenges with practicing COVID-related preventive behaviors [ 23 ]. However, in Saudi Arabian samples, men were more likely to wash their hands with soap and water than women [ 24 ].…”

“…The extant literature suggests, similar to gender effects, that the evidence for the effect of urbanicity remains inconclusive. On the one hand, rural residents have shown to endorse lower levels of social distancing and hand washing [ 23 ], even though they present with greater knowledge of COVID-related prevention strategies [ 26 ]. On the other hand, urban dwellers have endorsed greater intent to practice social distancing and hand washing relative to their rural-dwelling counterparts [ 26 ].…”

Sero-prevalence and risk factors for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 infection in women and children in a rural district of Bangladesh: A cohort study

“…However, the high antibody positivity in this population suggests that adherence and adequacy of the practices might be limited. A recent cross-sectional study from Bangladesh reported that nearly 71% of respondents indicated difficulties adhering to the recommended COVID-19 preventive practices [ 24 ]. Lack of interest in using masks, crowded living conditions, inadequate information on the proper application of protective measures, inadequate handwashing and sanitation facilities, and negative influences on family/friends were the main barriers [ 24 ].…”

What Prompted the Adoption of Self-Protective Behaviors in Response to COVID-19? Evidence From Women Living in the Rural Areas of Western China

“…A study in Germany suggests that educational background was positively associated with protective behaviors among the general public (24) while a study from Switzerland suggests the opposite association among young people (25). In Bangladesh, information on the proper use of protective measures from the government were identified as the drivers of COVID-19 protective behaviors (26). Findings from Nigeria and the USA showed that individuals who perceived greater risks of COVID-19 infection were more likely to adopt protective behaviors (27,28).…”