Investigating the COVID-19 related behaviors in the public transport system

Abstract

Background Determining people’s healthy behaviors related to COVID-19 could be effective in providing preventive measures. The present study aims to investigate preventive behaviors associated with COVID-19 including wearing masks and keeping physical distance among the passengers on buses and public taxis measures to evaluate the ventilation systems in these vehicles. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 753 passengers on buses and taxis in Tabriz, northwestern Iran, from 15 February to 1 March 2021. Multistage sampling method was used to select the participants. Tabriz was socioeconomically divided into three areas, including high, moderate, and low socioeconomic status. Three researchers were observed passengers behaviors standing at the selected stations and assessed their behaviors according to study checklist. Results In total, the data were gathered from 358 (47.5%) female and 395 (52.5%) male in public transport systems. The results of this study indicated that female passengers used masks significantly more than men (P < 0.001). About 40% of men and women did not keep a physical distance of at least one meter in the public transportation system. Failing to keep social distancing was mostly observed among people with low SES (N = 103, 54%) and those who were in city center (N = 88, 48.5%). According to the multivariate regression analysis, for not wearing mask: being male [OR 4.94; 95%CI (2.62–9.28)] and using bus [(OR 3.27, 95%CI (1.73,6.19)], and for not physical distancing: having age under 25 years [OR 2.58; 95%CI (1.53,4.36)] and low socioeconomic status (SES) [OR 5.19; 95%CI (3.25,8.30)], and for no ventilation: using bus [OR 1.57; 95%CI (1.05,2.34)] were significant predictors. Conclusion Our results suggest that gender, type of vehicle, age, and SES were significant predictors of non-adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors in public transport during the pandemic. Given that social distancing is less observed in the public transportation system in Tabriz, Iran, it is necessary for government to consider and monitor guidelines to protect the passengers from COVID-19 infections by providing measures to maintain physical distance in public transportation systems. It may be possible to force vehicle owners who do not comply with health protocols to keep some distance by imposing fines.

Public Transport COVID-19-Safe: New Barriers and Policies to Implement Effective Countermeasures under User’s Safety Perspective

“…Aghdam et al [22] investigated COVID-19-related behaviors in the public transport system; their results suggest that gender, type of vehicle, age, and SES were significant predictors of nonadherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors in public transport during the pandemic. Still, some authors have attempted to understand public transport satisfaction after the COVID-19 pandemic [23].…”

Effect of Multi-level Intervention on Frequency of Child Occupants’ Safe Behaviors in Iran Using Socio-ecological Model

“…Such centers should be established in our country to increase children's access to booster seats and its application. Studies have shown the frequency of healthy behaviors in the environment causes more people to do them (12,32,(31)(32)(33)34).…”

Public Transportation Strategy in Response to Covid-19

“…This is necessary because the use of face masks, enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and public awareness campaigns, are some of the measures considered effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation in China and allowing the country to gradually restore public transportation services (Shen et al, 2020). Studies have shown that mandatory mask policies are associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 morbidity and reduce the risk of infection by 85% (Aghdam et al, 2021). The use of masks is effective because aerosols can collect and remain infectious in indoor air for hours (Prather et al, 2020).…”

“…WHO recommends that individuals wash their hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer (WHO, 2020). Research conducted by (Aghdam et al, 2021)on 365 passengers on the public transportation system in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic, the results showed that the majority of public transportation passengers in Iran had complied with COVID-19-related behaviors such as wearing masks and maintaining physical distance from people. other.…”