Preventive behavior of Vietnamese people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the adherence of Vietnamese adults to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventive measures, and gain insight into the effects of the epidemic on the daily lives of Vietnamese people. An online questionnaire was administered from March 31 to April 6, 2020. The questionnaire assessed personal preventive behavior (such as physical distancing, wearing a face mask, cough etiquette, regular handwashing and using an alcohol hand sanitizer, body temperature check, and disinfecting mobile phones) and community preventive behavior (such as avoiding meetings, large gatherings, going to the market, avoiding travel in a vehicle/bus with more than 10 persons, and not traveling outside of the local area during the lockdown). A total adherence score was calculated by summing the scores of the 9 personal and the 11 community prevention questions. In total, 2175 respondents completed the questionnaire; mean age: 31.4 ± 10.7; (range: 18-69); 66.9% were women; 54.2% were health professionals and 22.8% were medical students. The mean adherence scores for personal and community preventive measures were 7.23 ± 1.63 (range 1-9) and 9.57 ± 1.12 (range 1-11), respectively. Perceived adaptation of the community to lockdown (Beta (β) = 2.64, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.25-4.03), fears/worries concerning one's health (β = 2.87, 95% CI 0.04-5.70), residing in large cities (β = 19.40, 95% CI 13.78-25.03), access to official COVID-19 information sources (β = 16.45, 95% CI 6.82-26.08), and working in healthcare/medical students (β = 22.53, 95% CI 16.00-29.07) were associated with a higher adherence score to anti-COVID instructions. In conclusion, this study confirmed a high degree of adherence to personal and community preventive behavior among Vietnamese people. Our findings are consistent with the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Vietnam, where there have been few infections and no recorded deaths up to the first week of July 2020.

Health literacy, preventive COVID 19 behaviour and adherence to chronic disease treatment during lockdown among patients registered at primary health facility in urban Jodhpur, Rajasthan

“…and may explain education level as a significant predictor for adherence to COVID 19 preventive behaviour in our study [ 40 ]. Better COVID-19 preventive behaviour among urban residents is reported in other countries and is attributed to more diagnosis and testing of cases [ 41 ]. Thus in a rapidly developing pandemic, COVID 19 testing may contribute to the development and adoption of effective public health strategies [ 42 ].…”

Adherence with COVID-19 Preventive Measures and Associated Factors Among Residents of Dirashe District, Southern Ethiopia

“… 13 A study conducted in Vietnamese people showed that 88.2%, 99.5%, 94.9%, and 97.4% of the participants adhere to the physical distancing rule, wear a face mask, cover mouth and nose during coughing/sneezing, and wash hands regularly with water and soap, respectively. 14 Likewise, Block and colleagues ascribed that only 72%, 67%, 55%, and 65% of African Americans adhere to frequent hand washing, maintain physical distancing, avoid touching face, and wear a mask in public, respectively. 15 COVID-19 preventive measures implementation is very low in Ethiopia.…”

A Cross-Sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Face Mask Use Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic Amongst University Students in Vietnam

“…education campaign [3]. Notably face mask use has been mandatory in public places, hospitals, and schools [3,4,6], with a VND 300,000 (US$13) fine for non-compliance [7]. Compared with most countries worldwide, Vietnam has been successful in controlling COVID-19 [3,6], but domestic outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to occur with the most recent in February 2021 that has led the government lock down some large cities [4].…”

“…These measures include restrictions on international flights, movement restrictions, contact tracing, quarantine and social distancing, governance (e.g., socio-economic supports), lockdown, and increasing public health awareness through public health education campaign [ 3 ]. Notably face mask use has been mandatory in public places, hospitals, and schools [ 3 , 4 , 6 ], with a VND 300,000 (US$13) fine for non-compliance [ 7 ]. Compared with most countries worldwide, Vietnam has been successful in controlling COVID-19 [ 3 , 6 ], but domestic outbreaks of COVID-19 continue to occur with the most recent in February 2021 that has led the government lock down some large cities [ 4 ].…”