Knowledge, Preventive Practices, and Perceived Difficulties of Adolescent Children of Seasonal Agricultural Worker Families During Covid-19 Pandemic in Türkiye.

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, preventive practices, and perceived difficulties of adolescent children of seasonal agricultural worker families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out with 366 adolescents. After obtaining the necessary permissions, the data were collected with questionnaires prepared by the researchers and a perceived healthy lifestyle difficulty scale (score range 10-and-50). Descriptive statistical analyses and regression analysis were used to evaluate the data.

Results: The majority of the participants knew the transmission route and symptoms of the COVID-19 disease. Only 17.8% of adolescents were paying attention to the social distancing rule, and the majority of adolescents didn't wear masks in the settlements. In this sample, 41.3% of adolescents were washing their hands on average twice a day. Adolescents perceived difficulties regarding personal hygiene, accessing protective equipment, information sources, and health services. The adolescents scored low (20.45 ± 2.62) on perceived healthy lifestyle difficulty scale which is associated with to the increased perceived difficulty in a healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion: Although adolescents had knowledge regarding COVID-19 disease, their rate of performing the preventive measures was low. Specific action plans, guidelines, and policies should be developed and implemented to enhance reported health-related behaviors and mitigate the spread of infection, particularly among disadvantaged adolescents.