Determinants of COVID-19 self-protection behavior of Thai people: a cross-sectional survey

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a critical situation since 2020. Its outbreak occurs across the world. A national policy is to promote self-protection behavior including hand wash, wearing mask, and physical distancing. However, evidence on determinants of the behavior in Thai people is limited. This study aimed to identify determinants of COVID-19 self-protection behavior in Thai people. Design and Method: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in January 2021. An online questionnaire was developed under the Health Belief Model (HBM). Participants who often or always behave COVID-19 self-protection was considered as proper self-protection behavior. Data was collected through social medias. Results: A total of 408 participants was included. Of those, 92 participants (22.5%) were male with the average age of 32.3±11.5 years. A total of 158 participants (38.7%) has proper self-protection behavior. Based on HBM, perceived threat [odds ratio (OR)=1.40, 95%CI 1.01-1.92], perceived barriers (OR=0.51, 95%CI;0.36-0.71), and perceived self-efficacy (OR=6.77, 95%CI;3.60-12.72) were significantly associated with self-protection behavior. Conclusion: One-third of participants have proper COVID-19 self-protection behavior. Perceived selfefficacy is the strongest determinant of COVID-19 self-protection behavior followed by perceived threat and perceived barriers. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Pharmaceutical Sciences Asia is the property of Mahidol University, Faculty of Pharmacy and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)