Perceived risk of infection and death from COVID-19 among community members of low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review]

Gachabayov, Mahir; Sharun, Khan; Felsenreich, Daniel M.; Nainu, Firzan; Anwar, Samsul; Yufika, Amanda; Ophinni, Youdiil; Yamada, Chika; Fahriani, Marhami; Husnah, Milda; Raad, Rawan; Khiri, Namareg Me.; Abdalla, Rashed Ya.; Adam, Rashed Y.; Ismaeil, Mohajer Ih.; Ismail, Asma Y.; Kacem, Wajdi; Teyeb, Zeineb; Aloui, Khaoula; Hafsi, Montacer; Ferjani, Manel; Nasrine Ben Hadj Dahman,; Deeb, Dalia A.; Emad, Dina; Kirellos Said Abbas,; Monib, Fatma A.; Sami, Farah S.; Ramanarayanan, Subramaniam; Panchawagh, Suhrud; Anandu, Sunil; Md Ariful Haque,; Ferreto, Lirane Ed.; Briones, Mar??a Fc.; Morales, Roc??o Bi.; Lazcano-D??az, Sebasti??n; Aburto, Jos?? To.; Rojas, Jorge Et.; Balogun, Emmanuel O.; Kusuma, Hendrix I.; Cut Meurah Yeni,; Niken Asri Utami,; Enitan, Seyi S.; Yomi, Akele R.; Durosinmi, Abiodun; Adejumo, Esther N.; Ezigbo, Eyiuche D.; Babadi, Elham; Kakemam, Edris; Ullah, Irfan; Malik, Najma I.; Rosiello, Francesco; Emran, Talha B.; Imelda, Eva; Wendt, Guilherme W.; Arab-Zozani, Morteza; Dhama, Kuldeep; Mudatsir, Mudatsir; Harapan, Harapan

doi:10.12688/f1000research.109575.1

Background: Risk perceptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are considered important as they impact community health behaviors. The aim of this study was to determine the perceived risk of infection and death due to COVID-19 and to assess the factors associated with such risk perceptions among community members in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa, Asia, and South America. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 LMICs in Africa, Asia, and South America from February to May 2021. A questionnaire was utilized to assess the perceived risk of infection and death from COVID-19 and its plausible determinants. A logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with such risk perceptions. Results: A total of 1,646 responses were included in the analysis of the perceived risk of becoming infected and dying from COVID-19. Our data suggested that 36.4% of participants had a high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection, while only 22.4% had a perceived risk of dying from COVID-19. Being a woman, working in healthcare-related sectors, contracting pulmonary disease, knowing people in the immediate social environment who are or have been infected with COVID-19, as well as seeing or reading about individuals infected with COVID-19 on social media or TV were all associated with a higher perceived risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. In addition, being a woman, elderly, having heart disease and pulmonary disease, knowing people in the immediate social environment who are or have been infected with COVID-19, and seeing or reading about individuals infected with COVID-19 on social media or TV had a higher perceived risk of dying from COVID-19. Conclusions: The perceived risk of infection and death due to COVID-19 are relatively low among respondents; this suggests the need to conduct health campaigns to disseminate knowledge and information on the ongoing pandemic.

Perceived risk of infection and death from COVID-19 among community members of low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: awaiting peer review] / Gachabayov, M., Sharun, K., Felsenreich, D.M., Nainu, F., Anwar, S., Yufika, A., Ophinni, Y., Yamada, C., Fahriani, M., Husnah, M., Raad, R., Khiri, N.ME., Abdalla, R.YA., Adam, R.Y., Ismaeil, M.IH., Ismail, A.Y., Kacem, W., Teyeb, Z., Aloui, K., Hafsi, M., et al.. - In: F1000RESEARCH. - ISSN 2046-1402. - 11:(2022), pp. 1-18. [10.12688/f1000research.109575.1]