Risk Perception and Precautionary Behaviour Against Covid-19 Pandemic among Health Workers in Calabar, Nigeria.

Okoi, Nta Obono; Etim, John John; Akomaye, Thomas Udida; Inde, Margaret Uyilewhoma; Usen, Ime-Obong Jerome

This study aimed at assessing risk perception and precautionary behaviour against COVID-19 pandemic among health workers. Through descriptive cross-sectional survey, 400 respondents were conveniently sampled to elicit data using respondent's self-administered questionnaire designed by the researchers. Data collection which spanned through two months were collected, cleaned, sorted, coded, inputted and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Association between risk perception and precautionary behaviour was tested using Chi-square statistics significant at 95% confidence level. Results were presented in descriptive and inferential statistics. Risk perception and the feeling of being very susceptible to contracting COVID-19 was high 382 (95.5%). This created a spike in improved and positive precautionary behaviour 398 (99.5%) by strict adherence to consistent use of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. To majority 339 (84.8%), the frequently use of PPEs was to prevent COVID-19 and other hospital-related diseases while for some 312 (78.0%), the consistent use of PPEs has been habitual. The study found a significant association between risk perception and precautionary behaviour of healthcare workers against COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.001; df = 1; Chi-square = 11.280). There is need for healthcare workers to continue in the habit of always being conscious in the use of their PPEs even after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is because, there are still and may still be re-emerging diseases that needs to be prevented. Therefore, there is need for healthcare workers to always be proactive and be at alert at all times because the healthcare setting is like a war front for all manner of diseases where the first attack or target is the healthcare worker.

NIGERIA; ATTITUDE (Psychology); CHI-squared test; HEALTH behavior; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL personnel; RISK perception; CROSS-sectional method; DATA analysis software; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; COVID-19 pandemic

International Journal of Nursing Education, 2021, Vol 13, Issue 1, p111

0974-9349

Academic Journal

10.37506/ijone.v13i1.13326