Perceived risk, knowledge, and adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures

The case of Ariara market traders in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Perceived risk of becoming infected and knowledge about COVID-19 as potential predictors of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures were assessed among Ariara international Market traders in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of two hundred (100 male, 100 female) traders after the lockdown order in the State. Respondents’ age ranged between 19-60 years with a mean age of 35.16 (STD= 11.17). Three instruments were used to assess perceived risk, knowledge, and adherence among respondents. The cross-sectional survey design was adopted and Generalized Linear Models (GLM) was used for data analysis via SPSS version 21. The findings showed a general low adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Overall, the GLM result showed that all the variables combined, were significantly associated with adherence (X² (190) = 1911.75, p< .01). Perceived risk was significantly associated with adherence (X² (1) = 225.68, p< .01), with a significant regression coefficient of 0.82. While knowledge and the control variables were not significantly associated with and could not predict adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among the traders. Despite the strong association between the perceived risk of becoming infected and adherence among the traders, adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures remained dangerously low. It is recommended that COVID-19 monitoring agencies show greater presence and conduct regular testing in this population.