A comparative cross-cultural study of fear of COVID-۱۹ in Persian and Turkmen elderly populations

Maliheh Makhtum , Naser Behnampour , Akram Sanagoo , Hossein Nasiri , Leila Jouybari  Background: It is believed that COVID-۱۹ has caused significant fear among older adults. The province of Golestan has a unique ethnic diversity, which requires examining the beliefs and concerns of older adults about health and disease. The aim of this study was to compare the fear of COVID-۱۹ among Persian and Turkmen older adults. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on ۵۰۰ older adults of Persian and Turkmen ethnicities covered by health centers in Bandar Turkmen (Golestan-Iran) from ۲۰۲۱ to ۲۰۲۲. Sampling was done by availability, and the samples were extracted from the list of older adults in the NAB system. Demographic data and the COVID-۱۹ fear questionnaire were used to collect information. Data were analyzed using SPSS version ۱۸ and Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and ANOVA tests at a significance level of ۰.۰۵. Results: The mean and standard deviation age of the participants in the Persian and Turkmen ethnicities were ۷۰.۹۹±۶.۹۱ and ۷۳.۶۶±۷.۶۶, respectively. The mean score of fear of COVID-۱۹ in Persian older adults was ۲۰.۵۹±۲.۲۴, and in Turkmen older adults was ۲۲.۰۲±۱.۳۴, which showed a statistically significant difference (p<۰.۰۰۱). Fear of COVID-۱۹ had a significant statistical relationship with occupation, education level, history of COVID-۱۹ infection, hospitalization history, and having a COVID-۱۹ patient in the family (p<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that fear of COVID-۱۹ was higher among Persian older adults. Ethnic and clinical differences in COVID-۱۹ can have an impact on preventive care in the healthcare system.

Keywords:

Covid-۱۹ , Fear , Aged , Ethnicity , Turkmen people