Self-Care Behaviors in Preventing COVID-۱۹: A Health Belief Model-Based among Families in Yazd City

Background: Identification of self-care behaviors and barriers in the COVID-۱۹ pandemic can help health policymakers design appropriate and practical plans. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of self-care behaviors in preventing COVID-۱۹ based on the health belief model (HBM) among families in Yazd City. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted using the convenience sampling method in ۲۰۲۰. The research data were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire based on the HBM.  The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed before its distribution on social networks. A total of ۲۲۶ questionnaires were collected and analyzed using SPSS software version ۲۲. Results: The results showed no significant correlations between the mean scores of HBM constructs and participants’ age, gender, and education level (p > ۰.۰۵). Also, the linear regression test indicated that perceived self-efficacy (B = ۰.۸۸), perceived susceptibility (B = ۰.۶۳), and perceived intensity (B = ۰.۷۴) were the most predictive constructs, demonstrating statistical significance. (P < ۰/۰۵). The HBM constructs could significantly predict preventive behaviors of COVID-۱۹ and accounted for ۲۹.۶ % of their changes (Adjusted R۲ = ۰.۲۹۶, F = ۱۸.۸۵, p ≤ ۰.۰۰۰). Conclusion: Implementing effective interventions based on the health belief model, with a particular focus on improving self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity can reduce the incidence of COVID-۱۹  and its associated complications.

Keywords:

Self-care , Behavior , Prevention and control , COVID-۱۹ , Health Belief Model