The Extent of Social Distance Compliance and beliefs about COVID-۱۹ Vaccine during Pandemic among Iranian Pedestrians

Background: Social distancing and vaccination are recommended to reduce COVID-۱۹ infection. However, the decision to inject the vaccine depends on people's beliefs.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the extent of social distance adaptation and beliefs associated with the COVID-۱۹ vaccine in pedestrians in three cities in southwestern Iran.Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study was performed in three cities in southwestern Iran. Data were collected from June to July ۲۰۲۱ by observing ۶۶۶۰ pedestrians. A total of ۲۵۰ pedestrians were asked about their beliefs about the COVID-۱۹ vaccine. The data collected by checklists and analyzed by SPSS۲۶ statistical Software with Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test.Results: The overall compliance of social distance was ۷.۷% (confidence interval (CI): ۹۵%; ۷.۱-۸.۴). There was a statistical difference between age groups and social distancing (p <۰.۰۰۱ ). The extent of social distancing adaptation in women (۹۵% CI; ۷.۵-۹.۶) was higher than men (۹۵% CI; ۷.۹%). Social distancing was more observed in the morning than in the evening (P <۰.۰۰۱). The reason for not receiving the vaccine was death two years after injection (۲۴.۸%), fear (۴۴%), and social media content (۳۲.۸%).Conclusion: The compliance rate of social distancing was low. Also the existence of misconceptions about the Covid-۱۹ vaccine and fear makes it difficult to control this infection. It seems important to improve media literacy and health education to solve this problem.

Keywords:

Covid‑۱۹ , pedestrians , physical distancing , , observational study