In this study, we aimed to determine the associations between the COVID-19 related knowledge, preventive behaviors, severity, self-efficacy, and mental health among a sample of the general public in Iraq & Bangladesh.
There are significant differences between the mental health assessment, the country, educational level, hypertension and smoking. While the other variables have no effect on mental health. Approximately 99% of the participants said they had heard about COVID-19. More than 90% of the participants have stated that they know about COVID- 19. Also, more than 85% of the participants have claimed that they know the causes of COVID-19. Furthermore, participants (around 84%) were largely aware of the death rate for people infected by the virus. Given that the data collection was under-taken during the mid-stage of COVID-19 in Iraq & Bangladesh, this result is indeed expected.
With regard to the preventive behaviors against COVID-19, the results indicated that the rate of adherence to preventive behaviors from COVID–19 was at a desirable level. The most frequently practiced preventive behaviors included wearing a mask, washing hands regularly, maintaining hygiene, avoiding shaking hands, avoiding travelling to COVID- 19 affected areas & travelling on subway or buses, avoiding large gathering of people and using disinfectant. While taking supplements, exercising regularly, having sufficient sleep, taking herbal supplements, eating a balanced diet, avoiding food centers or restaurants were the least.
People living in cities & municipalities showed better performance against the disease than villagers probably due to the difference in their literacy levels. Masks and other disinfectants can be effective in increasing the individuals’ adherence to these preventive behaviors. These results are consistent with reported findings on preventive behaviors against COVID-19. For example, Yıldırım et al. (2020) reported that avoiding public transportation and frequent handwashing were among the most practiced preventive behaviors against COVID-19 among Turkish population. (8)
WHO states that people should wear masks strictly if they have any respiratory illness. Apart from this, those who are in quarantine must use masks in case they need to go outside, it helps in limiting transmission. Those who are adults or high-risk patients must do the same. However, the practice of reusable masks should be encouraged by maintaining some protocols. (9)
It’s wise to avoid traveling to the highly infected areas due to the chances to get affected. (10)
People who have come in direct contact with COVID positive patients, recently traveled to the countries with high infection rates, having symptoms of fever, coughing, or any breathing problem, are advised to maintain the quarantine. (11)
The quarantine can be performed at the individual or group level which normally involves confinement to their residence or a preferred convenience. (12)
It's a necessity to seek medical help continuously for those who are infected and staying in self-isolation as it can be fatal in some cases. In case of any emergency or breathing difficulty, hospital admission is recommended along with assistance. (11)
We found that elevated levels of COVID-19-related seriousness, self-viability, and preventive practices could anticipate a lot of difference in psychological well-being far beyond the impacts old enough, sex, and persistent maladies. These outcomes propose that individuals who have low seen seriousness and high self-adequacy and commitment in preventive practices against COVID-19 have better psychological well-being during seasons of emergency. In spite of the fact that these outcomes require further examinations by considering the part of different factors that may impact the connection between the deliberate factors and psychological well-being, it is productive regarding filling the hole in the applicable writing. Just hardly any examinations inspected the connection between seriousness, self-adequacy, and psychological well-being with regards to COVID-19. Higher severity, and lower self-efficacy were found to be related with poor mental health. (13)
Another study found a negative relationship between general self-efficacy and psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic. (14)
Individuals additionally revealed more prominent cut off and lower self-adequacy identified with COVID-19. This shows that members accepted that it would be intense for them in the event that they contract COVID-19 and they additionally accepted that their capacity or ability is deficient to adapt to the infection.
The archived discoveries will shed lights on mental elements adding to psychological well-being. Individuals ought to be educated about the expected danger of COVID-19 through broad communications to build their mindfulness about the infection. The aftereffects of this research recommend that apparent seriousness and self-adequacy were noteworthy indicators of emotional well-being. Furthermore, our study known preventive behaviors is also of importance in developing the amount of psychological state. Therefore, individuals’ engagement in preventive behaviors and its improvement by numerous ways may be helpful in terms of contributive to psychological state.
This study includes basic limitations that need to be acknowledged and addressed in future studies. The foremost necessary limitation of this study was this study was conducted through on-line survey. Thus, those with no or limited internet access couldn't participate within the study. The information assortment was solely relied on participants’ self-report. Self-report measures might cause limitations due to bound biases including social desirability and introspective ability.
All in all, research about the mental effects of COVID-19 on individuals' psychological well-being is restricted. Discoveries from this investigation add to explain the connections between COVID-19 severity, self-viability, information, preventive practices, and emotional wellness.