Analyzing predictors of control measures and psychosocial problems associated with COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from eight countries

• Main Authors: Jony, Sheikh Saifur Rahman, Haque, Ubydul, Webb, Nathaniel J., Spence, Emily, Rahman, Md. Siddikur, Aghamohammadi, Nasrin, Lie, Yongchan, Angulo-Molina, Aracely, Ananth, Sushmitha, Ren, Xuelian, Kawachi, Nobuyuki, Ito, Hiromu, Ulvi, Osman, Lubinda, Jailos, Karamehic-Muratovic, Ajlina, Maher, Wasim, Ali, Parveen, Rahman, M. Sohel
• Format: Article
• Published: MDPI 2021
• Subjects: BF Psychology; HM Sociology; HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform; R Medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/34616/

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that health authorities must promote health educations, implement related policies to disseminate COVID-19-awareness that can prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 infection.