Health belief model concept on the prevention of coronavirus disease-19 using path analysis in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abstract

Background and Aim: Effective prevention of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) requires public health focus on challenges at the community level. This study aimed to identify the determinants of COVID-19 preventive behavior among people in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, using the health belief model. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. The study sample included 385 randomly selected individuals. The dependent variable was COVID-19 preventive behavior. The data were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed by path analysis using Stata Statistical Software version 13 for Windows 64 bit. Results: COVID-19 preventive behavior was positively and directly associated with perceived benefits (b=0.20; confidence interval [CI] 95% 0.11-0.29; p<0.001), perceived barriers (b=−0.15; CI 95% −0.24-−0.06; p=0.002), and biological sex (b=−0.43; CI 05% −0.78-−0.08; p=0.016). Preventive behavior was also positively and directly associated with attitude (b=0.48; CI 95% −0.20-1.16; p=0.167) and perceived susceptibility (b=0.06; CI 95% −0.01-0.12; p=0.083), though these associations were not significant. Preventive behavior was indirectly associated with knowledge, perceived severity, age, health facility availability, and regulation exposure. Conclusion: COVID-19 preventive behavior among people in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, is directly related to the perceived benefits, biological sex, perceived barriers, attitude, and perceived susceptibility. Preventive behavior of COVID-19 is indirectly associated with knowledge, perceived severity, age, health facility availability, and exposure to regulation.