The Associations Between Fear of COVID-19 and
Preventive Behaviors Among People in Gaza Strip,
Palestine
Volume 5 - Issue 2
Abdelrahman Khaled Al helou1, Mohammed Issam Altallaa2, Ameer Khaleel Shehada3, Samer Abuzerr4,5*, Osama Jabr Emad6, Azzam Abuhabib7,8 and Abdel Hamid el Bilbeisi9
- 1Mental Health hospital, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine
- 2Psychologist, Al Tawasol Forum Society, Gaza, Palestine
- 3Kamal Adwan Medical Complex, Gaza, Palestine
- 4Visiting Scholar with the School of Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Canada
- 5Quality Improvement and Infection Control Unit, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine
- 6Mental Health General Directorate, Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine
- 7Crisis Management Consultant, Gaza, Palestine
- 8Water Technology Ph.D. Joint Programme, Islamic University of Gaza (IUG), Gaza, Palestine
- 9Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al Azhar University of Gaza, Palestine
Received:April 26, 2021; Published:May 06, 2021
Corresponding author:Samer Abuzerr, Visiting Scholar with the School of Public Health, Department of Social and Preventive
Medicine, University of Montreal, Montréal, Quality Improvement and Infection Control, Ministry of Health, Gaza Strip, Palestine
DOI: 10.32474/SJPBS.2021.05.000208
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency that could severely impact mental health. Fear of COVID-19 or its risk
perceptions is strongly associated with COVID-19 preventive behaviors. This study aimed to examine the associations between
the anxiety of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors among People in the Gaza Strip. The sample consists of 682 participants. A
cross-sectional online survey design was used; all participants completed the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and preventive
behavior scale. The required data were collected and analyzed. The mean fear of COVID-19 score was 2.51 (SD = 0.83, range: 7–35),
while the mean score for preventive behavior was 2.48 (SD = 0.38, range: 3–30). Besides, results showed participants from the
North Gaza governorates and those with low educated levels had the highest level of fear of COVID-19. In contrast, females and
highly educated participants were more likely to engage in preventive behaviors than other participants. Our findings show no
significant associations between fear of COVID-19 and adherence to preventive behaviors. It is essential to continue monitoring the
psychological reactions of people during the outbreak.
Keywords: COVID-19; Fear; Preventive Behaviors; Palestine; Gaza Strip.
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