Prediction of Preventive Behaviors against Covid-19 among Patients Aged 30 to 50 Admitted to Ardabil Health Centers Based on Health Literacy

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by the novel Coronavirus, and its pandemic has resulted in numerous deaths and losses worldwide. This study aimed to predict Corona-preventive behaviors in adults aged 30 to 50 admitted to Ardabil health centers based on their health literacy. Methods: The present study was a correlational descriptive-analytical study. The statistical population consisted of 30 to 50-year-old patients admitted to Ardabil health centers (Iran) in 2019, from which 232 were randomly selected using cluster sampling. Data were collected through administering a health literacy and preventative behavior questionnaire online. The data were then analyzed using inferential (Pearson correlation and linear regression) statistics by the SPSS software (version 26) with a significance threshold of 0.05. Results: The results of this investigation revealed a statistically significant relationship (P<0.0001) between health literacy and anti-Covid-19 preventative behavior. In addition, there was a direct but moderate correlation between the stated factors (r=0.526). According to the findings of linear regression analysis, decision-making (P<0.0001, B=0.980) and knowledge (P=0.008, B=0.588) were the strongest predictors of preventive behavior. Overall, the variables included in the regression analysis predicted 65.6% of the Covid-19 disease-preventive behaviors. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that health literacy plays a crucial role in enhancing citizens’ preventative behaviors against Covid-19. Therefore, it is possible to strengthen people’s preventive behavior against Covid-19 by enhancing their health literacy.

Keywords

• ardabil
• covid-19
• health literacy
• preventive behavior