Preventive Covid-19 behavior among Youth using the health belief model in Khomeyni Shahr, Isfahan

COVID-19 virus infected all the countries of the world in less than a few months due to its high contagion, so it has become necessary to promote preventive behaviors of the disease in correct health plans for its prevention and control. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of determining the preventive behaviors of COVID-19 among youth using the health belief model.

This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 412 youth people aged 18-30 years in Khomeyni shahr of Isfahan province. The data was collected using a standardized researcher-made questionnaire based on the health belief model using convenience sampling method. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software.

Preventive behaviors and obstacles for doing them were more in women than in men. A positive and significant correlation was observed between age, education level, and preventive behaviors of COVID-19. There was a positive and significant correlation between preventive behaviors of Covid-19 with perceived sensitivity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy. Meanwhile, the strongest correlation in this study was between self-efficacy and perceived benefits.

According to the findings of the research and the relationship between the constructs of the health belief model and the preventive behaviors of the COVID-19 disease in young people, it seems that the methods based on the health belief model to increase the preventive behaviors of the COVID-19, especially in men, are effective and recommended. It is also suggested that changing self-efficacy and perceived benefits constructs should be prioritized in the design of future interventions to promote preventive behaviors of COVID-19 in young people.