Assessment of risk perception and adoption of safety measures during Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan: a survey study through mobile application

This coronavirus disease’s impact, effect, and spread largely depend on how people behave and react mindfully. According to the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) theory, the only way to war against COVID-19 is to ensure allegiance to all Pakistanis’ controlled maneuvers nationwide. To control this pandemic, the determination of safety measures practiced by people and their associated factors are of great importance. This study aimed to explore Pakistani’s perception of the economic and psychological risks related to COVID-19 and the association of perceived risks with adopting safety measures. The was conducted among 1,058 Pakistanis using a self-developed survey questionnaire from March 15 to June 15, 2020 - using a mobile application. The analysis revealed that more participants agreed that (i) Covid 19 is associated with economic threats to the overall economy, (ii) social media and the Government is causing more psychological threat than the virus, and (iii) personal and imposed safety measures should be observed during the spread of the virus. Moreover, regression analysis indicates that economic and psychological threats were significantly and positively correlated with personal safety measures but not government-imposed safety measures. Moreover, economic and psychological threats are significant predictors of personal safety measures. This study is helpful as it is the first to inform about the threats associated with this pandemic and their association with safety measures practiced by Pakistan’s population. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12652-022-04421-8.