The impact of the Omicron epidemic on the health behavior in Cape Town, South Africa

• DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100395
• Publication Date: 2022-05-05T01:49:28Z
• Authors: Xiao-Qing Lin; Li Lv; Yan Chen; He-Dan Chen; Mei-Xian Zhang; Tao-Hsin Tung; Jian-Sheng Zhu
• Keywords: Socialization

South Africa was the first country with a case of Omicron variant infection diagnosed; therefore, this study aimed to elucidate impact mutant strain outbreak on health behavior African population and encourage adopt timely protective behaviors against infection.This population-based, cross-sectional conducted in Cape Town, Africa, December 2021. We distributed 300 questionnaires adults aged >18 years, they were all returned.Of population, 60.3% expressed high level concern regarding Omicron; 89.3% improved at least one following three behaviors: mask-wearing, washing hands, reducing socialization; only 10.7% exhibited no improvement behaviors. Of these, 71.3% 57.0% increased length time wore mask washed their respectively, 47% decreased number times socialized. Age, residence, education level, chronic disease, whether had received COVID-19 vaccine significantly different (p < 0.05) between presence absence enhanced The levels knowledge virus influenced health-behavior change (all P 0.05).There has been positive toward adopting hand washing, socialization response epidemic. Based approach, it is important focus populations diseases, those who have not yet vaccine, other low rates change.