AUTHOR=Nguyen Thao Thi Phuong , Nguyen Long Hoang , Le Huong Thi , Vu Giang Thu , Hoang Men Thi , Nguyen Diep Ngoc , Le Xuan Thi Thanh , Tran Bach Xuan , Nguyen Thao Thanh , Pham Quan Thi , Ta Nhung Thi Kim , Nguyen Quynh Thi , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Roger C. M. , Ho Cyrus S. H. 

TITLE=Perceptions and Attitudes Toward COVID-19-Related National Response Measures of Vietnamese: Implications for Pandemic Prevention and Control

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.589053

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2020.589053

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> Public perceptions and attitudes toward preventive and control measures are vital to ensure the success of national response strategies in combating COVID-19. This study assessed perceptions and attitudes via the importance of national response measures to COVID-19 among people under the nationwide partial lockdown of Vietnam.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> An online cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1382 people in Vietnam mainly public administration and health workers with relatives. Perceptions and attitudes toward seven national response measures to COVID-19 epidemics were assessed. Multivariable Tobit regression models were employed to identify factors associated with the perceptions.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The proportion of participants strongly agreeing with the measure “Isolate people from abroad and people in contact with people infected with COVID 19” was the highest (96.9%), following by the measure “Obligatory to wear face masks in public places” (96.8%), and “Blockade of places having new cases” (92.9%). Living in the Southern region, having a family with more than 5 people, and having post-graduate education were negatively correlated to the levels of perceived importance of “Social distancing and community screening” measures. Meanwhile, having post-graduate education (Coef. = −0.04; 95%CI: −0.07; −0.01), working as white-collar workers (Coef. = −0.04; 95%CI: −0.08; −0.01), and having fixed-term, full-time employment (Coef. = −0.07; 95%CI: −0.10; −0.03) were inversely associated with the levels of perceived importance of the “Mandatory quarantine and personal protective equipment” measures.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study informed highly positive perceptions and attitudes toward the national response measure to combat the COVID-19 in Vietnam. Contextualized strategies to maintain and improve these perceptions are warranted to ensure the success of preventive measures in the future.</p>