Psychobehavioural responses to the 2014 Middle East respiratory syndrome-novel corona virus (MERS CoV) among adults in two shopping malls in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia.
Sporadic cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome caused by a novel corona virus (MERS-CoV) were first detected in Saudi Arabia in June 2012. The number of cases was highest during April and May 2014. To assess determinants of psychobehavioural responses among the general population in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at the end of June 2014. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, level of anxiety, protective measures and social avoidance responses. A total of 358 participants completed the questionnaire; 58.4% were female, and the age range was 18-72 years. None of the participants was diagnosed with MERS-CoV. More than half (57.7%) recorded a moderate anxiety score using a visual analogue scale. Anxiety level was significantly associated with increased perception of susceptibility to infection and social avoidance behaviours related to travel and being in public places.
College of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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AlNajjar
College of Medicine, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Attar
King Saud bin AbdulAziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Infection Prevention and Control, King AbdulAziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt.
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Farahat
King Saud bin AbdulAziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Infection Prevention and Control, King AbdulAziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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AlThaqafi
D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires