Preprints with The Lancet is part of SSRN´s First Look, a place where journals identify content of interest prior to publication. Authors have opted in at submission to The Lancet family of journals to post their preprints on Preprints with The Lancet. The usual SSRN checks and a Lancet-specific check for appropriateness and transparency have been applied. Preprints available here are not Lancet publications or necessarily under review with a Lancet journal. These preprints are early stage research papers that have not been peer-reviewed. The findings should not be used for clinical or public health decision making and should not be presented to a lay audience without highlighting that they are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed. For more information on this collaboration, see the comments published in The Lancet about the trial period, and our decision to make this a permanent offering, or visit The Lancet´s FAQ page, and for any feedback please contact preprints@lancet.com.
Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among the Ghanaian-Dutch Community in the Netherlands; a Mixed Method Study in Amsterdam
28 Pages Posted: 21 Aug 2021
More...Abstract
Background: The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) had forced authorities across the globe to introduce a plethora of preventive measures to combat the rapid spread of the virus. The goal was to achieve a high adherence towards these preventive measures and help reduce the burden on health-care institutions. The reluctance to adhere to these mitigation strategies has been reported worldwide as it poses a threat to the control of the pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to assess the Ghanaian-Dutch community’s adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies and their associated factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional mixed-methods survey recruited 57 Ghanaian-Dutch respondents in Amsterdam and collected information on respondents’ demographics, knowledge, opinions, behaviours, and attitudes surrounding COVID-19.
Findings: The respondents in this study demonstrated good level of knowledge about the recommended COVID-19 prevention measures. While most of the respondents tried to adhere to these preventive protocols, others had varying levels of difficulty in adhering to specific measures such as wearing masks and avoiding/reducing family and friends visits. The primary reasons for the difficulty in wearing a nose mask were because some felt uncomfortable. The social, religious and culturally appropriateness of visiting friends and families or providing help for people in need was another reason commonly cited.
Interpretation: Our findings show that the Ghanaian-Dutch community in Amsterdam has its own needs and concerns on COVID-19 and adherence to these prevention measures. Accordingly, they strive to follow the COVID-19 prevention measures. However, different factors play influential roles in their adherence to the COVID-19 prevention measures.
Funding: None to declare.
Declaration of Interest: None to declare.
Ethical Approval: This study was approved by Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR) the Ethics Advisory Board of the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Keywords: Adherence, knowledge, Ghanaian-Dutch, COVID-19, Preventive measures
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation