Perceived threats towards COVID-19 pandemic among Nepali migrant workers returned from India

Authors

  • Shanti Prasad Khanal Health and Population Education Department, University Campus Tribhuvan University Kirtipur, Kathmandu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6001-9502
  • Edwin van Teijlingen Bournemouth University, Bournemouth Gateway Building (5th floor), St Paul's Lane, Bournemouth, BH8 8GP, United Kingdom
  • Mohan Kumar Sharma Graduate School of Education (PhD Scholar), TU
  • Jib Acharya Business Development and Health Research, Premium Services Ltd., UK
  • Sharma Sharma Midwestern University, Surkhet

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v9i01.40970

Keywords:

COVID-19, Cross-sectional design, Threat, Perception, Seasonal-migrants

Abstract

Evidence shows that the seasonal migrants returned from India have been a source of COVID-19, which helped spread it across Nepal. This cross-sectional study, guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM) model, that people's underlying believes in this case around COVID-19, is determined by a large extend their subsequent behaviors. This study aimed to examine the association between personal characteristics and perceived threats regarding COVID-19 among 384 seasonal migrants who had returned from India and were staying in a quarantine center in Surkhet, Nepal. A questionnaire was used with the help of three health workers working in the Quarantine Center. A five-point sequential grade Likert scale was constructed based on two HBM constructs, like 'perceived susceptibility' and ‘severity.' A score ≥ of 50% was designated as high, and ≤ 50% as a perceived low level of threat. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to interpret the data using SPSS 20 version. Generally, participants regarded the threat of COVID-19 as low. The severity of COVID-19 was thought to be greater than the vulnerability of the subjects. Gender, age, caste, education, health status, and perceived susceptibility did not correlate with perceived susceptibility. However, the participants’ demographic characteristics were associated with their perceived level of severity. Therefore, this study calls for proper risk communication to people who returned from abroad, as this is essential in promoting protective behavior during a pandemic outbreak. 

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Published

2021-11-30

How to Cite

Khanal, S. P., van Teijlingen, E., Sharma, M. K., Acharya, J., & Sharma, S. (2021). Perceived threats towards COVID-19 pandemic among Nepali migrant workers returned from India. Journal of Health Promotion, 9(01), 87–99. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v9i01.40970

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles