| dc.description.abstract | Although the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a global emergency of great concern according to the WHO, the effects remain. It is evident that the pandemic has not affected everyone equally, and only comparing national health policies does not paint the entire picture. Understanding why people chose or chose not to take action to prevent the spread of the virus is crucial for future health policymaking so that people can be empowered to avoid illness. Using the Social Determinants of Health as a theoretical framework, this study examines the effects of socioeconomic status and belief in one’s risk of contracting COVID-19 on the prevalence of preventive behaviour. Secondary data from the Young Lives project, a longitudinal study exploring the effects of poverty upon young people, was used, and the respondents came from Peru, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and India. In order to answer the research questions, ordinal logistic regression was performed in two separate analyses. In the first analysis with only the main three variables, socioeconomic status had a small but statistically significant effect on preventive behaviour, but risk belief had no statistically significant effect. In the second analysis with the addition of control variables, socioeconomic status had a slightly larger effect, and risk beliefs had no effect. Not all of the control variables had a statistically significant effect on preventive behaviour, but the second model as a whole was stronger than the first model. In spite of limitations, this study has implications for future research and policymaking. Health policy should focus on helping people to improve the conditions in which they live so that they are able to make better choices for their health. | |
