ABSTRACT
AimA huge amount of information associated with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was circulated by mass media in Bangladesh. To date, there is no example on how the lifestyle of the community people in Bangladesh may influence mass media intervention during a pandemic. We aimed to assess mass media influence on changing the lifestyle behavior of people during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subject and methodsAn online cross-sectional survey with a limited face-to-face interview among 2080 Bangladeshi respondents was conducted between March 26 and April 1, 2020. Datasets were analyzed through a set of statistical methods such as classical test theory assessment, principal component analysis, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression model. ResultsThe results showed that there was a positive significant relationship between the composite lifestyle score and the social media is trustworthy during the COVID-19 pandemic (r=0.508, p < 0.01), while there was a negative relationship between the composite lifestyle score of the respondents and the daily online media platforms usage in COVID-19 period (r=−0.201, p < 0.01). The results also disclosed that knowledge level, media credibility, and media check-in had the largest contribution to influence the changing lifestyle of the community people. We also found that social media was highly used media as expected during the COVID-19 outbreak while the administrative action has little influence on the changing lifestyle behavior.ConclusionOur outcomes stress the significance of the reliability of information shared via mass media outlets and practical strategies to counter misinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Subject(s)
COVID-19ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic situation, disease intensity, weak healthcare facilities, unawareness, and misinformation led people to fear and anxiety in Bangladesh. This study intended to get peoples’ perception on psychosocial, socio-economic and environmental crisis amidst the pandemi. An online questionnaire was surveyed nationwide (respondents no.1066). Datasets were analyzed through the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), hierarchical Cluster Analysis (CA), Pearson’s correlation matrix (PCM), Linear regression analysis (LRA), and psychometric characteristics were included in the Classical Test Theory (CTT) analysis. There were good associations among the psychosocial, socio-economic and environmental parameters. A significant association between fear of COVID-19 with struggling healthcare system (p<0.05) was found. Also, negative association between fragile health system and government’s ability to deal with the pandemic (p<0.05) revealing poor governance. Again, a positive association of shutdown and social distancing with fear of losing life, and due to lack of health treatment (p<0.05) reveals that shut down hampers normal activities which may lead to mental and economic stress. However, a positive association of socio-economic impact of the shutdown with poor people’s suffering, the price hike of basic need, hamper of formal education (p<0.05) may lead to severe socio-economic and health crisis. There is a possibility of climate-induced disaster during/after the pandemic, which will create severe food insecurity (p<0.01). Daily wage earners and poors will suffer most by food and nutritional deficiency, and the country may face huge economic burden. Proper risk assessment and communications is needed to alleviate fear and anxiety. Thus, financial support and mental boosting is required.