Pradip Kumar Gupta, Defence Research & Development Organization, Allahabad
Ravi P. Pandey, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh
The present study examined the level of COVID-19 Knowledge, Health Belief and
COVID-19 Risk Perception in urban and rural Indians and investigated the relationship
among these variables. To materialize this aim, an online survey was conducted on
N = 270 participants from different socio-cultural background across the country. The
participants filled online questionnaires on a) knowledge of corona virus (COVID-19)
disease b) Risk Perception of COVID-19 and c) Health Belief questionnaire which
assessed 6 components of Health Belief Model (HBM) – perceived susceptibility,
perceived severity, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, perceived benefits and
cues to action. Items in Health belief questionnaire were specifically designed in context
of corona virus disease. Findings of the study indicated a positive relationship between
the knowledge of the disease and perceived susceptibility (r=.239) and negatively
correlated with perceived barriers (r= -.320). Risk perception was also positively
associated with perceived susceptibility (r=.502) and cues to action (r=.238). Perceived
benefit was linked with cues to action (r=.443). The strength of relationship remained low
to moderate. Disease knowledge and risk perception was found to be slightly higher in
urban population compared to rural background but the difference was statistically not
significant. It is concluded that the perception of risk of corona virus disease is related to
the knowledge the disease and health belief system of the individual. Higher knowledge
of disease though may make one feel susceptible to disease, it removes the barriers
and prepares the way for preventive action.