| Tired of Reading? Please listen to the blog  |
Abstract
COVID-19, a communicable viral disease designated as an International Public Health Concern by the WHO in 2020, necessitates effective public health interventions, with social distancing being a pertinent social tool. Despite its recognized importance, there remains uncertainty regarding the correlation between compliance with social distancing and the actual practice of social distancing. This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between compliance and practice in social distancing. Utilizing a random sampling method, quantitative data were gathered through a survey questionnaire from a sample of 10,152 participants (n₁). The collected data underwent analysis using SPSS.
The results of a Chi-square test of independence revealed a statistically significant relationship between compliance with social distancing and the practice of social distancing (ꭓ² (1, n = 10,152) = 6,075.694, p = .000). In conclusion, this study establishes a significant association between compliance with social distancing and the actual practice of social distancing.
Introduction
In December 2019, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), having originated in Wuhan City, China (WHO, 2020). As of July 9, 2022, the pandemic had escalated with over 8 million confirmed cases reported in Africa, underscoring its vast global impact (WHO, 2022). The ramifications of COVID-19 have been pervasive, significantly altering daily life across the world.
Transmission of COVID-19 primarily occurs through respiratory droplets from an infected individual during coughing, sneezing, or talking, especially when in close proximity (Chan et al., 2015; WHO, 2020). Combating the virus requires a blend of biological measures, such as vaccination for herd immunity (Achieving 70% COVID-19 Immunization Coverage by Mid-2022, 2021), and non-biological strategies. However, vaccination rates in some regions remain low; for instance, only 11.4% of the target population in the Democratic Republic of Congo was fully vaccinated by 2022 (CMR COVID-19, 2022).
The importance of sustained adherence to public health interventions, particularly social distancing, has been emphasized for controlling the spread of COVID-19 (Talic et al., 2021). Social distancing has been identified as one of the most effective and cost-efficient non-biological interventions (Qian & Jiang, 2020; Bo et al., 2021). Fazio et al. (2021) and Liu et al. (2021) highlight the crucial role of social distancing in interrupting transmission chains. Yet, studies by Gibson and Rush (2020), Günther (2020), and Agushi et al. (2020) report suboptimal adherence to social distancing guidelines in some African communities.
This context of variable compliance introduces uncertainty regarding the relationship between the adherence to and the actual practice of social distancing among adults, particularly in controlling COVID-19 transmission (Islam et al., 2020). Consequently, this analytical cross-sectional study, conducted in Kinshasa from March to April 2022, aims to dissect the dynamics between compliance with and the practice of social distancing among adults during the pandemic. It seeks to explore various facets, including the correlation between compliance and practice, challenges to social distancing, the influence of gender, and the impact of educational attainment on social distancing practices among adults. Therefore, the main objective of this analytical cross-sectional study is to assess the relationship between the compliance with social distancing and the practice of social distancing amongst the adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Kinshasa from March to April 2022. The specific objectives for this study were:
- To assess the relationship between the compliance with social distancing and the practice of social distancing of the adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Kinshasa.
- To assess the relationship between the challenges to social distancing and the practice of social distancing of the adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Kinshasa.
- To assess the relationship between the gender and the practice of social distancing of the adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Kinshasa.
- To assess the relationship between the educational attainment and the practice of social distancing of the adults during COVID-19 pandemic in Kinshasa.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study demonstrates a significant link between the commitment to social distancing guidelines and their actual practice among adults, highlighting a clear protective advantage for those who not only endorse but also enact these measures. This finding underscores the critical need for public health efforts to not only promote understanding of social distancing but also to translate this knowledge into real-world action.
The association revealed points to the effectiveness of public health campaigns that encourage both the cognitive and behavioral aspects of social distancing, suggesting that a comprehensive approach can offer enhanced protection.
Future research could explore several avenues to deepen this understanding:
1. Behavioral Interventions: Assess the impact of interventions aimed at closing the gap between knowing and doing in social distancing, through educational and motivational strategies.
2. Psychosocial Influences: Examine how factors like risk perception and social influences affect the move from intention to action in social distancing behaviors.
3. Longitudinal Studies: Investigate the long-term effects of consistent social distancing practices to understand the persistence of protective benefits over time.
4. Demographic Differences: Study how various demographic groups might differ in their approach to social distancing compliance and practice, to tailor public health messages more effectively.
5. Public Health Measure Comparison: Evaluate the relative success of different public health initiatives in converting awareness into action, extending beyond social distancing to other health behaviors.
Such research could offer valuable insights into optimizing public health strategies by aligning behavioral intentions with actions, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of interventions against pandemics.
