IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/dem/demres/v44y2021i20.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Knowledge, risk perceptions, and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Jethro Banda

    (Malawi Epidemiological and Intervention Research Unit)

  • Albert Dube

    (Malawi Epidemiological and Intervention Research Unit)

  • Sarah Brumfield

    (Boston University)

  • Abena Amoah

    (Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum)

  • Amelia Crampin

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Georges Reniers

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Stephane Helleringer

    (New York University, Abu Dhabi)

Abstract

Background: Behavioral changes are needed to limit the spread and mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: We measured knowledge and behaviors related to COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic in Malawi (Southeast Africa). Methods: Using lists of phone numbers collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we contacted a sample of adults by mobile phone in the six weeks after the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the country. We interviewed 619 respondents (79.5% response rate). Results: Approximately half of respondents perceived no risk or only limited risk that they would become infected with the novel coronavirus. Contrary to projections from epidemiological models, a large percentage of respondents (72.2%) expected to be severely ill if they became infected. Increased hand washing and avoiding crowds were the most frequently reported strategies used to prevent spreading SARS-CoV-2. The adoption of other protective behaviors (e.g., face masks) was limited. Respondents in urban areas had more accurate knowledge of disease patterns and had adopted more protective behaviors than rural respondents. Conclusions: In the first weeks of the pandemic, the adoption of preventive behaviors remained limited in Malawi, possibly due to low perceived risk of infection among a large fraction of the population. Additional information campaigns are needed to address misperceptions about the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the likelihood of severe illness due to COVID-19. Contribution: This study provides early data on behavioral responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in a low-income country.

Suggested Citation

  • Jethro Banda & Albert Dube & Sarah Brumfield & Abena Amoah & Amelia Crampin & Georges Reniers & Stephane Helleringer, 2021. "Knowledge, risk perceptions, and behaviors related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(20), pages 459-480.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:44:y:2021:i:20
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.20
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol44/20/44-20.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.20?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Bank, 2020. "The COVID-19 Pandemic [Pandémie De Covid-19]," World Bank Publications - Reports 33696, The World Bank Group.
    2. Phil Anglewicz & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2009. "Overestimating HIV infection:," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 20(6), pages 65-96.
    3. Abigail R Greenleaf & Aliou Gadiaga & Georges Guiella & Shani Turke & Noelle Battle & Saifuddin Ahmed & Caroline Moreau, 2020. "Comparability of modern contraceptive use estimates between a face-to-face survey and a cellphone survey among women in Burkina Faso," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Smith, Kirsten P. & Watkins, Susan Cotts, 2005. "Perceptions of risk and strategies for prevention: responses to HIV/AIDS in rural Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(3), pages 649-660, February.
    5. Adeline Delavande & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2016. "HIV/AIDS-related Expectations and Risky Sexual Behaviour in Malawi," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 83(1), pages 118-164.
    6. Jennifer Beam Dowd & Liliana Andriano & David M. Brazel & Valentina Rotondi & Per Block & Xuejie Ding & Yan Liu & Melinda C. Mills, 2020. "Demographic science aids in understanding the spread and fatality rates of COVID-19," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(18), pages 9696-9698, May.
    7. Kirsten P. Smith & Susan Cotts Watkins, 2005. "Perceptions of Risk and Strategies for Prevention: Responses to HIV/AIDS in Rural Malawi," PGDA Working Papers 0305, Program on the Global Demography of Aging.
    8. Baulch, Bob & Botha, Rosemary & Pauw, Karl, 2020. "Short-term impacts of COVID-19 on the Malawian economy: Initial results," MaSSP reports Report June 2020, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Marília R. Nepomuceno & Enrique Acosta & Diego Alburez-Gutierrez & José Manuel Aburto & Alain Gagnon & Cássio M. Turra, 2020. "Besides population age structure, health and other demographic factors can contribute to understanding the COVID-19 burden," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(25), pages 13881-13883, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Haules Robbins Zaniku & Moses Banda Aron & Kaylin Vrkljan & Kartik Tyagi & Myness Kasanda Ndambo & Gladys Mtalimanja Banda & Revelation Nyirongo & Isaac Mphande & Bright Mailosi & George Talama & Fabi, 2023. "COVID-19-Related Testing, Knowledge and Behaviors among Severe and Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Patients in Neno District, Malawi: A Prospective Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Richard G. Wamai & Jason L. Hirsch & Wim Van Damme & David Alnwick & Robert C. Bailey & Stephen Hodgins & Uzma Alam & Mamka Anyona, 2021. "What Could Explain the Lower COVID-19 Burden in Africa despite Considerable Circulation of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Yutong Li & Guangqi Liu & Robert Okia Egolet & Runqing Yang & Yangmu Huang & Zhijie Zheng, 2021. "Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to COVID-19 Among Malawi Adults: A Community-Based Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anglewicz, Philip & Clark, Shelley, 2013. "The effect of marriage and HIV risks on condom use acceptability in rural Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 29-40.
    2. Kim, Jinho, 2016. "The effect of peers on HIV infection expectations among Malawian adolescents: Using an instrumental variables/school fixed effect approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 61-69.
    3. Michelle Poulin & Adamson S. Muula, 2011. "An inquiry into the uneven distribution of women’s HIV infection in rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(28), pages 869-902.
    4. Rebecca L. Thornton & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2017. "Making marriages last: trust is good, but credible information is better," WIDER Working Paper Series 173, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Margaret Frye & Sophia Chae, 2017. "Physical attractiveness and women’s HIV risk in rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(10), pages 251-294.
    6. Ning Hsieh, 2013. "Perceived risk of HIV infection and mental health in rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 28(13), pages 373-408.
    7. Rebecca L. Thornton & Hans-Peter Kohler, 2017. "Making marriages last: Trust is good, but credible information is better," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-173, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Scorgie, Fiona & Khoza, Nomhle & Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead & Velloza, Jennifer & Mangxilana, Nomvuyo & Atujuna, Millicent & Chitukuta, Miria & Matambanadzo, Kudzai V. & Hosek, Sybil & Makhale, Lerato & , 2021. "Narrative sexual histories and perceptions of HIV risk among young women taking PrEP in southern Africa: Findings from a novel participatory method," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    9. Parijat Chakrabarti & Margaret Frye, 2017. "A mixed-methods framework for analyzing text data: Integrating computational techniques with qualitative methods in demography," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(42), pages 1351-1382.
    10. Alexander A. Weinreb & Guy Stecklov, 2009. "Social inequality and HIV-testing," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(21), pages 627-646.
    11. Georges Reniers & Benjamin Armbruster, 2012. "HIV Status Awareness, Partnership Dissolution and HIV Transmission in Generalized Epidemics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(12), pages 1-7, December.
    12. Coast, Ernestina, 2006. "Local understandings of, and responses to, HIV: Rural-urban migrants in Tanzania," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 1000-1010, August.
    13. Tawfik, Linda & Watkins, Susan Cotts, 2007. "Sex in Geneva, sex in Lilongwe, and sex in Balaka," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(5), pages 1090-1101, March.
    14. Gerritzen, Berit C., 2014. "Intra-Household Bargaining Power and HIV Prevention: Empirical Evidence from Married Couples in Rural Malawi," Economics Working Paper Series 1408, University of St. Gallen, School of Economics and Political Science.
    15. Colvin, Christopher L. & McLaughlin, Eoin, 2021. "Death, demography and the denominator: Age-adjusted Influenza-18 mortality in Ireland," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    16. Smith, Rachel A. & Morrison, Daniel, 2006. "The impact of stigma, experience, and group referent on HIV risk assessments and HIV testing intentions in Namibia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(10), pages 2649-2660, November.
    17. Demombynes,Gabriel, 2020. "COVID-19 Age-Mortality Curves Are Flatter in Developing Countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9313, The World Bank.
    18. Zhou, Amy, 2016. "The uncertainty of treatment: Women's use of HIV treatment as prevention in Malawi," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 52-60.
    19. Tyler W. Myroniuk & Hans-Peter Kohler & Iliana Kohler, 2021. "Marital dissolutions and changes in mental health: Evidence from rural Malawi," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(41), pages 993-1022.
    20. Packel, Laura & Dow, William H. & de Walque, Damien & Isdahl, Zachary & Majura, Albert, 2012. "Sexual behavior change intentions and actions in the context of a randomized trial of a conditional cash transfer for HIV prevention in Tanzania," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5997, The World Bank.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; risk perception; behavioral change; survey data; Malawi; adult health; rural/urban differentials;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:44:y:2021:i:20. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Editorial Office (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.demogr.mpg.de/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.