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Environmental Risk Perception and Preventive Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Taiwan

Author

Listed:
  • Kuo-Wei Hsu

    (Department of Landscape and Urban Design, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung City 413, Taiwan)

  • Jen-Chih Chao

    (Department of Landscape and Urban Design, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung City 413, Taiwan)

  • Ching-Yi Hsu

    (Independent Researcher, Taichung City 413, Taiwan)

Abstract

Due to traffic and industrial and seasonal air pollution, wearing masks outside the home has long been a daily habit for many people in Taiwan. After the emergence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which has an incubation period of up to 14 days, wearing masks and maintaining social distancing was advised to reduce exposure to this new environmental risk. This study investigates open and semi-open spaces in three districts in central Taiwan, using a non-participant observation method, with the aim of understanding people’s mask-wearing behavior. The results indicate that mask-wearing rates were higher in urban areas than in rural ones and among females than males. By age cohort, mask-wearing was most prevalent among young adults and middle-aged people and least prevalent among minors, with the elderly occupying a middle position. Masks were also more likely to be worn in semi-open spaces than in open ones. This study enriches our understanding of environmental risk perception of the pandemic and of public perceptions, which are vital to increasing the adoption of preventative measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuo-Wei Hsu & Jen-Chih Chao & Ching-Yi Hsu, 2021. "Environmental Risk Perception and Preventive Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Central Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9920-:d:639893
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marco Dettori & Paola Pittaluga & Giulia Busonera & Carmelo Gugliotta & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Antonella Arghittu & Paolo Castiglia, 2020. "Environmental Risks Perception Among Citizens Living Near Industrial Plants: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Xuewei Chen & Hongliang Chen, 2020. "Differences in Preventive Behaviors of COVID-19 between Urban and Rural Residents: Lessons Learned from A Cross-Sectional Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Feng-Jen Tsai & Hsiu-Wen Yang & Chia-Ping Lin & Jeffrey Zen Liu, 2021. "Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccines and Protective Behavior among Adults in Taiwan: Associations between Risk Perception and Willingness to Vaccinate against COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    4. Imane Berni & Aziza Menouni & Younes Filali Zegzouti & Marie-Paule Kestemont & Lode Godderis & Samir El Jaafari, 2021. "MAROCOVID: Snapshot Monitoring of Knowledge and Perceptions of Safety Behaviors during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Morocco," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, May.
    5. Piyapong Janmaimool & Tsunemi Watanabe, 2014. "Evaluating Determinants of Environmental Risk Perception for Risk Management in Contaminated Sites," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-23, June.
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