Exploring factors in fear of COVID-19 and its GIS-based nationwide distribution: the case of Bangladesh

29, September 2021 |

Authors:

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health threat of international concern, intensifying peoples’ psychological risk and vulner- ability by strengthening mental health stressors such as fear, panic and uncertainty. The unexpected fear of COVID-19 has been reported to be associated with suicide occurrences, similar to prior pandemics. Aims Identifying the factors associated with fear of COVID-19 could help us to develop better mental health strategy and practice to improve the situation here in Bangladesh. This was the first attempt to present a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based distribution of fear of COVID-19 across the country’s adminis- trative districts in a nationwide sample. Method Data for a total of 10 067 individuals were collected by an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic (1 to 10 April 2020); data for 10 052 participants were finally analysed after excluding 15 transgender individuals. The survey questionnaire included items concerning sociodemographic, behavioural and health- related variables, COVID-19-related issues, and the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Results The mean fear of COVID-19 scores was 21.30 ± 6.01 (out of a possible 35) in the present sample. Female gender, highly educated, non-smoker, non-alcohol consumer, having chronic diseases, using social media, and using social media and not using newspapers as COVID-19 information sources were associated with a higher level of fear of COVID-19.