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Table 5 Factors associated with negative psychological responses.

From: Avoidance behaviors and negative psychological responses in the general population in the initial stage of the H1N1 pandemic in Hong Kong

 

Feeling much worried either oneself or one's family members would contract H1N1

Expressed emotional distress (being much in panic or felt very much depressed or being highly emotionally disturbed)

 

Row %

ORU

ORm(95% CI)

Row %

ORU

ORm(95% CI)

Background characteristics

      

Gender

      

   Male

13.4

1.00

-

3.7

1.00

1

   Female

17.7

1.39

 

7.8

2.21**

2.17 (1.18 - 4.00)*

Education level

      

   Form 3 or below

-

-

-

9.2

1.00

NS

   Form 4 - matriculation

   

5.9

0.61

 

   College or above

   

4.6

0.47*

 

Full-time employed

      

   No

-

-

-

7.8

1.00

NS

   Yes

   

4.7

0.58*

 

Unconfirmed beliefs and knowledge about modes of transmission of H1N1

      

Unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmission †

      

   None

12.3

1.00

NS

-

-

-

   At least 1 item

18.0

1.56*

    

Evaluation of governmental preparedness and performance in dealing with H1N1

      

Inadequacy of government preparation (health system) ‡

      

   None

-

-

-

3.6

1.00

1

   At least 1 of 3 items

   

8.1

2.34**

2.35 (1.30 - 4.26)**

Perceived governmental ability in controlling the epidemic §

      

   None

26.0

1.00

1

-

-

-

   At least 1 of 2 items

14.9

0.50*

0.51 (0.29 - 0.90)*

   

Risk perception

      

Perceived severity of H1N1

      

High fatality

      

   Disagree/unsure

14.4

1.00

NS

5.1

1.00

1

   Agree

20.9

1.57*

 

9.3

1.93*

1.94 (1.08 - 3.49)*

Severe irreversible bodily damages

      

   Disagree/unsure

13.8

1.00

1

5.4

1.00

-

   Agree

24.3

2.00***

1.95 (1.30 - 2.90)**

8.5

1.62

 

Perceived chance of contracting H1N1 in the coming year

      

The respondent

      

   Low/very low/unsure

13.8

1.00

1

5.5

1.00

NS

   High or very high

37.2

3.70***

3.31 (2.02 - 5.42)***

11.6

2.26*

 

Family members

      

   Low/very low/unsure

13.8

1.00

NS

5.1

1.00

1

   High or very high

36.8

3.62***

 

16.1

3.59***

3.68 (1.86 - 7.29)***

The general public

      

   Low/very low/unsure

13.7

1.00

NS

5.1

1.00

NS

   High or very high

30.6

2.79***

 

12.1

2.58**

 
  1. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001; ORU: univariate odds ratio obtained from logistic regression models; ORm: odds ratios obtained from stepwise multivariate logistics regression analysis, using univariately significant variables as candidate variables; NS: not statistically significant in multivariate analysis.
  2. † Unconfirmed beliefs about modes of transmission were assessed by 4 items: the disease could be airborne across a long distance (e.g. from one building to another one); transmitted via water sources (e.g. reservoirs); transmitted via insect bites; transmitted via well-cooked pork.
  3. ‡Inadequacy of government preparation (health system) was assessed by 3 items: local health system do not have enough medication for treating H1N1; local health system do not have enough vaccine for H1N1; Hospitals in Hong Kong do not have enough personal protection equipments for H1N1.
  4. § Perceived governmental ability of controlling the epidemic was assessed by 2 items: Hong Kong will be able to control the H1N1 epidemic; Hong Kong government will be able to control a large-scale H1N1 outbreak.
  5. Variables that were not significantly associated with any of the dependent variables in the univariate analysis were not tabulated. These variables include wave of survey, age, marital status, current health care practitioner, correct knowledge about modes of transmission, perceived chance of having an H1N1 pandemic in Hong Kong as compared to other counties in the future year.
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BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

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