TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kananian, Schahryar
A1  - Al-Sari, Samar
A1  - Stangier, Ulrich
T1  - Perceived vulnerability to disease, knowledge and preventive behavior related to COVID-19 in Farsi and Arabic speaking refugees
T2  - Journal of immigrant and minority health
N2  - In the face of the worldwide COVIV-19 pandemic, refugees represent a particularly vulnerable group with respect to access to health care and information regarding preventive behavior. In an online survey the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease Scale, self-reported changes in preventive and risk behaviors, knowledge about COVID-19, and psychopathological symptoms (PHQ-4) were assessed. The convenience sample consisted of n = 76 refugees (n = 45 Arabic speaking, n = 31 Farsi speaking refugees) and n = 76 German controls matched with respect to age and sex. Refugees reported a significantly larger fear of infection, significantly less knowledge about COVID-19, and a higher frequency of maladaptive behavior, as compared to the control group. This study shows that refugees are more vulnerable to fear of infection and maladaptive behaviors than controls. Culturally adapted, easily accessible education about COVID-19 may be beneficial in improving knowledge and preventive behaviors related to COVID-19.
KW  - Contamination
KW  - Refugees
KW  - COVID-19
KW  - Pandemic
KW  - Perceived vulnerability to disease
Y1  - 2021
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/69537
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-695378
SN  - 1557-1920
N1  - Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This work was supported by the Vereinigung von Freunden und Förderern der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main and the Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt am Main.
VL  - 24
IS  - 5
SP  - 1245
EP  - 1250
PB  - Springer Science+Business Media
CY  - Berlin [u.a.]
ER  -