A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF TEENAGERS’ COMPLIANCE WITH COVID-19 HEALTH PROTOCOLS: A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

The present cross-sectional study examines the attitude of 300 teenagers (13-18) aged in Talash, Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, towards the effectiveness of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) adopted by the Government of Pakistan. Data were gathered via a self-administered questionnaire, the model of which was the Secondary Structure Survey Model of the World Health Organization, over a period of six months, using convenience sampling of different institutions. The respondents, 61% were male and 39% female, with the majority having Matric or FSc qualification. Results showed that only 17% of the teenagers supported SOPs carried out by the government, with 83% opposing them. Statistical results revealed that there was no significant relationship between gender and attitude towards SOPs, but there was a significant relationship between education level and SOP perception. Males rated higher than women in their perceptions of the COVID-19-related issues and internet usage. Such results outline an overall distrust of the measures against the pandemic in adolescents and the necessity to conduct specific awareness campaigns to enhance adherence and health outcomes among young people.