Risk perception and information-seeking behavior during emergency: An exploratory study on COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Musabber Ali Chisty; Muhammad Awfa Islam; Ashfia Tasnim Munia; Md Mostafizur Rahman; Nadia Nahrin Rahman; Mourupa Mohima

doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102580

Risk perception and information-seeking behavior during emergency: An exploratory study on COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh

Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2021 Nov:65:102580. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102580. Epub 2021 Sep 15.

Authors

Musabber Ali Chisty¹, Muhammad Awfa Islam¹, Ashfia Tasnim Munia², Md Mostafizur Rahman³, Nadia Nahrin Rahman⁴, Mourupa Mohima¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
² Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Disaster and Human Security Management, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, 1216, Bangladesh.

Abstract

With the fluctuating condition of the pandemic, people's perception of COVID-19 is also inconstant. If people perceive a low risk of any health emergency or any other crisis, they won't look for proper information to change their attitude, which might increase their risk. Through the use of two different theories and a mixed-method approach, this study attempted to understand the current perception about COVID-19 and the relationship between risk perception and information-seeking behavior. Survey and in-depth key informant interviews were used as tools for data collection. The results indicated that COVID-19 related risk perception changes following people's demographic and socio-economic characteristics. Also, the study found out a relationship of variation in information-seeking behavior on the basis of factors like demographic characteristics, past experience of any emergency, salience, and belief. Results specified that people seek information differently when they perceive a risk to be of higher order. The study summarized that the information sought about any risk could also amplify or reduce the level of perceived risk. In the end, the study concluded that if people do not perceive the risk of any emergency and don't seek proper information, raising awareness about a pandemic like COVID-19 and managing the emergency will be challenging.

Keywords: COVID-19; Emergency; Information seeking behavior; Pandemic; Risk perception.