Abstract:
Background: This study assessed the influence of social, economic, and psychological factors on South African’s
responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the South African government responded quickly to manage
the pandemic, the strict lockdown placed a significant burden on the population. Understanding the converging influence of social, economic, and psychological factors on the population’s responsiveness is important for improving people’s cooperation in controlling COVID-19 and for supporting individuals and communities during the ongoing and future pandemics.
Methods: Using data collected from a national telephonic survey (December 2020 to March 2021), we assessed
whether selected social, economic and psychological factors were related to: 1) adoption of COVID-19 behavioural
measures (hand hygiene, wearing of face masks, and physical distancing), and 2) adherence to government restrictions on movement.
Results: South Africans were highly responsive to the pandemic with respondents generally reporting that they very
often engaged in the protective behaviours and often to very often adhered to government restriction on movement. However, those from the white population group; with a higher education; living in uncrowded households;
who perceived less vulnerability to contracting COVID-19; supported the measures; trusted the scientists; thought the
measures by government were implemented fairly and fairly enforced by the police; felt more anxious, sad, hopeless,
isolated, angry or had trouble sleeping; inclined to engage in coping behaviour, were more likely to adopt COVID-19 protective behaviours. Furthermore, females, those with a lower education, those less likely to have experienced
poverty since the beginning of lockdown; who perceived greater vulnerability to COVID-19, trusted government, and
were more supportive of the behavioural measures were more likely to adhere to the restrictions of movement.
Conclusions: Strengthening the South African population’s responsiveness to the pandemic requires supporting
those living in poor socioeconomic circumstances, promoting trust in the scientifc evidence, and ensuring that the
measures by government are perceived to be fairly implemented and fairly enforced by the police. Due to the impact
on livelihoods, restrictions of movement should only be considered if necessary, and this will require trust and confidence in government and strategies to support those experiencing financial hardship.